A Senedd Committee has criticised evidence given by a UK Government Minister during a scrutiny session this afternoon (Monday 14 July, 2025).
The Equality and Social Justice Committee says it is deeply disappointed with the evidence from Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, given as part of the Committee’s work on the criminal justice system in Wales.
Jenny Rathbone MS, Chair of the Equality and Social Justice Committee said:
“We are very disappointed to hear Lord Timpson say that the UK Government could row back its promises on the devolution of youth justice and probation in Wales.
“These policies were supported by several significant constitutional reports and endorsed by the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales. The report from Gordon Brown's Commission on the UK's future said new powers over youth justice and the probation service should be made available to the Senedd and Welsh Governments.
“The Welsh Government has already started the groundwork to prepare because it believed there was a realistic prospect that these aspects could be devolved soon.
“This is in stark contrast to Lord Timpson's evidence before the Committee today which seemed to pour cold water on the prospect.”
The Committee will now write to the UK Government to raise these concerns in detail.
