Huw Irranca-Davies 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.