To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on improving educational opportunities for young offenders.

We have long worked collaboratively with the Department for Education (DfE) to improve educational and other rehabilitative outcomes for children in the youth justice system.

The DfE has a proactive role in the governance and delivery of many youth justice projects:

• Our new secure schools model for youth custody has been developed collaboratively with the DfE and has a strong focus on improving the provision of education through the commissioning of child-focused providers.
• We are retendering learning services in young offender institutions (YOIs) by September 2021 when existing contracts are due to expire. The DfE is part of this project and provides advice on it, particularly regarding developing service requirements and engaging schools, colleges and academy trusts.
• The DfE and Ministry of Justice (MoJ) work closely with other government departments to implement the cross-government serious violence strategy, which includes provisions for schools-based early intervention and prevention initiatives where appropriate, and to minimise the harmful impact of school exclusions.

Over the longer-term, the DfE, MoJ and other government departments are reviewing the structure and governance of the youth justice system in Wales and the entire youth secure estate to improve alignment, standards and outcomes for children