I have placed copies of the Youth Justice Agency’s Corporate Plan for 2008-11 and Business Plan for 2008-09 in the Libraries of both Houses.

The business plan contains 14 key performance targets I have set for the agency for 2008-09. These are:

1. Some 95 per cent. of all children subject to a Juvenile Justice Centre Order will have are integration plan.

2. Achieve an 85 per cent. compliance rate within the statutory timeframe for all children who are subject to a community disposal supervised by the agency.

3. Achieve an increase in public confidence in how the agency deals with young people accused of crime from 41 per cent. to at least 45 per cent. as measured by the Northern Ireland omnibus survey.

4. Some 85 per cent. of youth conference reports to be returned to court within statutory timescales.

5. At least 80 per cent. of referrals to result in a youth conference and of those, at least 70 per cent. of young offenders to be satisfied with the outcome.

6. Maintain a victim attendance rate of at least 60 per cent. for youth conferences and of those, at least 75 per cent. of victims to be satisfied with the outcome.

7. Following the introduction of a common risk assessment system, all young people referred to the agency under a court order to have an assessment of risk and strengths completed within four weeks of the commencement of the order.

8. All new admissions to custody to have a risk assessment conducted within 24 hours.

9. No escapes from the Juvenile Justice Centre.

10. At least 90 per cent. of young people remanded by the courts to have a bail assessment commenced within five working days.

11. Reduce the levels of physical restraint by 5 per cent. compared with 2007.

12. Maintain expenditure within approved budgetary limits.

13. Publish and lay the agency’s audited 2007-08 annual report and accounts before Parliament prior to its summer recess.

14. At least 75 per cent. of staff to confirm that their learning and development needs are being met.