Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to implement additional safeguarding practices for girls who are placed at the Wetherby and Keppel Young Offender Institution.

The Youth Custody Service has put in place an estate-wide safeguarding strategy and policy to ensure that staff working in the youth secure estate are clear about protection responsibilities in relation to both girls and boys.

The Child Safeguarding Policy Framework applies to all secure settings where remanded and sentenced children and young people are accommodated. This includes Young Offender Institutions for children and young people under 18, the Secure Training Centre and Secure Children’s Homes, as well as to those responsible for the movement of children between secure settings and courts.

Individual establishments are responsible for developing local operating procedures, and for undertaking related assurance activity.