My hon. Friend is not being entirely fair. First, I have said that we will have elected local councillors on the probation trusts. Secondly, I have said that the trusts will be required to publish their plans. Thirdly, I have said that the regional commissioner will be required to consult...

My hon. Friend is not being entirely fair. First, I have said that we will have elected local councillors on the probation trusts. Secondly, I have said that the trusts will be required to publish their plans. Thirdly, I have said that the regional commissioner will be required to consult...

That is precisely what I am saying. Indeed, I would go a little further. Although we have not yet worked out the exact detail as to how that aim might be attained we would obviously look at where best value is already pursued and is a central objective of the...

That is precisely what I am saying. Indeed, I would go a little further. Although we have not yet worked out the exact detail as to how that aim might be attained we would obviously look at where best value is already pursued and is a central objective of the...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. We have had a productive and useful debate this afternoon on Report. Despite my inability to attend all of the debate, I can assure the House that I was listening to it intently during discussions with many...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. We have had a productive and useful debate this afternoon on Report. Despite my inability to attend all of the debate, I can assure the House that I was listening to it intently during discussions with many...

Certainly, when I have finished this section of my speech. Let me make it clear: if a public sector provider is good enough, even outwith time scale or theme, or the assurances about ring-fenced areas that I shall give, it will have as much chance as anyone else to win...

Certainly, when I have finished this section of my speech. Let me make it clear: if a public sector provider is good enough, even outwith time scale or theme, or the assurances about ring-fenced areas that I shall give, it will have as much chance as anyone else to win...

I agree entirely with the hon. Gentleman’s proposition. May I tell him a little anecdote in response? I mentioned earlier that last Saturday morning I visited a voluntary group in London made up of previous offenders who help offenders. They paid me the compliment of telling me that I was...

I agree entirely with the hon. Gentleman’s proposition. May I tell him a little anecdote in response? I mentioned earlier that last Saturday morning I visited a voluntary group in London made up of previous offenders who help offenders. They paid me the compliment of telling me that I was...

I think that the Under-Secretary has already responded to my hon. Friend on that matter. In so far as it is possible, we make these things as public and as transparent as possible. When we have to choose between A and B rather than simply allocate to A, it is...

I think that the Under-Secretary has already responded to my hon. Friend on that matter. In so far as it is possible, we make these things as public and as transparent as possible. When we have to choose between A and B rather than simply allocate to A, it is...

I trust that we will be able to provide more detail about how we would apply those principles in practice during the course of proceedings, perhaps in the other place. It is certainly our intention that any target, aspiration, aim or formulation of a figure will relate to the amount...

I trust that we will be able to provide more detail about how we would apply those principles in practice during the course of proceedings, perhaps in the other place. It is certainly our intention that any target, aspiration, aim or formulation of a figure will relate to the amount...

If my hon. Friend will let me go a little further, I will certainly give way to her in a moment. After discussing that matter and similar subjects with colleagues, I should like to say something about the importance of local representation and identity, not just accountability, on trust boards....

If my hon. Friend will let me go a little further, I will certainly give way to her in a moment. After discussing that matter and similar subjects with colleagues, I should like to say something about the importance of local representation and identity, not just accountability, on trust boards....

I recognise my hon. Friend’s concerns, and I hope that what I have said tonight illustrates not only that but my attempt to address some of them. I have said that we are going to go further than just ensuring that the local probation trust inherits the obligations of the...

I recognise my hon. Friend’s concerns, and I hope that what I have said tonight illustrates not only that but my attempt to address some of them. I have said that we are going to go further than just ensuring that the local probation trust inherits the obligations of the...

No, I think that it is my hon. Friend who is becoming confused. I am not suggesting that the regional commissioner would sit on the probation trust; I am suggesting that the regional commissioner should have an involvement in the local area agreement in some way. The local area agreement...

No, I think that it is my hon. Friend who is becoming confused. I am not suggesting that the regional commissioner would sit on the probation trust; I am suggesting that the regional commissioner should have an involvement in the local area agreement in some way. The local area agreement...

I have to make some progress, if my hon. Friend will allow me. If time permits, I will come back to him. An important issue that Members raised continually and on which I am prepared to offer assurances relates to the role of the public sector in relation to offender...

I have to make some progress, if my hon. Friend will allow me. If time permits, I will come back to him. An important issue that Members raised continually and on which I am prepared to offer assurances relates to the role of the public sector in relation to offender...

I listened carefully to what my hon. Friend said this afternoon. It is a logical follow-on from what I said earlier about the motivation being best value and best providers, not any dogmatic insistence that services should be provided in this or that sector, that decisions must be based on...

I listened carefully to what my hon. Friend said this afternoon. It is a logical follow-on from what I said earlier about the motivation being best value and best providers, not any dogmatic insistence that services should be provided in this or that sector, that decisions must be based on...

I shall give way first to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow), whom I discourteously forgot, and then to my hon. Friend.

I shall give way first to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow), whom I discourteously forgot, and then to my hon. Friend.

I certainly hope so. Although there is a regional commissioner, I hope that we can lock in the guarantee of accountability below the regional level—not just in Teesside, but further down the geographic scale. Let me tell my hon. Friend about one or two of the things that we have...

I certainly hope so. Although there is a regional commissioner, I hope that we can lock in the guarantee of accountability below the regional level—not just in Teesside, but further down the geographic scale. Let me tell my hon. Friend about one or two of the things that we have...

In fairness, I should give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Grogan), who tried to intervene earlier.

In fairness, I should give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Grogan), who tried to intervene earlier.

Offender Management Bill. Report stage. New Clauses 8, 9, 10 debated and agreed to. New Clause 2 debated and negatived. New Clause 11, discussed with Government New Clause 12 and New Clause 3, agreed to. Amendment to New Clause 11 negatived on division. New Clause 4, discussed with New Clause 7, debated and withdrawn. Third Reading debate. Agreed to on division (293 votes to 268). Bill passed.

Offender Management Bill. Report stage. New Clauses 8, 9, 10 debated and agreed to. New Clause 2 debated and negatived. New Clause 11, discussed with Government New Clause 12 and New Clause 3, agreed to. Amendment to New Clause 11 negatived on division. New Clause 4, discussed with New Clause...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the contribution of the Vito and Krakatau subcritical tests to the US programme to sustain and improve the readiness to resume nuclear testing at the Nevada test site; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the contribution of the Vito and Krakatau subcritical tests to the US programme to sustain and improve the readiness to resume nuclear testing at the Nevada test site; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Navy has tested the torpedo tube-launched variant of the Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Navy has tested the torpedo tube-launched variant of the Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile; and if he will make a statement.

The Government made clear last year on 21 July 2004, Official Report, column 348 of their commitment to maintaining the effectiveness and safety of the nuclear deterrent including making the necessary investment in the facilities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston and Burghfield. To that end agreement has been...

The Government made clear last year on 21 July 2004, Official Report, column 348 of their commitment to maintaining the effectiveness and safety of the nuclear deterrent including making the necessary investment in the facilities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston and Burghfield. To that end agreement has been...