§ Sir Brian MawhinneyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he plans to introduce provisions in the Crime and Disorder Bill for financial penalties on statutory agencies for failure to meet time limits in individual cases. [21931]
§ Mr. MichaelNo. However, the courts will be able to enforce statutory time limits by making use of their existing power to impose 'wasted costs orders', which are applicable to both prosecution and defence. The Government's recent consultation paper "Tackling Delays in the Youth Justice System" set out the possible advantages and disadvantages of using financial penalties on statutory agencies to enforce time limits in individual cases and asked for views on this point. Over 85 per cent. 569W of those who expressed a view on the merits of such penalties opposed their introduction or expressed significant concerns. Respondents pointed out in particular that contested penalties might lead to further delays and damage the inter-agency co-operation which is critical to tackling delays. In the light of the response to the consultation paper, we have decided not to introduce any provision in the Crime and Disorder Bill for financial penalties on statutory agencies for failure to meet time limits in individual cases.
We are also looking very closely at other means of promoting efficiency within the youth justice system. In particular, as set out in the White Paper "No More Excuses" (Cmnd 3809) we will be introducing performance targets, which will operate in parallel with statutory time limits but will be more exacting. We will judge performance across the youth justice system in relation to these targets. The Youth Justice Board, which is to be established under the Crime and Disorder Bill, will also be able to publish information about performance across the youth justice system, and we believe that this will be an effective means of promoting accountability and give a strong incentive to better performance.