59.This Section gives the Home Secretary the power to make an order to contract out work undertaken by local probation boards. This power may be exercised in relation to one or more parts of boards’ responsibilities. In contrast to the contracting out power in Section 5, this Section is designed to enable the contracting out of support services which are common to all boards such as the provision of information technology and the administration of the payroll.
60.This power is available for use where greater efficiency or better value for money can be achieved; for instance if a particular activity could be managed more cost-effectively by organising it on a national or regional basis. Arrangements for contracting out all the functions of a board are dealt with under Section 10.
Commentary on Sections Part I: The New Services Chapter I: National Probation Service for England and Wales Section 8: Support Services - Powers to contract out