The Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon. Robert Buckland QC, confirmed today that his preferred candidate to be the next Chief Inspector of Prisons is Charlie Taylor – currently adviser to the Department for Education (DfE) on the development of new school-based behaviour hubs.

Mr Taylor has been selected following a rigorous assessment process conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. A panel of four, including two external members, assessed each of the candidates prior to consideration by the Lord Chancellor.

The role is subject to a pre-appointment hearing by the Justice Select Committee. Pre-appointment scrutiny is an important part of the appointment process for some of the most significant public appointments made by Ministers. It is designed to provide an added level of scrutiny to the appointment process.

Pre-appointment hearings are held in public and allow a Select Committee to take evidence before a candidate is appointed. Ministers consider the Committee’s views before deciding whether to proceed with the appointment.

HM Chief Inspectorate of Prisons

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate. The Chief Inspector reports directly to Ministers, but operates independently of Government and the services under its scrutiny. The Chief Inspector has a duty to report on conditions for and treatment of those in prison, young offender institutions, secure training centres, immigration detention facilities, police and court custody suites, customs custody facilities and military detention in England and Wales.

Charlie Taylor Biography

Mr Taylor has over twenty-five years’ experience within education and has a longstanding interest in youth justice.

Mr Taylor is currently an adviser to the Department for Education (DfE) on the development of new school-based behaviour hubs. Prior to this, Mr Taylor was the Chair of the Youth Justice Board, and in 2019 he conducted an independent review into the use of pain inducing techniques in the Youth Secure Estate. In 2015, Mr Taylor was commissioned by the Ministry of Justice to conduct a review into the Youth Justice System in England and Wales. In 2012, Mr Taylor was the Chief Executive Officer at the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL), and in 2011-12, he acted as an Expert Advisor to the DfE on children’s behaviour.

Working parents or carers who are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare or 30 hours free childcare but have temporarily fallen below the minimum income requirement as a result of the pandemic will continue to receive financial support until 31 October 2020.

Critical workers who may exceed the income threshold for the 2020 to 2021 tax year as a result of working more to play a vital role in tackling the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will continue to receive support this tax year.

Through Tax-Free Childcare, delivered by HMRC, families will receive a £2 government top-up for every £8 they pay into their child’s account, up to the value of £2,000 per child, or £4,000 per disabled child in financial support.

The money can be used towards the cost of qualifying childcare for a child up to the age of 11, or 17 for a disabled child.

HMRC’s Deputy Chief Executive and Second Permanent Secretary, Angela MacDonald, said:

HMRC has been providing vital financial support to families during a time when it has been needed most and we will continue to help them as they gradually transition back to a normal life.

We want to make sure families will not be adversely affected by any abrupt change in circumstances, which is why we have extended available support through Tax-Free Childcare to give families that extra boost.

The Department for Education (DfE) provides 30 hours free childcare to eligible 3 to 4-year-olds in England, with more than 600,000 3- and 4-year-olds benefitting from this offer in the first 2 years of delivery and nearly 350,000 children benefitted from 30 hours in January 2020 alone.

DfE has seen more than 55,000 parents applying for 30 hours places since the start of lockdown restrictions, which demonstrates how essential this support is and why parents’ eligibility must be protected.

DfE’s Children’s Minister, Vicky Ford, said:

Our 30 hours childcare offer has always been about supporting parents back into work, and in these times, this ambition is now more important than ever. That is why we are again extending eligibility for the government’s childcare offers so that no parent loses out because of a fall in income due to coronavirus.

This builds on our significant financial support for the early years sector – who have been so integral to the UK’s recovery from this pandemic. We are continuing to provide longer term reassurance to nurseries and childminders that are open by ‘block-buying’ childcare places for the rest of this year at the level we would have funded before coronavirus, regardless of how many children are attending.

To continue receiving the financial support for Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare, parents need to reconfirm their eligibility every 3 months.

HMRC has continued to help Working Tax Credit claimants with the cost of childcare throughout the pandemic.

Parents and carers in receipt of the childcare element of Working Tax Credits who have continued to pay childcare fees they have incurred, despite their children being unable to access childcare because of coronavirus (COVID-19), must notify HMRC if they expect this to continue beyond 7 September. After this date HMRC will no longer pay the childcare element for those in this position.

Claimants should update HMRC as soon as possible if their childcare stops or if the costs for their childcare decrease or end.

Parents and carers can report such changes by calling the tax credits helpline (0345 300 3900).

1. You can check your eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare or 30 hours free childcare in relation to coronavirus (COVID-19) online. If your childcare circumstances have changed recently, then log into your childcare account, check your details and reconfirm as usual to avoid delays later.

2. You can read the definition of critical workers affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).

3. Parents and carers who are Working Tax Credits customers should check their eligibility and updated guidance relating to coronavirus online.

In July 2020 the Industry Safety Steering Group (ISSG) presented the then Secretary of State for Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government with a report on the work undertaken by the group between July 2019 and June 2020.

The report included the groups findings on industry’s progress embedding the recommendations in Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent review and progress of culture change in the construction sector.

The Minister of State for Building Safety and Communities, Lord Greenhalgh wrote to Dame Judith Hackitt thanking her for her second report as Chair of the ISSG and welcoming the continued work of the steering group in supporting and challenging industry to deliver culture change.

The report, released today, found that in order to retain the support of recreational sea anglers, improvements to environmental conditions must be made a priority. The report also found an overwhelming majority urged for a greater balance between the interests of recreational sea anglers and the commercial fishing industry.

As the UK prepares to become an independent coastal state, the Government continues to engage with the commercial fishing and seafood industries, as well as recreational fishing communities across the country, to best develop future fisheries management plans that cater for all.

This study sought the views of recreational sea anglers on a range of areas including fish stocks, funding and data collection. It also provides new data on sea anglers’ value of key stocks such as cod and bass.

Fisheries Minister, Victoria Prentis said: “We welcome this research and the opportunity for sea angling communities to have their views heard. As we develop our plans for future fisheries management, we want to ensure the UK has a fishing sector that is not only profitable and sustainable but also enjoyable for those who participate in the sport of angling.”

Adam Brown, Head of Research from Substance said: “This research into sea anglers’ attitudes illustrates their desire to be involved in the management of marine fisheries. However, that willingness to contribute to management, data collection and especially funding, is heavily predicated on them believing that a better balance is achieved between recreational and commercial fisheries.”

Kieran Hyder, Principal Scientist at Cefas said: “This survey provides vital information on the value sea anglers place on fish and fishing, and how this is affected by changes to management. It also gives insights into sea angling attitudes that can be used to support the development of policy.”

Read the full report here.