COMPETITIVE TENDERING OF PROBATION WORK

Early day motion 2086, tabled 13 July 2011 by Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru). Signed by 26 members.

That this House notes that the Ministry of Justice intend to put all probation work out to competitive tender; believes that prior privatisations in the probation sector have been unsuccessful; further notes that the privatisation of bail beds to the private company ClearSprings was revoked in 2010 after complaints from members of the public; further notes that the majority of offenders on probation programmes have multiple health problems, issues with drugs and alcohol and suffer from low literacy and numeracy rates; further believes that they are extremely difficult tomonitor and that their supervisors need to be trained, experienced and dedicated staff; further believes that selling off probation work to the lowest bidder for profit will lower standards and that public protection will be compromised; and calls on the Government to re-examine its proposals for competitive tendering of probation work.

Signatures by party: Labour 18, Plaid Cymru 3, Liberal Democrat 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1.