Napo is disappointed that the minister did not make a verbal statement to the House yesterday. A number of questions had been prepared for MPs that had indicated they would like to speak and we had hoped to glean more information from the session. Unfortunately Richard Burgon's Urgent Question was also not chosen. Although he will try to get another one in today off the back of yesterday's speech given by David Gauke. Napo will continue to push for a meeting with the Minister as well.
Read the written statement here
To mark the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution we have launched raffle to raise funds for all our Cuba60 activities throughout the year.
HM Chief Inspector of Probation Dame Glenys Stacey welcomed the government’s intervention following an inspection of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall Community Rehabilitation Company. The CRC has been given an overall rating of ‘Inadequate’ – the lowest possible rating. The publication of the inspection report is timely coming at the time when Working Links – which owns Dorset, Devon and Cornwall CRC – announced it is going into administration. Dame Glenys welcomed government action to ensure probation services continue to operate saying; "Our inspection found Dorset, Devon and Cornwall CRC is not delivering probation services to anywhere near the expected standard. Most of their work is poor quality and puts the public at unnecessary risk".
Richard Burgon, Shadow Justice Secretary, said: 
Working Links, who own 3 Community Rehabilitation Companies delivering probation services in Wales, Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, has gone into administration leaving uncertainty for staff and service users. Napo, who had repeatedly warned the Minister that the company was in dire straits, has been informed that the company will now go into administration leaving staff and service users unsure about the future. 
Napo General Secretary Ian Lawrence responding to the news about Working Links said: ‘There will be very few staff who have been employed in the Working Links CRCs who will shed a tear at the news of the demise of this most dreadful company. The unsafe operational model that was introduced at the start of the CRC contracts and the disastrous staffing cuts were the catalyst to a formal dispute between the probation trade unions and Working Links that is in its third year. The dedication of our members in trying their best in almost impossible working conditions and their refusal to be intimidated by Working Links regressive employment practices has been especially commendable.
This week is TUC Heart Unions Week (11th - 15th February). Napo is using the week to launch our own Recruit a Friend Campaign. The scheme will allow members who recruit a colleague to claim a reward of a £25 gift voucher (after the new recruit has been in membership for 3 months). Really active members can claim up to 4 rewards in a 12 month period (you can only claim one reward in any 3 months).
This new folk ballad from Townsend Production tells the remarkable story of Mary Macarthur and the women chainmakers of Cradley Heath. Who led by the charismatic union campaigner Mary Macarthur managed to more than double their earnings and establish the principle of a national minimum wage. 
This year will see the 22nd Bill McWilliams Memorial Lecture take place on Friday 22 March 2019 at 12.30pm for 2.00pm as usual at the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge.