Speeches by Hoare.

“So again, we come back to the issue of inadequacy of data that can help to shape policy output.”

“Would you support devolving probation and youth justice to the Welsh Government—yes or no?”

“It is the question, because I have just asked it. Your job is to answer the questions; my job is to ask them.”

“Such leniency, Chair!”

“So it is people-dependent rather than remit-set?”

“I am conscious of time, so we are going to do a quickfire round with one-word answers only—otherwise, hellfire comes coursing down. This is to each and every one of you. Is the MOJ policy sufficiently tailored to the needs of Welsh service users? That is a simple yes or no.”

“And one thing that could be improved?”

“That is a long one-word answer, but not too bad.”

“You are allowed to say yes or no in Welsh or English, and I will understand it, so fire away.”

“So it doesn’t really matter as long as the outcomes are good. Fine.”

“So do you point us in the direction of recommending some sort of enhanced training, or a refresh, for magistrates to understand precisely what they have got in the arsenal?”

“Ms Russell?”

“Setting aside deaths—I am just trying to get a picture of Wales versus England in the rest of the prison estate—could one of you say a word on the data on prisoner-on-prisoner attacks, whether that is ABH or GBH? Is there anything particularly distinctive, noteworthy or worrying in the Welsh data on that?”

“Mr Jones, do you have an observation on that?”

“I want to turn to intergovernmental relations. In all these inquiries, we try to identify something good and then try to identify things where we can nudge for a bit of improvement. Could you both give one example of where the UK and Welsh Governments work particularly well together and identify one thing that is okay …”

“My final question is for you, Ms Russell; I think a number of earlier answers have touched on or alluded to it. Can you say a word or two on the effectiveness of the women’s justice blueprint for Wales? How successful or effective has it been in diverting women from the criminal justice system and in reducing reoffendi…”

“If I may, it is undoubtedly true that that is often a very good hook to hang a debate on, but if it narrows things down to a specific Committee report, it can make the debate a bit exclusive just to those who are members of the Committee, rather than those who have a wider interest—whether they are representing a Welsh…”

“rose—”

“Obviously, there will be important elections for the Senedd in Wales next year. Matters Welsh will be, I think, pre-eminent in lots of colleagues’ minds, and they will want to set out their stalls for where they see Wales’s place, either within or outwith the Union, and the opportunities for growth—economic, cultural, …”

“I think it should be recognised that events such as these allow Ministers and the wider Government to reflect on current circumstances. I am not seeking to scapegoat the OBR, but it is not the messiah—sometimes, it can be a very naughty boy—and it does have to revise its predictions at all times. Is it too traditional …”