Offender Management Bill

My Lords, this is another area in which I support the noble Lord, Lord Judd. It is absolutely crucial as we move into this somewhat flexible world that people are equipped to carry out whatever level of professional supervision is required, and that there is appropriate training at the right level. We are in a state of flux, as we all know, because the degree to which contracts are being offered is very limited—one year, two years, whatever it is—because of the transition and we need a period where that can be worked through. Above all, we need to be assured that the professional standard whichhas been the key mark of the probation training organised and provided by the department—whatever it is to be called in the future—will conform to the level necessary for its probation officers to supervise their clients. I hope the amendment will be accepted. Anyhow, I intend later on to table a more detailed amendment on training to ensure that the future is provided for. I hope the noble Lord, Lord Judd, will support that amendment as well, as he supported me on a previous occasion. At the moment, we need some reassurance.