Debates between Lord Bates and Baroness Bull during the 2019 Parliament

Probation Services

Debate between Lord Bates and Baroness Bull
Monday 15th June 2020

(3 years, 10 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Bates Portrait The Deputy Speaker
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I call the noble Baroness, Lady Bull. I apologise to the noble Lord, Lord Hussain: I will call the noble Baroness first and we will come back to the noble Lord if there is time.

Baroness Bull Portrait Baroness Bull (CB) [V]
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My Lords, black, Asian and minority ethnic-led charities working in the criminal justice system have an important role to play in the new model for probation because they are trusted voices in their communities. However, they are in the main small scale and therefore less equipped than larger organisations to bid successfully for available funding. Can the Minister say what the Government are doing to build capacity in this specific part of the voluntary sector? How do they plan to strengthen communications between the probation service and BAME charities so that they do not continue to feel, in their own words, overused and undervalued?