The admission came in a parliamentary answer from justice minister Andrew Selous to Dan Jarvis MP.
Selous said: “Some asbestos-containing material are present at each of the YOIs commissioned by the Youth Justice Board since April 2010.”
He added that latest records indicate that "no children have been exposed to asbestos while serving a custodial sentence in the last five years at any YOI”.
In addition, he sought to allay fears about the health risks the material presents to children in the secure estate by saying that the asbestos management policy in the prison service is “robust”.
“All Prison Service establishments ensure that measures are taken to manage asbestos-containing materials to minimise the possibility of exposure,” he added.
However, prison reformers have accused the MoJ of complacency over the prevalence of asbestos across the youth secure estate.
Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “Asbestos can be one of the most toxic substances and children should never be exposed to it. The minister is being complacent and obtuse about the damage that could be inflicted on children in prisons.”
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