Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps he has taken to reduce reoffending rates among youths recently released from custody.

The government is committed to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour that blight so many communities. In 2021/22, the Ministry of Justice is providing up to £82 million funding for local authorities’ youth offending teams in England and Wales, which have primary responsibility for managing children released from custody. This is an increase of 9% on 2020/21 funding. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation inspects each youth offending team, including on the effectiveness of its work to reduce reoffending by children who have been in custody. Inspection reports can be found at www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/.