PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES AND YOUNG OFFENDERS (17 April 2007)

That this House supports the work of the Prison Reform Trust and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in highlighting the fact that 24,000 young offenders in England and Wales have a learning disability or difficulty which impacts upon their ability to cope with the prison regime; notes with concern that 70 per cent. of young offenders have significant communication difficulties sufficient to prevent them engaging in education programmes, behavioural courses and enhanced thinking skills courses; recognises the impact of this upon prisoner rehabilitation and re-offending rates, which are over 80 per cent. for young offenders; acknowledges that the cost to society of untreated communication disorders is estimated at £26 billion in terms of educational underperformance, reduced employment opportunities and increased risks of crime, mental health problems and drug abuse; looks forward to the development and implementation of a screening tool to detect learning disabilities and difficulties, with particular reference to speech and language difficulties, amongst children and young people upon their first contact with the criminal justice system; believes that difficulties detected by such a screening tool should be investigated and assessed promptly; and calls on the Prison Service to give priority to providing young offenders with access to a qualified speech and language therapist under their existing obligation to provide health and education services to detainees.

Sponsored by:
John Bercow (Speaker)