Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Oldfield Report: Probation Service Dynamic Framework

Tuesday 14 September 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Danny Kruger asked about implementing recommendations from Richard Oldfield's report on the probation service dynamic framework.
  • Danny Kruger commended the report and the Minister for commissioning it.
  • The Minister emphasized the importance of local community services in delivering rehabilitative services.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Danny Kruger Reform East Wiltshire
Justice & Courts
Context

Richard Oldfield's report on the probation service, published in June 2021, recommended steps to encourage smaller organisations' participation in rehabilitation services.

Question

What steps is he taking to implement the recommendations in Richard Oldfield's report on the dynamic framework of the probation service, published in June 2022?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

I thank my hon. Friend for his question and for his interest and input in this area. I welcome the findings and recommendations of Richard Oldfield's report, and in particular his primary conclusion that we should do more to encourage the participation of smaller organisations in the delivery of rehabilitation services. We are looking at how we can use more grants rather than contracts where it is appropriate to do so as well as how to simplify the qualification process and bidding process for the dynamic framework.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps on using more grants and simplifying qualifications were not detailed

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Q2 Danny Kruger Reform East Wiltshire
Justice & Courts
Context

The question follows an initial inquiry about Richard Oldfield's report recommendations and seeks a bolder attitude to risk for smaller community-based organizations in rehabilitation services.

Question

I declare that I am the founder and chairman of a small charity working in prisons and probation. I am grateful to my right hon. and learned Friend for that answer. I congratulate Richard Oldfield on his report and the Minister on commissioning it. I am pleased to hear about the progress being made. Does the Minister agree that we need a culture change across the justice system, with managers and commissioners being prepared to trust the small community-based organisations that can deliver such good value, and that that entails having a bolder attitude to risk?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

I completely agree with my hon. Friend. It is really important that local community services deliver rehabilitative services in the communities that they serve and we are trying to ensure that culture change. Of the 26 organisations delivering rehabilitative services in the unified model, 23 are voluntary and community sector organisations, but we will do more to ensure that those small community organisations deliver services for us.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps towards a bolder attitude to risk were not detailed

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