MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet
Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Today I wish to
provide Members with an update on recent discussions with the UK
Government regarding the devolution of justice to Wales.
We continue to support the devolution of justice in its entirety,
as recommended by the Commission on Justice in Wales. As outlined
in our 2022 publication Delivering Justice for
Wales, a change of this scale requires a phased approach.
More recently, this phased approach was of course also endorsed
by the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of
Wales.
I recently met with the Lord Chancellor to discuss progressing
the UK Government's manifesto commitments on youth justice and
probation. This is an important opportunity to improve the
justice system in Wales and marked a significant step towards
strengthening collaboration between two Governments that share
the same values.
In relation to youth justice, it was agreed that officials in
both governments would work together to explore options where
responsibilities in the youth justice system could be realigned.
This included strategic oversight, partnership and governance
arrangements and funding of youth justice services as starting
points. We also agreed to explore formalising the governance
through which UK and Welsh Governments engage.
We are also discussing the potential for the Welsh Government to
work with HM Prison and Probation Service to adopt a Memorandum
of Understanding on probation, similar to the model in place in
Greater Manchester.
These areas of discussion do not reflect the limits of our
ambitions; they reflect starting points and we would expect
further discussions to follow.
Recent months have seen the publication of the Independent
Sentencing Review, and Part 1 of the Independent Review of
Criminal Courts.
Our proposed reforms to probation would support this, by giving
greater local flexibility in tailoring services to the needs of
individuals under probation supervision.
We also continue to work closely with trade unions in preparing
for devolution and draw from academic and professional expertise
in youth justice and probation. I understand that members of the
probation group which has advised the Welsh Government on these
matters will shortly be briefing members of the House of Lords on
their work to set out a model for the operation of a devolved
service.
We expect these discussions to progress over the coming weeks,
and I will keep members informed.
This statement is being issued during recess to keep Members
informed. Should Members wish me to make a further statement or
to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be
happy to do so.
