Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Government press release entitled New plans for probation in Wales announced by UK Government, published in July 2019, whether those changes to probation arrangements will involve any contracting out of services.

The Government is clear that the public, private and voluntary sectors all have a role to play in delivering probation services.

We consulted in summer 2018 on proposals to better integrate providers in Wales by bringing the NPS and CRC into one combined probation service, while exploring options for the commissioning of rehabilitation services in Wales which reflect the delivery landscape and the skills and capabilities of providers.

We continue to develop these proposals in consultation with stakeholders and will set out plans for the future of probation in Wales later this year.