Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is on allowing former offenders to visit youth custody environments.

The Government believes reformed offenders can play a positive role in rehabilitating young and adult offenders through mentoring and demonstrating the possibility for change.

It is for the Governors of Young Offender Institutions, Directors of Secure Training Centres and Managers of Secure Children’s Homes to approve the visit of any person to a custodial establishment. Consideration will be given to the purpose of the visit, an assessment of the risk that the individual poses, and to wider responsibilities to ensure that young people are safeguarded at all times.