HC Deb 18 December 2002 vol 396 cc55-6WS

2. The Commissioner will monitor and review progress achieved in implementing change; receive information, as required, from the agencies responsible for progress; and provide public assurance about the implementation process.

3. In pursuit of these functions, the Oversight Commissioner will:

be provided with information, including objectives and timetables as appropriate, on the implementation of the changes to the criminal justice system. This information will be provided by the Department of the DPP(NI), the Court Service, the Probation Board (PBNI), the Prison Service, the Police Service (PSNI), and the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), and in respect of issues covering the criminal justice system as a whole will be co-ordinated by the Criminal Justice Board (which comprises the heads or senior representatives of the agencies listed above). Information may also be provided by other bodies as appropriate.

Conduct progress review meetings with the agencies and, as appropriate, the Criminal Justice Board on the implementation of the criminal justice changes. Meetings may also take place with Ministers and officials and with other office-holders and bodies as appropriate. These meetings will be a forum to discuss issues arising from implementation and to enable the written information to be supplemented.

Provide a report to the responsible Ministers (the Secretary of State, Lord Chancellor and Attorney-General) every six months. The Ministers will place these reports before Parliament and publish them (subject to the omission of any parts whose laying or publication would, in their opinion, be against the public interest or which might jeopardise the safety of any person). Such reports will include: an account of the progress which has been achieved in implementing the planned changes; and the Commissioner's observations on how any delays in implementation have arisen and how they might be addressed. Meet (at the Commissioner's discretion) with other relevant organisations or agencies, including the political parties and community leaders, to discuss progress in the implementation of the criminal justice changes.

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