Lords amendment: No. 4

I beg to move, That this House
agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

With this it will be convenient to take Lords amendments Nos. 5 and 15, 16 and Government amendments (a) to (g) thereto, and Lords amendments Nos. 20 and 39 to 41.

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Will you confirm for the benefit of all hon. Members that Government amendment (a), which we discussed in the previous group of amendments, will be dealt with at the end of proceedings?

Yes, that is true. We always debate one amendment or new clause, and discuss other things at the same time, then vote on the amendment that we are debating. We take the other things as they come, in their normal order, on the amendment paper.

I accept that, Mr. Deputy Speaker. This group of amendments is the result of valuable discussions both here and in another place. Concerns had been expressed that non-public sector providers might not be required to reach the same standards as the public sector, so we have provided safeguards on standards and training. The Secretary of State must now publish guidelines on the qualifications, experience or training for staff working directly with offenders, and he must publish national standards for the management of offenders. The Bill ensures that both training guidelines and the national standards will apply to all providers as appropriate. We have provided safeguards in respect of local accountability, and we have responded to the concerns of staff and trade unions. The Bill has been greatly improved by the addition of those provisions, which I commend to the House.

While the official Opposition may disagree with points of detail, I understand from those who know more about national bargaining and such matters that the National Association of Probation Officers and others are content with the structure that the Government have provided. In so far as they deal with national pay bargaining, the national regulatory framework that deals with the disciplining and regulation of providers of probation services, and so on, the amendments are acceptable.

Lords amendment agreed to.