In his statement to the House of Commons on 11^th June 2020, the Lord Chancellor confirmed plans for a Probation Services Dynamic Framework through which the National Probation Service and other public bodies can commission rehabilitative and resettlement services. It opened on 11^th June for registration by prospective suppliers with an interest in provision of one or more of 14 service categories.

Our plans for the first set of contracts to be commissioned through the Framework reflect our assessment of the relative distribution of offender needs, the availability of existing local provision, and the capacity of both the third sector and HMPPS (in light of the impact of COVID-19) to complete call-off competitions and mobilise services in time for the start of future arrangements in June 2021. These contracts will be commissioned for delivery at police force or probation region level. We initially intend to run competitions for lots which cover the following Probation Services Dynamic Framework service categories:

• Accommodation

• Employment, training, and education

• Family and significant others

• Lifestyle and associates

• Emotional wellbeing

• Social inclusion

• Women

• Young adults (in Wales only)

Of these, accommodation and employment, training and education services will be commissioned at NPS regional level. All others will be commissioned at Police Force Area level.

As we finalise the detail of these plans, Ministers and members of the Probation Reform Programme team will continue to meet regularly with voluntary sector organisations to seek their feedback on our plans. Officials are supporting workshops which will be run by Clinks and which will cover a range of topics linked to participation in the Probation Services Dynamic Framework, including consortia building, to aid voluntary sector organisations in their bids for contracts.

I will place a copy of the Framework in the library of the House.