My right honourable friend the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I am today announcing with my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families the appointment of Frances Done CBE as chair of the Youth Justice Board. The appointment will be for three years from 1 February 2008 to 1 February 2011.

The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales is an executive non-departmental public body established under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to monitor the operation and performance of the youth justice system and to identify and disseminate good practice to prevent offending by children and young people. The board is also responsible for commissioning services for young people under 18 who are sentenced and remanded to secure facilities.