§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has regarding the training programme for probation officers after(a) 2006 and (b) 2008. [176314]
§ Paul Goggins[holding answer 27 May 2004]: The current two-year Diploma in Probation Studies programme is well established and was the subject of a very positive inspection report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation in 2003.
In 2003, the degree element of the programme was re-tendered and contracts were let with higher education providers for a period of three years, with the potential for an extension to 2008. Plans for capacity building in preparation for the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act include an intake of trainee probation officers in 2005. The size of the cohort has not yet been agreed. This cohort will graduate in 2007.
Going beyond 2006, responsibility for training will lie within the new National Offender Management Service. Development work on this has yet to commence. Making sure that the Service has well-trained officers and staff will be one of the key priorities in our strategy to reduce re-offending.
§ John McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how individual probation services will be held to account so that they reduce re-offending. [167517]
§ Paul GogginsRegional Offender Managers will be responsible for ensuring the effective management of all offenders regardless of whether they have received a custodial or community sentence or a combination of the two. The Regional Offender Managers will be line198W managed by the National Offender Manager who will report directly to the Chief Executive and will ultimately be responsible for reducing re-offending.