§ 2. Mr. Iremongerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the probation service.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. R. A. Butler)All aspects of the probation service are under consideration by the Departmental Committee on the Probation Service which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I recently appointed. I am sure that the Committee's recommendations will be of great value in planning the future of this important service.
§ Mr. IremongerCould my right hon. Friend give any indication to the House as to when he expects to receive the report and whether it will be received in time to enable him to take it into consideration when framing legislation which is foreshadowed in the Gracious Speech?
§ Mr. ButlerI am not quite sure about the coincidence of the date of the final report and legislation. I should have thought that legislation might be introduced before we receive the report, but I do not think it will be impossible to consider it during the passage of the legislation. It all depends on the speed with which the Committee performs its duties. I will draw my hon. Friend's Question to the Committee's attention.