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1240/5(1809)
QUESTION TO BE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOME AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 4th MARCH 2003, BY DEPUTY R. G. LE HÉRISSIER OF ST. SAVIOUR
Question
With reference to the recent report on Children and Young People's Services, and more specifically to the sections relating to the Young Offenders Institution and Women's Wing at H.M. Prison, La Moye contained in it, would the President indicate whether the follow-up action will identify where responsibility for the serious deficiencies lies, and if so, what action does the Committee propose to take?
Answer
Since receiving Dr. Kathie Bull's introductory presentation regarding the "Review of the Principles, Practices and Provision for Children and Young People with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties and Disorders in the Island of Jersey", Committee members have been taking time to study the report and assimilate its findings and recommendations. The Home Affairs Committee will get its first opportunity to discuss the report directly with Dr. Bull on the 10th March 2003. She will also be meeting separately with the Health and Social Services Committee and the Education, Sport and Culture Committee. Shortly after, there will be a joint meeting of all three Committees principally to endorse the action plan and timetable outlined by the President of the Health and Social Services Committee in his answer.
The three Committees involved embarked upon this very detailed study upon the recommendation of their officers and in the full knowledge that deficiencies would be drawn out. Indeed, it would have been surprising if the opposite had been concluded by Dr. Bull. Far from being an inquiry, the purpose of the review was to engage an expert in the field to inform the Committees where improvements could be made. As Dr. Bulls' report is at pains to point out, the causes of the present situation are complex and varied; financial, sociological and political factors are among them. The question infers that blame should immediately be apportioned as a counter-weight to the deficiencies that have been identified. So far as the services that the Home Affairs Committee is responsible for, I believe that they should be viewed as a key part of developing a solution to these problems rather than the cause of them. That is the approach that I shall be recommending to the Home Affairs Committee.