My Lords, on behalf of my noble friends on these Benches, I, too, thank the noble and learned Baroness and the noble Lord for the way in which they have conducted the Bill. It would be quite wrong not to say, too, that we have been enormously impressed by the...

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friends on these Benches, I, too, thank the noble and learned Baroness and the noble Lord for the way in which they have conducted the Bill. It would be quite wrong not to say, too, that we have been enormously impressed by the...

My Lords, I take issue with the noble Lord, Lord Wallace of Saltaire, and the noble Viscount, Lord Bridgeman. I hate to end on a sour note, but I do not accept for one moment that either of them could ever be a member of anyone’s B-team. Both are fully...

My Lords, I take issue with the noble Lord, Lord Wallace of Saltaire, and the noble Viscount, Lord Bridgeman. I hate to end on a sour note, but I do not accept for one moment that either of them could ever be a member of anyone’s B-team. Both are fully...

My Lords, I moved Amendment No. 10 formally partly not to hold up the process. Therefore, I hope that I may be allowed to say a few words on this Motion. First, I apologise that noble Lords have had to hear the substitute from these Benches rather than the real...

My Lords, I moved Amendment No. 10 formally partly not to hold up the process. Therefore, I hope that I may be allowed to say a few words on this Motion. First, I apologise that noble Lords have had to hear the substitute from these Benches rather than the real...

My Lords, I am afraid that these Benches are also fielding a B-team today. On behalf of my noble friend Lady Anelay, who is similarly delayed on family business, I thank all noble Lords who have been of great assistance in the progression of this Bill. I wish the Bill...

My Lords, I am afraid that these Benches are also fielding a B-team today. On behalf of my noble friend Lady Anelay, who is similarly delayed on family business, I thank all noble Lords who have been of great assistance in the progression of this Bill. I wish the Bill...

My Lords, I thank all those who have spoken. I am grateful, too, to the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, and the noble Baroness, Lady Howe, for what they have said about their proposal to extend Clause 11, which makes provision for publication and enforcement of a national framework for qualification...

My Lords, I thank all those who have spoken. I am grateful, too, to the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, and the noble Baroness, Lady Howe, for what they have said about their proposal to extend Clause 11, which makes provision for publication and enforcement of a national framework for qualification...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the Minister for providing precisely what the amendment sought—clarification. As I said in opening, we needed to tease this out. I am grateful also to the noble Baroness, Lady Howe, for mentioning risk and all the people involved. A whole raft of skills...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the Minister for providing precisely what the amendment sought—clarification. As I said in opening, we needed to tease this out. I am grateful also to the noble Baroness, Lady Howe, for mentioning risk and all the people involved. A whole raft of skills...

moved Amendment No. 12: 12: Schedule 1, page 29, line 34, leave out sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) On Question, amendment agreed to. Schedule 3 [Minor and consequential amendments]:

moved Amendment No. 12: 12: Schedule 1, page 29, line 34, leave out sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) On Question, amendment agreed to. Schedule 3 [Minor and consequential amendments]:

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill do now pass. Moved, That the Bill do now pass.—(Baroness Scotland of Asthal.)

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill do now pass. Moved, That the Bill do now pass.—(Baroness Scotland of Asthal.)

moved Amendment No. 9: 9: Clause 26, page 18, line 18, at end insert— ““In paragraph (a) ““specified”” means specified in the authorisation.”” On Question, amendment agreed to. Schedule 1 [Probation trusts: further provisions]:

moved Amendment No. 9: 9: Clause 26, page 18, line 18, at end insert— ““In paragraph (a) ““specified”” means specified in the authorisation.”” On Question, amendment agreed to. Schedule 1 [Probation trusts: further provisions]:

moved Amendment No. 10: 10: Schedule 1, page 28, line 16, leave out paragraphs (c) and (d) The noble Lord said: My Lords, this amendment has already been the subject of discussion among the Front Benches. I shall make one or two further comments on the Motion that the Bill...

moved Amendment No. 10: 10: Schedule 1, page 28, line 16, leave out paragraphs (c) and (d) The noble Lord said: My Lords, this amendment has already been the subject of discussion among the Front Benches. I shall make one or two further comments on the Motion that the Bill...

My Lords, we have had helpful discussions on the subject of magistrates with the senior presiding judge and the noble Baronesses, Lady Anelay and Lady Linklater. I am grateful to them all but particularly to the noble Baroness, Lady Linklater, who tabled the amendment which has been spoken to so...

My Lords, we have had helpful discussions on the subject of magistrates with the senior presiding judge and the noble Baronesses, Lady Anelay and Lady Linklater. I am grateful to them all but particularly to the noble Baroness, Lady Linklater, who tabled the amendment which has been spoken to so...

moved Amendment No. 11: 11: Schedule 1, page 29, line 29, leave out ““Subject to sub-paragraph (2),”” The noble and learned Baroness said: My Lords, the amendments in this group are technical. This is a straightforward consequential amendment. As we have previously noted, a large number of such amendments need...

moved Amendment No. 11: 11: Schedule 1, page 29, line 29, leave out ““Subject to sub-paragraph (2),”” The noble and learned Baroness said: My Lords, the amendments in this group are technical. This is a straightforward consequential amendment. As we have previously noted, a large number of such amendments need...

My Lords, there were a number of important assurances in the Minister’s speech. I am conscious of how complex this set of issues is. I spent much of Friday with my noble friend Lord Shutt in a large private prison in Doncaster, and came away from that with an even...

My Lords, there were a number of important assurances in the Minister’s speech. I am conscious of how complex this set of issues is. I spent much of Friday with my noble friend Lord Shutt in a large private prison in Doncaster, and came away from that with an even...

moved Amendment No. 3: 3: Clause 9, page 6, line 25, leave out subsection (5) and insert— ““(5) In subsection (4)— ““annual plan”” means a plan setting out the way in which the person required to publish the plan proposes to carry out any specified activities during the year to...

moved Amendment No. 3: 3: Clause 9, page 6, line 25, leave out subsection (5) and insert— ““(5) In subsection (4)— ““annual plan”” means a plan setting out the way in which the person required to publish the plan proposes to carry out any specified activities during the year to...

moved Amendment No. 7: 7: Clause 11, page 7, line 21, at end insert— ““( ) The probation boards and probation trusts shall not exercise their powers under section 3(2) to make contractual or other arrangements with another person unless they are satisfied that that person has complied with any...

moved Amendment No. 7: 7: Clause 11, page 7, line 21, at end insert— ““( ) The probation boards and probation trusts shall not exercise their powers under section 3(2) to make contractual or other arrangements with another person unless they are satisfied that that person has complied with any...

My Lords, I am most grateful to the Minister for accepting the amendment. On Question, amendment agreed to. Clause 10 [Officers of providers of probation services]:

My Lords, I am most grateful to the Minister for accepting the amendment. On Question, amendment agreed to. Clause 10 [Officers of providers of probation services]:

My Lords, I shall ask a further question, having heard this short debate. I, too, am grateful for this amendment for clarification. One needs the utmost qualification for dealing with a range of offenders. The organisation with which I am closely involved has some of the most skilled workers in...

My Lords, I shall ask a further question, having heard this short debate. I, too, am grateful for this amendment for clarification. One needs the utmost qualification for dealing with a range of offenders. The organisation with which I am closely involved has some of the most skilled workers in...

My Lords, I take this opportunity to seek clarification from the Government over their policy towards supportive supervision for probation and prison officers and the volunteers that my noble friend has just spoken of. I was most grateful for a recent letter from the Secretary of State assuring me that...

My Lords, I take this opportunity to seek clarification from the Government over their policy towards supportive supervision for probation and prison officers and the volunteers that my noble friend has just spoken of. I was most grateful for a recent letter from the Secretary of State assuring me that...

My Lords, I have put my name to the amendment moved by my noble friend Lord Ramsbotham. He is absolutely right. Small or large voluntary organisations should know the level of training that will be necessary to deal with the rather more difficult offenders whom they will be required to...

My Lords, I have put my name to the amendment moved by my noble friend Lord Ramsbotham. He is absolutely right. Small or large voluntary organisations should know the level of training that will be necessary to deal with the rather more difficult offenders whom they will be required to...

My Lords, we on these Benches have made it clear during our debates in Committee and on Report that we regard training as central to the success of any rollout of contestability. The qualifications and calibre of those who deliver probation services have always been and will remain vital. We...

My Lords, we on these Benches have made it clear during our debates in Committee and on Report that we regard training as central to the success of any rollout of contestability. The qualifications and calibre of those who deliver probation services have always been and will remain vital. We...