Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the commitments made by the Minister for Youth Justice, Crispin Blunt, on 25 October (Official Report, Commons, col. 233) that the Government will ensure the retention of the experience and operational expertise of the Youth Justice Board's senior staff, whether (a) the proposed post of director of the Youth Justice Division in the Ministry of Justice will be a permanent post, (b) the chief executive of the Youth Justice Board will be offered the post on a permanent civil service contract in line with the other posts transferring from the Youth Justice Board, and (c) if the post should become vacant in the future, it will be filled following open competition by a person with substantial operational experience of the youth justice system.
Answer
In his Written Ministerial Statement of 23 June 2011, the Justice Secretary set out his intention to carry out the core functions of the Youth Justice Board within a newly created Youth Justice Division in the Ministry of Justice. The Youth Justice Division will continue the Government's focus on meeting the needs of children and young people in the justice system and the role of the director of the Youth Justice Division will be important in helping us to achieve this focus. The Government's proposals include a commitment to retaining the experience and expertise of Youth Justice Board staff. The Justice Secretary has announced that John Drew, the current chief executive of the Youth Justice Board, has agreed to lead the transition into the new Youth Justice Division structure. This post is dependent on the passage of the Public Bodies Bill. The Ministry of Justice will ensure that any future selectee for the post of director of the Youth Justice Division has the requisite skills, knowledge and abilities to do the job and relevant criteria will be built into the advert and selection process.