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Bill passes Second Reading in the House of Lords

18.4.07

The Offender Management Bill yesterday passed its latest stage in the Houses of Parliament.

During the Second Reading debate, Baroness Scotland outlined some of the improvements that have been made to the Bill as a result of listening to concerns expressed by probation staff, stakeholders and MPs.

Baroness Scotland also outlined further improvements that would be made as the Bill progresses. These include:

• the transfer of the duties to agree and have regard to Local Area Agreements from the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill
• a commitment to require the membership of probation trusts to include a local authority councillor
• a commitment to require probation trusts to report to local communities on the services they are delivering. 

The next stage for the Bill in the House of Lords will be the Committee of the Whole House.