To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what date the Respect Unit was closed; for what reasons it was closed; and whether its staff are being made redundant. (184655)

I have been asked to reply.

The Respect Taskforce has not closed.

Following the Machinery of Government changes announced last year the Respect Taskforce was transferred to the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

The Respect Task Force was set up in September 2005 to oversee the delivery of the Respect Programme. Most of the commitments in the Government’s Respect Action Plan have been met or are in train and have been mainstreamed into programmes across Government and in local service delivery. This has enabled the work of the Respect Task Force to develop its remit to include, alongside tackling antisocial behaviour, a focus on delivering positive outcomes for young people—including steps to prevent them getting into trouble and encouraging them to have respect for their community. To reflect this change, on 5 October 2007 the Government announced the creation of Youth Taskforce and this includes the former Respect Taskforce.

The Youth Taskforce will build on the success of the Respect programme and will continue to support the local delivery of Government policy on antisocial behaviour, as well as positive outcomes for young people.

Civil servants who worked in the Respect Task Force either remain working within the Department of Children, Schools and Families as part of the Youth Taskforce or are on secondment to other Government Departments.