HC Deb 22 July 2004 vol 424 cc600-2W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations his Department has received(a) in support of and (b) against the setting up of the National Offender Management Service. [171413]

Paul Goggins

We have received a total 264 responses to the initial consultation on the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and 177 responses to the consultation paper on the NOMS organisational design.

52 of these responses requested specific information or further copies of the consultation document. Of the responses that offered an opinion, over half, 114, offered general support for the new service and 98 expressed concern. Responses to the NOMS organisational design-consultation paper are currently being analysed.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that voluntary sector organisations have sufficient capacity to bid for contracts under the National Offender Management Service arrangements. [180972]

Paul Goggins

The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is in the process of establishing a Voluntary Sector Unit, which will have oversight of the relationship between NOMS and the voluntary and community sector. Identifying the capacity building requirements of the sector to enable organisations to participate as providers in NOMS and putting in place the ways of addressing these will form part of the work of the Unit.

Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the business case for the introduction of contestability and market testing into the National Offender Management Service. [181815]

Paul Goggins

The case for the establishment of the National Offender Management Service was outlined in Patrick Carter's independent report 'Managing Offenders—Reducing Crime' published along with the Government response 'Reducing Crime—Changing Lives' on 6 January 04. This includes the case for increased competition and wider contestability.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the new IT systems(a) Community-Tag and (b) Institution-Tag will be integrated into the National Offender Management Service and the measures contained in the Criminal Justice Act 2003. [182310]

Paul Goggins

Proposed IT support for the integrated management of offenders, serving either custodial or community sentences, is being piloted using the TAG product from Syscon Justice Systems Ltd. over the next 12 months. The pilot is intended to confirm the business model of the National Offender Management Service and take into account new sentencing provisions.

Subject to successful completion of the pilot, approval to build and implement the new system will be sought with a view to implementation in 2006–07.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responses he has received to the consultation document on the National Offender Management Service organisational design; and how many supported the proposals. [182311]

Paul Goggins

The Home Office has received 177 responses to the consultation paper on the National Offender Management Service's organisational design. The responses are currently being analysed.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff he expects to be employed by the National Offender Management Service on 1 June broken down by(a) grade and (b) function. [172409]

Paul Goggins

Currently the Prison Service has around 47,500 members of staff and the National Probation Service has around 19,000 full-time equivalent employees. The Correctional Services Head Quarters has aroun J 400 staff.

All of these employees now come under the ambit of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). However as NOMS Directors are currently developing proposals for the shape, size and structure of the new Service, at this point in time we are unable to advise how this will be split in relation to grade or function.