§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Northampton, North (Ms Keeble) of 30 June 1998,Official Report, column 142, regarding the Chairman of the Youth Justice Board, if he will list the (a) legal qualifications and (b) experience of working with victims of crime of the successful candidate for Chairman of the Youth Justice Board; [50416]
(2) what assessment he made of the advantages and disadvantages of requiring political independence on the part of the Chairman of the Youth Justice Board. [50380]
§ Mr. StrawThe competition for Chair of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales was conducted in line with guidance from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments ('Nolan' procedures).
The Information for Applicants for the Chair and Board Members of the Youth Justice Board describes the role of the Chair and sets out the following essential experience:
- Knowledge of the youth justice system;
- Senior management experience, including strategic and/or resource management at senior level; and
- Experience of working with Government.
It also states:
'Members of the board must include individuals who appear to the Home Secretary to have knowledge of the youth justice system. It will be desirable for Members of the Board between them to have experience of the following services: business; child and adolescent mental health services; courts dealing with young offenders; education services; legal services; police; probation; secure facilities for young people; social services; services for victims and young people.''Members will need to be objective and open-minded, able to act in an independent capacity and to deal with gender and race issues in a criminal justice context. They will need to be able to work effectively with providers of services for young people in the youth justice system. They will not be expected to represent particular professional associations or viewpoints.'I am glad to say that the selection panels for the Youth Justice Board are at pains to ensure that all qualified candidates for appointment as Member (including the Chair) have the necessary impartiality for their task and fully meet the requirements for their posts specified above.
268WThe Chair-designate is not a qualified lawyer, and has not worked directly with victims of crime (although he has played a significant role advising on the Government's policies for supporting victims).