Part of Sentencing Bill - Committee (3rd Day) (Continued) – in the House of Lords at 9:45 pm on 3 December 2025.
Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd:
Moved by Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd
136: After Clause 40, insert the following new Clause—“Management of offenders on probation: devolution to Wales(1) In paragraph 175 (prisons and offender management) of Schedule 7A of the Government of Wales Act 2006—(a) in sub-paragraph (3), omit “probation”;(b) under the “Exceptions” insert “Probation in relation to offender management”.(2) The Secretary of State must by regulations make further provision under this section to facilitate the transfer of the provision of the probation service in Wales from the Secretary of State to Senedd Cymru and Welsh Ministers.”Member’s explanatory statementThis new clause seeks to devolve probation services to Wales, by removing it from the list of reserved matters in the Government of Wales Act 2006.
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