Justice Week 8-12 December 2008

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December 19, 2006

OM Bill Committee Stage starts 11 January

The Offender Manager Bill will go to the Committee Stage in the House of Commons on 11 January.

The Committee has now been established
and members are

Conservative
Peter Atkinson (Chairman), Hexham
Crispin Blunt, Reigate
James Brokenshire, Hornchurch
Edward Garnier, Harborough
Nick Hurd, Ruislip-Northwood
David Maclean, Penrith and Borders

Lib Dems
Mark Hunter, Cheadle
Mark Williams, Ceredigion

Labour
Hugh Bayley (Chairman), City of York
Alan Campbell, Tynemouth
Vernon Coaker, Gedling
Robert Flello, Stoke on Trent South
Neil Gerrard, Walthamstow
Andrew Gwynne, Denton and Reddish
Diana Johnson, Hull North
David Kidney, Stafford
Ian Lucas, Wrexham
Kerry McCarthy, Bristol East

Gerry Sutcliffe, Bradford South

Napo will be lobbying for significant amendments to the Bill at the Committee stage. Further guidance for members will be sent out via branches very shortly.

Posted by kfalcon at 11:59 AM

Facts and More Facts

Following the circulation of Napo's Stop the Bill leaflet - 10 Reasons to Oppose the Bill - NOMS published its own briefing, “The Offender Management Bill: The Facts”, which sought to deal, point by point, with our arguments against the Bill. This has been circulated widely. Earlier this month, Napo produced our response to the NOMS publication and this was sent to MPs last week.

The briefing - Facts and More Facts
- can be downloaded here.

Posted by kfalcon at 11:48 AM

December 12, 2006

OMS Bill unsustainable after Second Reading vote

The Offender Management Bill looks to be unsustainable in its current form, following the vote at Second Reading,

Labour rebels pressed for a vote and 27 MPs voted against with another 10 positively abstaining. In addition the Liberal Democrats, Welsh Nationalists and the DUP have indicated that they are opposed to the Bill. The Conservatives offered conditional support, but only if the Bill were substantially amended at its later stages. They have made it clear that they do not support commissioning from the Centre or Region. If commissioning is to happen it must be devolved to Areas.

There is, therefore, in Napo’s view everything to play for.

Read the debate in full.

Over the coming months, Napo will be stepping up lobbying, particularly of targeted MPs, and also holding regular meetings with the Conservative and Liberal Democrat front benches.

It is, therefore, more important than ever before for Branches and members to keep up the pressure on MPs locally. More information on campaign action will be sent out to members via branches over the next few day.

Posted by kfalcon at 02:34 PM