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1 Mar 2006 : Column 819W—continued
Muslim Prisoners
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that prisoners who are Muslim are offered halal food. [52034]
Fiona Mactaggart: Establishments are required to offer a range of meals that enable prisoners to make preferred choices, including meals suited to their ethnic and religious needs. Muslim prisoners must be offered an appropriate daily main meal choice. The policy emphasises the concept of prisoner choice and requires meal options to be displayed in prominent locations. The Prison Service continues to have discussions with key advisers, including Muslim leaders, representatives from the Halal Food Authority and the Prison Service Muslim Advisor about halal food requirements.
National Offender Management Service
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he expects there will be a protocol or memorandum of agreement with the
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National Assembly for Wales to facilitate the delivery of the National Offender Management Service in Wales. [49051]
Fiona Mactaggart: Proposed governance arrangements for the National Offender Management Service in Wales form part of the consultation to implement 'Joining Together in Wales: an Adult and Young People's Strategy to Reduce Re-offending'. The proposed arrangements reflect the partnership approach that the Home Office has with the Welsh Assembly Government and do not refer to the need for a protocol or memorandum of agreement.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what developments he expects the (a) Prison and (b) Probation Service to make under the National Offender Management Service in the next (i) six months and (ii) three years. [49063]
Fiona Mactaggart: I set out my expectations for both the Prison and Probation Services in the NOMS five year strategy—Reducing Re-offending and Reducing Crime, which was issued on 9 February 2006. Copies are in the Library and the Vote Office. The strategy states:
A better IT system for managing offenders with the current OASys system fully integrated into C-NOMIS
Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has assessed on the impact of commissioning of probation services on standards at an operational level. [50061]
Fiona Mactaggart: The introduction of service level and contractual arrangements into the custodial sector of the National Offender Management Services following the introduction of competition is estimated to have delivered performance improvements within the range of 3.0 per cent. to 8.5 per cent. The introduction of commissioning and contestability in the provision of probation services is expected to deliver operational performance improvements comparable to those achieved in the custodial sector.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the job descriptions are of (a) regional offender managers and (b) their staff under the National Offender Management Service arrangements. [50237]
Fiona Mactaggart:
The job description for the post of Regional Offender Manager was contained in the information pack sent to all prospective candidates in the summer of 2004. A copy of the information pack has been placed in the House of Commons Library for members to read. Each Regional Offender Manager is profiled to have eight members of staff, including the
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ROM. In recognition of their additional workload, the offices of the South East and Welsh ROMs have been allocated an additional post. The job descriptions of these staff members are a matter for individual ROMs.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funds have been allocated to regional offender managers under the National Offender Management Service arrangements, broken down by area served by each manager; and how many staff are employed by each manager. [50239]
Fiona Mactaggart: The budget given to each Regional Offender Manager in the financial year 2005–06 ranges between £456,314 and £654,506. These figures are dependent on profiles reflecting the differing needs and requirements of each region, and cover staff and office management costs.
Each Regional Offender Manager is profiled to have eight members of staff, including the ROM. In recognition of their additional workload, the offices of the South East and Welsh ROMs have been allocated an additional post.
Mr. Anthony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed by the National Offender Management Service, broken down by region; and how many will be employed in 2006–07. [52075]
Fiona Mactaggart: At December 2005, 49,600 staff were employed by NOMS, of whom 47,000 (mainly staff employed in prisons) were employed outside NOMS headquarters. In addition, 20,000 national probation service staff are employed in the regions, though they are not directly employed by the National Offender Management Service.
As part of the Government's commitment to reduce numbers of staff at the centre of the civil service, the National Offender Management Service is currently reviewing its headquarters function and will be finalising plans for future deployment of staff shortly.
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the National Offender Management Service to be fully operational. [53352]
Fiona Mactaggart: The NOMS five year strategy Protecting the Public and Reducing Re-offending" sets out the timetable for change; copies of this are in the Library and the Vote Office. Chapter 6 details this timetable, the substantial progress which we expect to make and our longer term aims.
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost of (a) regional offender managers and (b) supporting staff within the National Offender Management Service was in 2005–06. [53632]
Fiona Mactaggart:
It is not possible to confirm the total staffing costs of each Regional Offender Manager's (ROM's) office for the year 2005–06 before the financial year has ended. However, the budget given to each Regional Offender Manager in the financial year 2005–06, which included staff costs, ranged between £456,314 and £654,506. Every ROM will come within budget this financial year.
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National Probation Directorate
Mr. Anthony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to give the National Probation Directorate the responsibility for appraising the proposals outlined in the discussion paper Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending". [53890]
Fiona Mactaggart: Senior officials in the National Probation Directorate (NPD) were involved in the development of the proposals set out in the consultation paper Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending". NPD is a directorate of NOMS, and the Director of NPD sits on the NOMS Board which has responsibility for overseeing the development of the proposals both prior to and following the consultation.
National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the personnel establishment is of the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit; and what the personnel establishment is projected to be by 2010. [44713]
Mr. Charles Clarke: It is established policy not to comment on the breakdown of resources in relation to national security;
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