Part of 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services – in the Senedd at 2:20 pm on 3 October 2018.
I do agree with the Member for Port Talbot, in terms of the analysis that he has of the failures of the probation service. These are matters I have discussed both with the service itself and with Ministers in the United Kingdom Government. I agree with him also that these matters should properly be held here, and be the responsibility of the Welsh Government. He may be interested to know that the UK Government did announce in July that there would be a consultation on the future of the probation service. The Welsh Government has responded to that consultation. I will be leading a debate in this place on 23 October to listen to what Members have to say about how they want to see the service developed in Wales, but I was very pleased to see that the proposals that the Ministry of Justice are making for Wales are distinct and recognise the distinct position of Wales. I believe they are a first step on the route to the sort of probation service that delivers coherent and holistic services in Wales and delivers for the people of Wales.