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Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

My Lords, I, too, support this amendment completely. I am sure that it will be the Minister’s case, when he replies in a moment, that to a large extent this already represents the pattern of things. That being so, my plea would be that there is no earthly reason why it should not be spelled out in statute. At no time is the need for this support as great as when a young person goes into custody. This is the interface between the two systems—two systems that unfortunately show a massive over-representation in the custodial system of children who have been in care. They are over-represented by something like 15 to 1—I think that is the relevant statistic. Therefore there can be no earthly argument for not spelling this out in a specific way. It does not extend the law; it does not extend the practice; but it clarifies the minds considerably of those who are involved in these responsibilities.