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Youth Justice Board saved from quango cull Youth Justice Board saved from quango cull
(40 minutes later)
The government has abandoned plans to scrap the Youth Justice Board, minister Lord McNally has announced.The government has abandoned plans to scrap the Youth Justice Board, minister Lord McNally has announced.
The decision comes shortly after another U-turn over plans to axe the post of chief coroner.The decision comes shortly after another U-turn over plans to axe the post of chief coroner.
Both issues had threatened to derail the passage of the Public Bodies Bill through the Lords on Wednesday.Both issues had threatened to derail the passage of the Public Bodies Bill through the Lords on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Justice said the youth justice system still needed reform, but "following careful consideration", the board would be saved. The Ministry of Justice said the youth justice system still needed reform but, "following careful consideration", the board would be saved.
The office of the chief coroner and the Youth Justice Board were to have been scrapped as part of a so-called "bonfire of the quangos". The board was set up in 1997 to oversee the youth justice system and ensure that under-18s in custody were kept in safe conditions.
But the government was defeated in the Lords on both decisions earlier this year and there were fears that continuing anger over the abolition could have led to another defeat at the latest stage of the bill. Both it and the office of the chief coroner were to have been scrapped as part of a so-called "bonfire of the quangos".
But the government was defeated in the House of Lords on both decisions earlier this year, and there were fears that continuing anger over the proposed abolition could have led to another defeat at the latest stage of the bill.
'Considerable opposition''Considerable opposition'
Announcing the reprieve, Lord McNally said the government realised "that the future of the Youth Justice Board is an emotive issue".Announcing the reprieve, Lord McNally said the government realised "that the future of the Youth Justice Board is an emotive issue".
He said ministers had believed its functions could have been brought in-house and carried out by the Ministry of Justice, but they accepted that in both Houses of Parliament and in a public consultation there had been "considerable opposition" to such a move. He said ministers believed its functions could have been brought in-house and carried out by the Ministry of Justice, but they accepted that in both Houses of Parliament and in a public consultation there had been "considerable opposition" to such a move.
Crossbench peer and former chief inspector of prisons Lord Ramsbotham, whose amendment reprieving the board was accepted by the government, welcomed the decision, saying the body had proved its worth during the summer riots.Crossbench peer and former chief inspector of prisons Lord Ramsbotham, whose amendment reprieving the board was accepted by the government, welcomed the decision, saying the body had proved its worth during the summer riots.
"During that period the Youth Justice Board played an enormously important part in liaising with, overseeing and helping both the youth offender teams out in the community and also the oversight of those being received in custody who required a great deal of help," he said."During that period the Youth Justice Board played an enormously important part in liaising with, overseeing and helping both the youth offender teams out in the community and also the oversight of those being received in custody who required a great deal of help," he said.
Labour's leader in the Lords Baroness Royall said her party was "absolutely delighted that the government is doing the right thing". For Labour, shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said he welcomed the government's "long overdue change of mind".
"It might seem churlish, but I do have to say I wonder why it has taken them a whole year to reach that decision - and a whole year of insecurity, not just for the Youth Justice Board but for the youth justice system itself." "The YJB does an important job battling to reduce youth offending," he said.
She said the board did a "splendid job" and agreed with Lord Ramsbotham that the need for it was "even greater" following the summer riots. "It has a proven track record in reducing crime, which is why it was madness for the government to want to abolish it and why Labour and so many groups have campaigned for its survival with such determination."
But Mr Khan said the work of the board was "still being undermined by severe cuts to youth offending teams, which work within communities to cut crime and anti-social behaviour".
In October the government announced it was scrapping 192 public bodies - such as the Film Council and the Audit Commission - while 118 would be merged.
It said the move would save more than £1bn, but opposition to the plans has led to the reprieve of about 20 quangos and forced ministers to drop proposals to abolish 150 more without parliamentary approval.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "Following careful consideration we have decided not to pursue the abolition of the YJB as part of the Public Bodies Bill.
"However, we still believe that youth justice system should be reformed to make it more efficient and directly accountable to ministers. Further details will be announced in due course."