Question
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Lefarydd. Tackling reoffending requires rehabilitation, but the Wales Governance Centre’s latest report shows that that is not happening well enough in Wales. Recall numbers are up 27%; rough sleeping on release is becoming the norm; and the rate of death by drug poisoning while under community supervision is considerably higher than in England. Addressing those issues requires a holistic approach, which is impossible when Westminster controls the levers when it comes to justice. Following the Secretary of State’s meeting with Welsh Government Ministers yesterday, does he agree that devolving justice is key to making justice work in Wales?
Answer
As the right hon. Lady says, I was in Wales yesterday, meeting the Welsh Government and talking about exactly these issues. As I said in my answer to the original question, we have to use all organisations—yes, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, but also others, including local authorities, local health services and charities—effectively at a place-based level. That is what we said in the conversations that we had yesterday, and I very much look forward to building on them.25% vibes
Verdict: RED (20/100)
The question asked whether the Secretary of State agrees that devolving justice to Wales is key. The reply does not answer that. It discusses justice in Wales in general terms, citing meetings with the Welsh Government and a joined-up, place-based approach, but it never states a view on devolution itself. The asker would likely need to submit a follow-up to get a direct answer.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does the Secretary of State agree that devolving justice to Wales is key to making justice work in Wales? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply never says whether the Secretary of State agrees that devolving justice to Wales is key. It stays on justice in Wales, citing meetings with the Welsh Government and a place-based, multi-agency approach, but it does not engage with devolution as the proposition raised. The only concrete content is the description of joined-up working, which is a related but different point. |