Question to the Ministry of Justice:

Her Majesty's Government what action they will take in response to the report of the Chief Inspector of Prisons on Youth Custody Centres, in the light of the Prison Reform Trust report In Care, Out of Trouble, published in May 2016.

We are committed to improving standards within the Youth Justice System so that we can not only punish crime effectively but also intervene earlier to help divert young people away from crime. That is why we set out our plans to reform the Youth Justice System in response to Charlie Taylor’s review last December, so that it is better equipped to help young people turn their lives around and play a constructive role in their communities.

The safety and welfare of every young person in custody is our absolute priority and we are clear that more needs to be done to achieve this. We want custody to improve the life chances of children and young people in our care and to deliver improvements to education and health services within youth custody. That’s why we have created a new Youth Custody Service, with an Executive Director for the first time in the Department’s history – to make sure this vital area is given the priority and weight it deserves.

We will continue to engage with key stakeholders and consider their recommendations as this work progresses.