A Senedd Committee has criticised evidence given by a UK
Government Minister during a scrutiny session this afternoon.
The Equality and Social Justice Committee says it is deeply
disappointed with the evidence from , Minister of State for
Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, given as part of the
Committee's work on the criminal justice system in Wales.
MS, Chair of the Equality
and Social Justice Committee said: “We are very
disappointed to hear say that the UK Government
could row back its promises on the devolution of youth justice
and probation in Wales.
“These policies were supported by several significant
constitutional reports and endorsed by the Independent Commission
on the Constitutional Future of Wales. The report from Gordon
Brown's Commission on the UK's future said new powers over youth
justice and the probation service should be made available to the
Senedd and Welsh Governments.
“The Welsh Government has already started the groundwork to
prepare because it believed there was a realistic prospect that
these aspects could be devolved soon.
“This is in stark contrast to Lord Timpson's evidence before the
Committee today which seemed to pour cold water on the prospect.”
The Committee will now write to the UK Government to raise these
concerns in detail.
ENDS
Notes to editors
The recording of the meeting is available here: https://www.senedd.tv/Meeting/Live/ff00d9cd-478c-4363-b3fd-bfc4da80ca3c
