Oral Answers to Questions

Bridget Phillipson Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd February 2015 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Selous]

We need more adult male capacity so we are taking the right course of action by building the new prison in north Wales. There are currently no prisons in north Wales, and the new prison will enable us to house all Welsh prisoners within Wales, which we have not been able to do before. We will keep prisoners as close to their home areas as far as possible.

[Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South) (Lab)]

6. What plans he has for the future of the youth justice system.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Andrew Selous)]

The Government are committed to preventing offending by young people. We are working to place education at the heart of youth custody, and will open the first secure college pathfinder in 2017. We have announced the commencement of our stocktake of youth offending teams, to give us a better understanding of how local youth justice services are delivered and to help ensure that we provide the best support possible to young offenders and their communities.

[Bridget Phillipson]

Will the Minister acknowledge the serious concerns that have been raised about the Government’s secure college proposals, and act on the advice of the chair of the Youth Justice Board and find alternative provision for girls and the youngest offenders?