To ask the Minister of Justice for an update on her Department's proposals to the Interim Public Sector Transformation Board.

Mrs Long

I was pleased to present five innovative and transformative bids from my Department to the interim public-sector transformation board. Following consideration by the interim board, I welcome the fact that three of those bids have moved forward for further consideration. The bids relate to three key areas: speeding up and transforming the criminal justice system; reducing reoffending and prison population initiatives; and electronic monitoring for those on bail or on licence. All three bids present innovative and transformative solutions to some of the challenges that face the justice system. Although the timescale for notifying the outcome of the stage 2 assessment has not been confirmed yet, I understand that the interim board will provide advice to the Finance Minister and that recommendations will then be made to the Executive. I look forward to the consideration of the recommendations at the Executive.

Mrs Long

Yes, I am very pleased to provide some insight into the bids that have made it through for further consideration by the interim board. We made a bid, which has been supported by the Criminal Justice Board, to speed up the transformation of the criminal justice system. That bid is in partnership with the Public Prosecution Service and will, among other things, reduce demand through providing a proportionate response to offending, including increasing non-court disposals. It will invest in early engagement across the justice system, including between police and prosecution, and prosecution and defence, to maximise efficiencies. The bid will also seek to utilise and exploit technology to support transformation. Our bid to reduce reoffending, alongside measures to address the prison population, involves the Department for Communities. It includes provision for investments in a bail support scheme to divert people from custody, the roll-out of enhanced combination orders through the Probation Board as an alternative to short prison sentences and a review of the Prison Service framework for delivering rehabilitation. Finally, we have a bid to create a multidisciplinary team to examine the technical and policy implications of implementing GPS location monitoring for those on bail or licence to be fitted with an electronic tag as part of their release conditions. All three bids present innovative and transformative solutions to the challenges facing the justice system. I am wholly convinced that, should we receive funding through those bids, it will afford us opportunities to improve effectiveness and efficiency and to meet the increased and changing demands on the system, providing stability for the future.