Offender Management Bill

moved Amendment No. 21: 21: Clause 2, page 2, line 37, at end insert— ““( ) The Secretary of State must liaise with representatives of all sentencers to— (a) provide information about programmes and performance from all providers of probation services; and (b) consult with representatives of all sentencers before making or renewing a contract with a provider of probation services.”” The noble Viscount said: Amendment No. 21 is tabled in my name and that of my noble friend Lady Anelay, and I am grateful to the noble Lords, Lord Judd and Lord Ramsbotham, for adding their names to it. We tabled it in response to concerns expressed by the judicial policy and practices committee ofthe Magistrates’ Association about liaison with magistrates. It requires the Secretary of State to liaise with representatives of all sentencers to provide information about what is happening on the ground regarding the quality and availability of probation programmes. It also requires the Secretary of State to consult with representatives of all sentencers before he or she makes or renews a contract with any provider of probation services. Local benches can have an invaluable role to play in ensuring that the provision of probation services meets local needs. I beg to move.