Commons Unveils Youth Justice Overhaul, Eyes British Steel Takeover

High-Level Summary

The House conducted formal business issuing new writs for Aberdeen South and Arbroath and Broughty Ferry and agreed a change to the Committee of Selection before a major statement on youth justice reform. The Lord Chancellor, David Lammy, published a White Paper proposing earlier intervention, a new child criminal exploitation offence, youth intervention court pilots, and an ambition to reduce child remand, followed by extensive questioning. The Debate on the Address (3rd day), on backing business and growth, featured Government plans for an activist industrial strategy, a European partnership Bill, action on late payments and legislation to nationalise British Steel, with Opposition parties challenging the Government’s economic, tax and energy policies. Further business included a petition on the closure of East Hagbourne Post Office, and an adjournment debate on Doncaster audiology services in which the Minister outlined steps to reduce backlogs and improve provision. No divisions were reported.

Detailed Summary

Preliminary business: New writs and Committee of Selection

The House ordered new writs following appointments to Crown offices: “That the Speaker do issue his Warrant… for the Burgh Constituency of Aberdeen South… in the room of Stephen Flynn”, and “for the County Constituency of Arbroath and Broughty Ferry… in the room of Stephen Patrick Gethins”. It also approved a Committee of Selection change: “That Nesil Caliskan be discharged… and Deirdre Costigan be added.”. No debate or divisions were recorded.

Statement: Youth Justice White Paper (England and Wales)

The Lord Chancellor (David Lammy) announced a White Paper to “intervene early, respond more effectively and… turn young lives around”. Measures include £46 million for turnaround programmes and “an offence of child criminal exploitation”; reform of out‑of‑court resolutions and pilots of “problem‑solving youth intervention courts”; an ambition “to cut the number of children remanded in custody by 25%” with £5 million for intensive community placements and bail support; consideration of “the age of criminal responsibility”; and reform of Youth Justice Board oversight. He highlighted disproportionality, noting, “Black children remain vastly over‑represented—22% of the youth custodial population”.

Nick Timothy questioned raising the age of criminal responsibility, remand targets and enforcement of parenting orders, arguing “Labour just does not have it in its DNA to be tough on crime”. Lammy replied they are “not” abolishing the youth court, referred to Bar Council work on the age of criminal responsibility, and said they would recruit “a new generation of specialist foster carers” to support reductions in remand. He stated that violent offending by foreign 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds would lead to deportation: “if they do so… they will be deported”. He also said short custodial sentences have “poor outcomes” and community support can reduce reoffending. Outcome: White Paper published; consultations and pilots proposed; no decisions taken by the House.

Points of order

On Members visiting other constituencies, the Speaker reiterated: “whoever you are, you must observe the due courtesies and let the Member concerned know”. On reports of Israeli interception of aid boats, he said: “I have received no notice of a statement on this matter” and advised other parliamentary routes to raise it. No further action in the Chamber was recorded.

Debate on the Address (3rd day): Backing business to create economic growth

Opening for the Government, Peter Kyle cited recent performance and an activist approach: “the UK economy grew by 0.6% in the last quarter—the fastest growth among G7 countries”. He trailed a “regulating for growth Bill” with “regulatory sandboxes”, energy support measures, and an “European partnership Bill” to deepen EU trade links. He confirmed steel plans, including the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill “to bring British Steel into public ownership… to safeguard the national interest”, and a late payments Bill with “strict maximum payment terms of 60 days”.

Responding, Mel Stride called the King’s Speech “an empty vessel”, cited IMF concerns that “domestic uncertainty” could weigh on growth, criticised a proposed “holiday tax”, opposed ending new oil and gas exploration, and attacked rising business costs. Backbenchers raised transport (e.g. Northern Powerhouse Rail), regulation, small business pressures, rural connectivity, research and development, energy and environment, and the proposed European partnership and SPS/ETS agreements. Closing for the Government, the Chief Secretary highlighted that “ONS data showed borrowing falling by around £20 billion compared with the year before” and said alignment with EU rules would occur “where it is in our national interest”. No divisions were reported; the debate was adjourned to the next day.

Other formal business and petition

The House approved a change in membership of the Joint Committee on Human Rights: “Juliet Campbell be discharged… and Euan Stainbank be added.”. A petition was presented on the closure of East Hagbourne Post Office, urging restoration of “the community model”. No Government response was recorded in the transcript.

Adjournment debate: Audiology services in Doncaster

Sally Jameson described severe delays and a temporary service shutdown in Doncaster: people were “waiting years for basic appointments, hearing aids and even essential hearing aid repairs”, and “at one stage, the audiology service at Doncaster royal infirmary temporarily shut down”. She and local colleagues sought faster outsourcing and workforce action.

Replying, the Minister (Preet Kaur Gill) said, “we will ensure that that changes”, noted local recovery plans and set out national steps: a £13 million programme for audiology equipment and facilities; expansion of community provision with a new target that “by 2028-29, at least 80% of activity across community health services should take place within 18 weeks”; and development of commissioning guidance for paediatric audiology. No vote was taken; the House adjourned.