§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what response he has made to recent criticism made by the Chief Inspector of Prisons of young offenders institutions; [140275]
(2) when he was first informed of the conditions at the young offenders institutions criticised by the Chief Inspector of Prisons. [140272]
§ Mr. BoatengAs set out in a protocol between Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons and the Director General of the Prison Service, the Home Secretary receives draft inspection reports in advance of publication. At regular bilateral meetings with Sir David Ramsbotham, both the Home Secretary and myself are kept informed of emerging findings from inspections of individual establishments, including young offenders institutions.
As far as under-18s in young offenders institutions are concerned, we have transformed the system as it applies to them. This Government recognised that reforms had to be made to the youth justice system, not least to the level and standard of care within the secure estate. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 established the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales as a non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office. The Board's purpose is to monitor the operation of the youth justice system and to ensure the delivery of the appropriate standard of care.
The Prison Service's key response to past criticisms of how it has dealt with young people placed within its custody has been to create a new, distinct estate for 15 to 17-year-old boys, comprising juvenile units in young offenders institutions1. This change has enabled us to transform the facilities and regimes for this group of offenders. Overall, £51 million has been invested in this development. For the first time, the vast majority of under-18s will be held in either dedicated under-18 establishments, or in dedicated under-18 living units within other establishments. The new regimes will be based upon providing a "full, purposeful and active day"; rigorous assessment of each individual's health, social, educational and vocational needs; formal and specific planning and provision of education and training to meet these needs; regular reviews of each individual's plans and inter-agency co-operation and support.
In relation to those aged 18–20 years, we are considering carefully how this group should be treated in custody as part of our proposals to reform sentencing for this age group. The Criminal Justice and Court Services 352W Bill, which will abolish the sentence of detention in a young offenders institution (DYOI), provides an opportunity to look at the regime needs of a wider range of young offenders. We recognise that they do have different needs, and our work on regime provision for young adult offenders, not only the 18–20s, will concentrate on moving them more efficiently from custody to work. We have given a commitment that we will not implement the abolition of the sentence of DYOI until we have prepared a Prison Service Order to prison governors covering young adult offenders. We shall do that in consultation with interested bodies.
1 Ashfield; Brinsford; Castington; Feltham; Hollesley Bay; Huntercombe; Lancaster Farms; Onley; Portland; Stoke Heath; Thorn Cross; Warrington; and Wetherby.
§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask the Chief Inspector of Prisons to prepare a further report in six months' time on the young offenders institutions which have been criticised by him. [140276]
§ Mr. BoatengHer Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP) is entitled to inspect any prison establishment in England and Wales at any time. He does this by means of announced and unannounced inspections. Although it is usually the case that he promptly revisits those establishments of which he has been very critical, I consider it appropriate to leave follow-up timescales to HMCIP. It is quite possible that HMCIP would consider a follow-up inspection to be appropriate to a longer or shorter timescale.
§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to end the bullying by some inmates against others at young offenders institutions recently named by the Chief Inspector of Prisons. [140274]
§ Mr. BoatengA Prison Service Order to governors on anti-bullying was issued in 1999. The Order set out the Prison Service's commitment to ensure all establishments have an effective strategy to tackle the bullying of prisoners by other prisoners.
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons has recently inspected both Brinsford and Chelmsford and the reports will be published shortly. The recommendations within them will be addressed. Action plans in respect of Stoke Heath and Portland have ensured that any anti-bullying strategy is in place and these have been published within the establishment. Additionally at Portland, courses for bullies and victims have been set up.
§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy for Ministers in his Department to visit on a quarterly basis the young offenders institutions criticised by the Chief Inspector of Prisons. [140273]
§ Mr. BoatengIt is the role of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons regularly to inspect and to report to the Home Secretary on Prison Service establishments, and, in particular, on conditions in those establishments, the treatment and condition of prisoners and other inmates and the facilities available to them, and on any other matters as the Home Secretary may direct.
It is the policy of Ministers to visit young offenders and other prison establishments whenever they can to see conditions for themselves, and to meet prisoners, 353W staff and voluntary and other agencies which work in prison establishments. Since 1 May 1997, my ministerial colleagues and I have visited 180 establishments, 68 of which were young offenders institutions or held young offenders.