Young Offenders
21st July 2009
David Burrowes questions the National Offender Management Service's (NOMS) failure to release financial information that would help plans to establish a young offenders’ academy in north-east London.
Mr. David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con): The Minister will be aware of the commendable plan to establish a young offenders’ academy in north-east London.
Why did NOMS last month refuse to release relevant financial information that would have helped that plan, despite assurances on disclosure from the Justice Secretary last November? Are the Government deliberately hiding the true cost of youth custody, in order to hide the true cost of their failure to reduce reoffending?
Maria Eagle: The hon. Gentleman is straying into conspiracy theories, which are not valid. I know of the plan to which he refers and, as far as I am concerned, my Department has made every effort to provide proper information. However, I will be happy to consider any further requests for information that he says have not been met. There might be some relevant issues relating to material that is commercial-in-confidence in a more competitive environment, but I would be happy to talk to him further about the matter.
