4. Statement by the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip: Justice Blueprints

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:41 pm on 21 May 2019.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 3:41, 21 May 2019

Thank you very much, Mark Isherwood. Thank you for those questions. And can I acknowledge your experience and interest in this field? In fact, I know, Mark, you've been involved in former committee inquiries in this Assembly and take a close interest, of course, in your region in terms of these services. I think your comment on the Wales Governance Centre findings are key to addressing these issues and enable us also to look at issues where we are looking for more assistance in understanding the nature of the need, for example, for more data-specific information as far as Wales needs, in terms of the criminal justice system, and that's something that, of course, I've discussed with the Ministry of Justice. But the Wales Governance Centre evidence is key to help us move forward with the development of these blueprints. 

We do welcome the future proposals for the probation service. They were announced last week, but obviously we already had, as you said, the specific proposals for Wales, which highlighted Wales's own legislative and policy landscape and the different partnership arrangements that exist in Wales. I spoke to the new Minister yesterday, Robert Buckland, and he acknowledged that we have got an opportunity here in Wales to do things differently by designing a better probation system, fit for purpose, that works for the people of Wales. Yes, the announcement did include the fact that there could be a continued role for the voluntary and private sector in the delivery of unpaid work and accredited programmes. That's something that we would want to discuss in terms of what that would mean. I know that there are concerns about that because the reunification has to be a reunification that gives the probation service and probation professionals a real opportunity to, again, re-embrace their role, particularly in this public service.

I think you also make key issues about the impact and the effectiveness of devolved services in reaching, for example, as you say, women in Styal prison. I'm visiting Eastwood Park next week, where we know that the reach, again in terms of devolved services and liaison, and the fact that, of course, many of those women, in both Styal and Eastwood Park, have got families, and circumstances, and engagement and liaison with their homes and communities is crucial—. I will be taking stock of the effectiveness of those devolved services. It's not just health and social services, of course; education, skills, learning, housing—these are crucial.

I also welcome the fact that you acknowledge the Welsh Affairs Committee's call for at least one—one in north Wales, I think they're saying, and one in south Wales—of the women's residential centres. I've said in my statement that I would like at least one. Obviously, they are suggesting that there could be five women's residential centres. What is very important also is that we can have an impact on the nature of those and scope of those centres. We are already having workshops between Welsh Government, Ministry of Justice officials and those partners who will have an impact and be able to shape those centres, and I look forward to an early announcement on this in terms of taking this forward.

Your points about youth justice are also important. I think Hillside, of course—and you commented on Hillside—I'd have to say that Care Inspectorate Wales have conducted a follow-up inspection of Hillside secure children's home and found that the facility's now compliant in all areas. The Youth Custody Service have set improvement standards for Hillside management, and also those have to be implemented. Of course, there were improvements required by Care Inspectorate Wales, and the Youth Custody Service will be monitoring progress on those standards.

I think the point you make about third sector organisations that have actually made a difference, and you told me about those earlier on, which actually are playing a part in terms of the diversionary, the preventative, the engagement, which, of course, acknowledges the impact of ACES on young people's lives—. It has been helped by the Welsh Government funding of the promoting positive engagement for young people at risk of offending grant. That's offering that kind of preventative and diversionary support to young people at risk, but it's also important that we acknowledge those third sector organisations as you've done today.