Member

We are clear that delivering the intent of these reforms depends on the development of strong community services, which is the point that the noble Lord, Lord Crisp raised. That is why we are committed to ensuring that there are strong community support provisions in place for this group of people before commencing the proposed changes to the detention criteria in Section 3. We will be engaging with expert stakeholders to determine exactly what “strong community services” means. The first amendment that I referred to outlines specific services that must be commissioned in all circumstances, so I would be concerned that this amendment could possibly impose considerable burdens on ICBs and local authorities because it creates an obligation to provide a very specific and prescriptive list of services that must be delivered. I have concerns that this will inadvertently risk commissioning of services becoming something of a tick-box exercise, which I know noble Lords would not want to see, if the need to satisfy this duty was paramount and if discretion was being limited to determine what would meet needs locally.