Lords to quiz Youth Justice Board on impact of Government announcing its abolition and then reinstatement
The House of Lords Constitution Committee will this week continue its inquiry into the pre-emption of Parliament by taking evidence from the Youth Justice Board (YJB), a body that the Government intended to abolish in the Public Bodies Bill until it was defeated on the proposal in the House of Lords.
The Committee will question Frances Done, Chair of the YJB, and John Drew YJB, its Chief Executive, on the impact on day-to-day running of the YJB when it was proposed for abolition. The Committee will ask whether actions to reorganise and reduce staffing levels had a damaging effect in the YJB's performance once a Lords amendment had forced the Government to abandon plans to abolish it. They will also be asked what limits the Government placed on the YJB in preparing for its abolition pending parliamentary approval.
Also giving evidence to the Committee will be Sir Stephen Laws, former First Parliamentary Counsel.
The evidence sessions will begin at 10.30am on Wednesday 23 January in Committee Room 1 of the House of Lords and will be webcast live at www.parliamentlive.tv.
The evidence session is also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.
