§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets were set for the National Probation Service for the(a) current and (b) last financial year and to what extent they have been achieved. [161169]
§ Paul GogginsThe National Probation Service were set targets in eight key areas in 2002–03. The targets relating to Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) and the number starting basic skills courses were met while the targets on basic skills awards, victim contacts and clarity of court reports on minority ethnic offenders were narrowly missed. Targets on enforcement, accredited programmes and sickness absence were not met. The following table gives more details.
Targets were set in the same eight key areas in 2003–04 with substantial increases in the numerical targets from those set in 2002–03. There was a 50 per cent. increase in the DTTO, target, a 25 per cent. increase in the accredited programmes target, and 167 per cent. and 300 per cent. increases in the basic skills starts and awards targets respectively. The following table shows the extent to which these targets are currently being met by expressing the achievement between April and December (the latest available data) as a proportion of the expected level of achievement during the period. The expected level of achievement has been based on the trends achieved during 2002–03. The target on contacting victims has been exceeded whilst basic skills awards, accredited programmes and DTTOs are narrowly under the target expected at this stage in the year.
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National Probation Service targets 2002–03 and 2003–04 2002–03 2003–04 Key performance measure Target Actual Percentage of target achieved Target Actual to date Expected to date Percentage of expected achieved Commencements of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders 6,000 6,140 102 9,000 6,159 6,490 95 Completions of Accredited Programmes 12,000 7,716 64 15,000 9,177 10,457 88 Percentage of orders enforced in accordance with national standards 90 64 — 90 76 — — Number starting basic skills courses 6,000 5,983 100 16,000 8,641 11,010 78 Number of basic skill awards 1,000 848 85 4,000 1,675 1,840 91 Percentage of victims contacted in accordance with national standards 85 81 — 85 91 — — Percentage of court reports on minority ethnic offenders with clear proposals 95 92 95 — — — Sickness absence(average number of days per person per year) 10 11.9 — 9 12.1 — —
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether targets for the National Probation Service during 2004–05 will be revised in the light of past performance. [161170]
§ Paul GogginsTargets for the National Probation Service for 2004– 05 have been issued to areas and are set out in the table.
Measure/Target 2004–05 Change from 2003–04 Enforcement and Compliance Initiate breach proceedings according to National Standards within 10 days in 90 per cent. of cases No change Increase to 70 per cent. the proportion of orders and licences in which the offender complies New target Offending Behaviour Programmes To achieve 15,000 completions No change Enhanced Community Punishment To achieve 30,000 completions New target Drug Treatment and Testing Orders To achieve 13,000 order commencements, including 1,000 lower intensity orders Increased To improve completion rates to 35 per cent New target To increase the number of first contacts made within one day of the order being made to 90 per cent New target To increase the number of first contacts made with the treatment provider within two days of the order being made to 90 per cent. New target Basic Skills To achieve 32,000 starts and 8,000 awards Increased Intensive Control and Change Programme To achieve 1,788 orders made and 1,101 completions New target Reports to Courts Clear proposals to be made in 95 per cent. of court report on ethnic minority offenders No change Victim Contact 85 per cent. of victims to be contacted within eight weeks of an offender receiving 12 months imprisonment or more for serious sexual or violent offence No change
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors led to the decision to close the Diversity Unit within the National Probation Directorate. [161171]
§ Paul GogginsProbation areas' budgets for 2004–05 include £5.61 million, (1 per cent. of the total budget) that is dedicated to diversity projects. This is a three-fold increase on the previous year. Building on the progress made in recent years, the National Probation Service (NPS) intends to fully integrate diversity as a key part of
1282WThe second column indicates whether the target is new, has been increased compared to 2003–04, or is unchanged.
Past and current performance has been taken into account in setting these targets, which are intended to be stretching yet achievable. For example, the new compliance target has been set at 70 per cent. based on current performance of 62 per cent.
its work. In order to achieve this, the National Probation Directorate's drive on diversity will include three elements:
1283Wthe Regions and Performance Management Unit, where a new post filled by the previous Head of the Diversity Unit will provide support to local areasthe Human Resources Unit, which will lead on diversity policy development in relation to NPS staffthe Interventions Unit, which will provide similar leadership in relation to the offenders the Service works with.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places are available in probation hostels in England arid Wales; and how many of these places are occupied by(a) convicted sex offenders and (b) others covered by Multi-Agency Public Protection Panel arrangements. [161174]
§ Paul GogginsThere are currently 100 approved probation and bail hostels (approved premises) in England and Wales, providing around 2,240 places. No published data is available on the numbers of offenders convicted or charged with sexual offences who are resident in approved premises nor is there any published data on the number of Multi-Agency Public Probation Panel registered offenders in approved premises.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been received by the National Probation Directorate from the probation areas following the decision to award the contract for hostel facilities to Anglia Water. [160811]
§ Paul GogginsThe National Probation Directorate (NPD) regularly receives representations on the operation of the facilities management contract for approved hostels that was awarded to Anglian Water Group in October 2002. These representations are made through a series of Divisional Forums, meeting quarterly, whose membership includes the relevant local probation areas. NPD has also received a number of representations on facilities management issues from individuals and from probation areas.
§ John McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation areas in England and Wales have reported that they will experience difficulties in producing a balanced budget for 2004–05. [160465]
§ Paul GogginsThe National Probation Directorate has received letters from either the Chief Officer and/or the Chair of nine probation areas concerning the difficulties in producing a balanced budget for 2004–05. Most of these areas are also those that are forecasting an over-spend for 2003–04.
§ John McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation areas in England and Wales are expecting a shortfall in budget for 2004–05. [160466]
§ Paul GogginsThe National Probation Directorate has now received budget details for 2004–05 from most of the 42 probation areas. Some information is still awaited from some areas. These budgets are currently being analysed. Probation boards are required to produce a balanced budget in accordance with the rules of the Financial Memorandum agreed between the Home Office and the Probation Boards. The National Probation Directorate will carefully scrutinise probation board budgets to ensure that the assumptions that underpin those budgets are sustainable. Boards will not be allowed to have budget deficits or shortfalls.
§ John McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the expected shortfall in the London probation area budget for 2004–05 is. [160467]
§ Paul GogginsThe London Probation Area budget for 2004/05 is currently being compiled by officials at the London Probation Area in consultation with the1284W National Probation Directorate. Probation boards are required to produce a balanced budget in accordance with the rules of the financial memorandum agreed between the Home Office and the probation boards.