Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the announcement, Lord chancellor takes immediate action to move children from Rainsbrook, published on 16 June 2021, what recent steps he has taken to tackle issues at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre.

Following the invoking of the Urgent Notification protocol at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre (STC) last December, we ordered the provider MTC to take the immediate action necessary to address the unacceptable failings at Rainsbrook, including a focus on ensuring all children in the Reverse Cohorting Unit had a suitable amount of time out of their room. During this period, the Youth Custody Service (YCS) enhanced monitoring activity at the centre whilst deploying an experienced senior manager to the centre to provide additional support and operational oversight.

Ofsted acknowledged that issues relating to children reverse cohorting at the centre have been addressed, and that the YCS had strengthened its oversight of the STC. It is clear, however, in particular throughout May, that measures taken have not been sufficient to resolve the long-standing issues round staffing, safety, and on-site operational grip. That is why we are currently transferring all children out of the centre to alternative secure accommodation, with around a third of the children having already transferred from Rainsbrook.

Whilst our focus remains on ensuring the wellbeing of the children during the ongoing transfer process, work is separately ongoing with regard the future of the centre. A further announcement will be made on this in due course.