Baroness Humphreys (LD)

My Lords, given the hour, my contribution to this debate will be a short one. I first apologise for not having spoken to similar amendments on this subject in Committee because of illness. I express my gratitude to my noble friend Lady Brinton, who is no longer in her place, for taking my place on that occasion. My thanks go also to the noble Baroness, Lady Smith of Llanfaes, for bringing the amendments in this group back for debate on Report. On these Benches we agree with both Amendment 409A on the devolution of policing and Amendment 409B on the devolution of youth justice. They are in line with both Welsh Liberal Democrat and our federal Liberal Democrat policies. Had this debate taken place at an earlier hour, we would have joined the noble Baroness in the voting Lobby. I will speak very briefly on youth justice, which was seen as an early candidate for phased devolution. The Welsh Government have been able to influence youth justice policy through devolved areas such as education, health and social services, and have established a youth justice system that prioritises prevention, rehabilitation and the rights of children over punitive measures. According to a Senedd research document published in January this year, “The Welsh Government has said that it has agreed with the UK Government for officials in both governments to work together to ‘explore options’ where responsibilities in the youth justice system could be ‘realigned’”, as the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, referred to. What progress has been made there? But despite that and other affirmative statements, the Senedd Equality and Social Justice Committee warned last year that “the UK Government could row back its promises on the devolution of youth justice … in Wales” Disappointingly, experience is showing us that this is what appears to be happening.