Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Paragraph: 35
The Justice Secretary, Robert Buckland QC MP, highlighted the role of covid-19 in requiring his...
Recommendation
The Justice Secretary, Robert Buckland QC MP, highlighted the role of covid-19 in requiring his decision to cancel the Probation Delivery Partner programme, but we must be concerned at any possible echo of a repeat of over-rapid, under-researched reform being introduced, at great cost and inconvenience, and then swiftly reversed when difficulties arise. We recommend that the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice make it clear whether his cancellation of the Probation Delivery The future of the Probation Service 45 Partner programme was a pragmatic decision as a result of the additional pressures raised by the covid-19 outbreak or a decision on principle to bring unpaid work and behavioural change programmes back within a unified national probation service for the long term. In particular, we invite him to confirm whether the Ministry plans to reconsider or revive a Probation Delivery Partner programme once the covid-19 pandemic has been contained.
Paragraph Reference:
35
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Agreed The decision to cancel the Probation Delivery Partner procurement was taken as a result of reviewing the impacts of the pandemic on our ability to deliver a smooth and successful transition. We are now implementing that strategic decision and have no current plans to reconsider the outsourcing of the delivery of Unpaid Work and Accredited Programmes. We are in the final stages of transferring a large number of CRC staff delivering these interventions into the Civil Service and want to ensure that this group of staff have clarity about their employer and terms and conditions for the future. We are confident that the Target Operating Model we are implementing is the right way to deliver probation services in the longer-term.