Part of Offender Management Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 2:30 pm on 18 January 2007.
Although what the Minister says makes good sense in theory, many of our concerns might be mitigated if the Government were to come forward with a model contract, so that we could see what a company bidding to manage approved premises would have to comply with, albeit bids would differ in detail. The model contract might provide for the way in which a company, a charity or another third sector body carries out its functions and ensures that those who work for it behave. Equally, the Bill provides huge opportunities for regulation to be made. If we had even a glimpse of the ankle of the things that we are promised, many of the fears that are justifiably held at the moment would go away. Is there any possibility that such help is forthcoming?