§ Baroness Galeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to improve arrangements for the strategic management of the Prison and Probation Services and for future complaints arrangements for the two services. [HL3057]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonWe think it right to recognise the substantial and growing overlap in the work that both services perform as we pursue our drive to reduce reoffending through proven and well-targeted programmes and resettlement planning as set out in the Correctional Policy Framework which we published last year.
We have established a new Strategy Board for Correction Services, chaired by my right honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Office, Mr Boateng, to advise my right honourable friend the Home Secretary on giving strategic direction for the Prison and Probation Services. This replaces the Prison Service Strategy Board. We will make formal amendments to the Framework Document of the Prison Service in due course.
We have also decided to extend the Prisons Ombudsman's remit to cover probation services. This joint ombudsman will be created initially on an administrative basis, as with the Prisons Ombudsman, but we plan to legislate as soon as practicable. We are giving careful consideration to what the ombudsman's terms of reference should be. We shall make a further statement to Parliament in due course.