Youth Justice Board (Hansard, 30 June 1998)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

Following my right honourable friend the Home Secretary's announcement at Second Reading of the Crime and Disorder Bill [HL] on 8 April in another place that he intended to establish the youth justice board for England and Wales from 1 October 1998 (if the Bill receives Royal Assent early enough), advertisements for the chair and 11 other board members appeared in the press from 19 April.

Over 750 applications have been received (for the post of chair, member or both), and the competitions are being conducted in line with guidance from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments ("Nolan" procedures). The selection panel for the post of chair was chaired by David Omand, Permanent Secretary of the Home Office, with John Halliday, Director of Criminal Policy, Home Office; Tom Luce, Head of Social Care Policy, Department of Health; and two independent assessors: Sir Terence Harrison, Chairman, Alfred McAlpine plc., former Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce; and Mrs. Gill Pitt, general education inspector, Northamptonshire Inspection and Advisory Service, former primary headteacher.

Following advice from the selection panel, we are pleased to announce that the chair of the youth justice board will be Norman Warner, chair of the Task Force on Youth Justice and, until he takes up his appointment, senior policy adviser, Home Office.

The panel selecting the 11 other members of the new board is expected to provide advice in the summer, and Mr. Warner is participating in the selection process.

70WA

The setting up of the youth justice board as an executive non-departmental public body is a significant step forward in delivering the Government's commitment to tackling youth crime and reforming youth justice. The Task Force on Youth Justice is likely to complete its work in July and will then be wound up.