HC Deb 05 February 2001 vol 362 cc425-6W
25. Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he plans in the regime for young offender institutions. [147114]

Mr. Boateng

We have transformed the facilities and regimes for those under 18-years-old. Over £51 million has been invested to achieve this.

The creation of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales sees for the first time a single organisation with oversight and responsibility for the care and well-being of this age group. The board's purpose is to monitor the operation of the youth justice system and to ensure the delivery of the appropriate level of care and standards.

The new regime is 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 provision of education and the 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 Act 2000, which contains provision to abolish the sentence of detention in a young offender institution (d)YOI), 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 offenders, not only the 18–20s, will concentrate on moving them more effectively 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 governors covering adult offenders, and we have consulted interested bodies as part of that work.

Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect on prisoners and staff in young offender institutions of the no overtime policy. [148174]

Mr. Boateng

Since 1987, the conditions of service for all prison officers have been to work a fixed number of hours per week, averaged over a shift cycle. These flexible shift schemes give the best possible match of staff time available for work to be completed. In circumstances when additional hours are required to meet unplanned and unexpected demands, officers can work extra hours for which they receive time off in lieu. Officers can take their time off at a time that does not affect the running of the regimes in the establishment. In exceptional circumstances, when time off in lieu cannot be granted, ex-gratia payments can be authorised. This system has proved to offer the best possible regimes within the resources available in young offender institutes and other types of establishment.