National Offender Management Service

HC Deb 09 February 2004 vol 417 cc1264-9W

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the continuing responsibilities will be of(a) the National Probation Service and (b) the National Probation Directorate within the structures of the National Offender Management Service. [148000]

Paul Goggins

[holding answer 19 January 2004]The future responsibilities of the National Probation Service and the National Probation Directorate have yet to be finalised. We are committed to maintaining local involvement in the delivery of correctional services. We do not yet have a final view on how best this can be achieved within the new structure and this is a specific issue on which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has asked for views.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the relationship will be between local probation areas, regional offender managers, national offender managers and the chief executive within the arrangements of the National Offender Management Service. [148001]

Paul Goggins

[holding answer 19 January 2004]The Chief Executive of National Offender Management Service (NOMS) will lead the new service. The National Offender Manager will report directly to the Chief Executive and will be responsible for reducing re-offending and managing the budget for offender services. The Regional Offender Managers will report to the National Offender Manager and will have responsibility for end-to-end management of offenders in the nine English regions and Wales.

The relationship between local probation areas and NOMS have yet to be finalised. We are committed to maintaining local involvement in the delivery of correctional services. We do not yet have a final view on how best this can be achieved within the new structure and this is a specific issue on which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has asked for views.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the role of offender managers at the area level will be within the structure of the National Offender Management Service. [148002]

Paul Goggins

[holding answer 19 January 2004]The regional offender manager's role will be to provide dedicated end-to-end management of offenders regardless of whether they have received a custodial or community sentence or indeed a combination of the two. The offender manager will be able to provide interventions appropriate to the offender, purchasing these from the public, private, not for profit and voluntary sectors.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional staff will be employed in the National Offender Management Service to administer the new service at(a) national and (b) regional level. [150716]

Paul Goggins

The structure of the National Offender Management Service is yet to be finalised. It is too early to say how many staff will be needed in the new structure at either national or regional level.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget is for establishing the National Offender Management Service during(a) the current year and (b) each of the next three financial years. [150717]

Paul Goggins

The cost of establishing the National Offender Management service will be met from within existing Home Office provision in 2003–04 and 2004–05. Funding for 2005–06 onwards will be agreed as part of the current spending review.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the role will be of offender managers at area level under the new National Offender Management Service structure. [150718]

Paul Goggins

The regional offender manager's role will be to provide dedicated end-to-end management of offenders regardless of whether they have received a custodial or community sentence or indeed a combination of the two. The offender manager will be able to provide interventions appropriate to the offender, purchasing these from the public, private, not for profit and voluntary sectors.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the National Probation Service and its Directorate will continue to function under the new arrangements for the National Offender Management Service. [150719]

Paul Goggins

For the time being the National Probation Service and its Directorate will continue to function as they are at the moment. However, as the new organisation develops, offender managers from the National Offender Management Service will assume end-to-end responsibility for offenders and will contract with providers of services from within their areas regardless of whether the service is from the public, private or voluntary sector. We do not as yet have a finalised view as to the future of the 42 boards within this framework and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has therefore specifically sought the views of key stakeholders.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the relationship will be between the(a) local areas, (b) regional offender managers, (c) national offender managers and (d) the Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service. [150720]

Paul Goggins

The Chief Executive of the National Offenders Management Service (NOMS), Martin Narey, will lead the new service. The National Offender Manager will report directly to the Chief Executive and will be responsible for reducing re-offending and managing the budget for offender services. The Regional Offender Managers will report to the National Offender Manager and will have responsibility for end-to-end management of offenders in the nine English regions and Wales.

The relationship between local probation areas and NOMS have yet to be finalised. We are committed to maintaining local involvement in the delivery of correctional services. We do not yet have a final view on how best this can be achieved within the new structure and this is a specific issue on which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has asked for views.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether local probation areas will become an integral arm of the National Offender Management Service with substantial day to day operational freedom. [150721]

Paul Goggins

Individual probation areas will continue to function as they are for the moment. However, as the new organisation develops, offender managers from the National Offender Management Service will assume end-to-end responsibility for offenders and will contract with providers of services from within the areas regardless of whether the service is from the public, private or voluntary sector. We do not as yet have a finalised view as to the future of the 42 boards within this framework and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has therefore specifically sought the views of key stakeholders.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who the employer will be of probation and prison staff under the National Offender Management Service. [150722]

Paul Goggins

For most staff in prisons and probation the changes outlined in "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" are unlikely to have an immediate impact. They will continue to be employed by the probation boards and prison service. In time the relationships will change but those changes have yet to be finalised and will be subject to the usual consultation arrangements with staff and unions.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the National Offender Management Service will set up consultation committees with magistrates within the new structure for NOMS; what the line of accountability will be for prison and probation officers; whether probation areas will continue to have a role within multi-agency public protection panels; whether inter-agency work will be the subject of competitive tendering; and whether the supervision and potential recall of ex-prisoners will be opened up to competition. [150759]

Paul Goggins

The structure of the National Offender Management Service is yet to be finalised. As part of the implementation of the Reducing Crime—Changing Lives reforms the implementation team will consider the introduction of consultative committees and develop the details of contestability within the National Offender Management Service.

For most staff in prisons and probation the reforms are unlikely to have an immediate impact. They will continue to be employed by the probation boards and prison service. In time the relationships will change but those changes have yet to be finalised and will be subject to the usual consultation arrangements with staff and unions.

Individual probation areas will continue to function as they are at the moment. However, as the new organisation develops, offender managers from the National Offender Management Service will assume end-to-end responsibility for offenders and will contract with providers of services from within their areas regardless of whether the service is from the public, private or voluntary sector. Inter-agency work to protect the public and address rehabilitation will remain a crucial element of the work of the National Offender Management Service.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure the burden of administration for front line staff of the National Offender Management Service does not increase. [151193]

Paul Goggins

[holding answer 29 January 2004]The Government is committed to the reduction of unnecessary bureaucracy, particularly in regard to demands on front line staff. The National Offender Management Service implementation team will seek to reduce the administrative demands on front line staff wherever possible.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are expected to be employed by the National Offender Management Service(a) in headquarters and (b) in the regional offices. [151423]

Paul Goggins

The structure of the National Offender Management Service is yet to be finalised.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the arrangements for collective bargaining will be within the structure of the National Offenders Management Service. [147626]

Paul Goggins

The structure of the National Offender Management Service is yet to be finalised. Once this is done, the Department will put in place appropriate mechanisms to allow collective bargaining to take place.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether individual probation areas will continue to function and have day-to-day operational freedom within the structure of the National Offenders Management Service. [147628]

Paul Goggins

For the time being individual probation areas will continue to function as they are at the moment. However, as the new organisation develops, offender managers from the National Offender Management Service will assume end-to-end responsibility for offenders and will contract with providers of services from within their areas regardless of whether the service is from the public, private or voluntary sector. We do not as yet have a finalised view as to the future of the 42 boards within this framework and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has therefore specifically sought the views of key stakeholders.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the lines of accountability of probation staff will differ under the structure of the National Offenders Management Service. [147629]

Paul Goggins

For most staff in prisons and probation the changes outlined in "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" are unlikely to have an immediate impact. They will continue to be employed by the probation boards and Prison Service. In time the relationships will change, but those changes have yet to be finalised and will be subject to the usual consultation arrangements with staff and unions.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role probation areas will continue to have within Multi-agency public protection panels within the National Offenders Management Service structure; and what steps will be taken to ensure that the work is adequately funded. [147630]

Paul Goggins

For the time being individual probation areas will continue to function as they are at the moment. However, as the new organisation develops, offender managers from the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) will assume end-to-end responsibility for offenders, including a continuing role within Multi-agency Public Protection Panels. The future of the Probation Boards within NOMS is an issue on which we are seeking the views of key stakeholders.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether inter-agency public protection work within the structure of the National Offenders Management Service will be the subject of competitive tendering in future. [147631]

Paul Goggins

The details of contestability within correctional services will be developed as part of the "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" reforms. Inter-agency work to protect the public and encourage rehabilitation will remain a crucial element of the work of the National Offender Management Service.

John McDonnell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the 42 probation areas under the National Offenders Management Service arrangements. [147661]

Paul Goggins

Although all probation staff will come within the ambit of the new National Offenders Management Service (NOMS), they will for the time being continue to be employed by the probation boards. We are committed to ensuring local delivery of correctional services but do not yet have a firm view on how this can be best achieved within the new single service. The future of the 42 probation boards is therefore a specific issue on which my right hon. friend the Home Secretary has asked for views.

Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether consultative committees with local magistrates will be introduced within the structure of the National Offenders Management Service. [147720]

Paul Goggins

The introduction of consultative committees within the structure of the National Offender Management Service will be considered by the implementation team as part of the implementation of the "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" reforms.

Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there will be a single employer under existing National Negotiating Committee arrangements for the purposes of collective bargaining within the structure of the National Offenders Management Service. [147722]

Paul Goggins

The structure of the National Offender Management Service is yet to be finalised. Once this is done, the Department will put in place appropriate mechanisms to allow collective bargaining to take place.

Mrs. Brooke

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the National Offenders Management Service will work on a regional level closely with complementary services, including the police. [147765]

Paul Goggins

[holding answer 19 January 2004]Yes. As the report "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" makes clear, we believe the tasks of integrating the management of offenders whilst in custody or under supervision in the community is best managed at regional level where effective links can be forged and joint strategies developed with complementary services including police, health, education and employment. There will be 10 regional offender managers responsible for this in the nine English regions and Wales.