HC Deb 12 March 2004 vol 418 c1812W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the private sector will be allowed to bid for work with sex offenders under the National Offender Management Service structure. [159812]

Paul Goggins

The Government want the most effective custodial and community sentences possible for all offenders, including sex offenders, no matter who delivers them. It is keen to encourage partnerships between public and private sector providers and the voluntary and community sectors. The team tasked with implementing the National Offender Management Service will consider the specific details of the application of contestability with regard to sex offenders as part of its wider remit.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there has been an assessment of whether the probation areas will be able to deal with the reorganisation needed to establish the National Offender Management Service. [159815]

Paul Goggins

The National Offender Management Service implementation team intend to run regional pathfinders in order to test the proposed changes in preparation for a national roll-out.