§ 3. Mr. Iremongerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the length of time required by the Departmental Committee on the Probation Service to prepare a 1454 comprehensive report, he will ask the Committee for an interim report and recommendations on pay and conditions.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. R. A. Butler)No, Sir. I am not prepared to take this initiative. It is, of course, for the Committee to interpret its task in its own way; but I am bound to point out that many of the other matters it has to examine are relevant to pay.
§ Mr. IremongerIs my right hon. Friend aware that this Committee is taking—and looks like continuing to take—a very long time, and that the wastage from the service and the difficulty of recruitment are therefore going to face him with a deteriorating situation when he tackles the service in the light of the Committee's recommendations?
§ Mr. ButlerI naturally hope that the Committee will be able to report as soon as possible, but I have carefully examined its terms of reference, and so many of them have some relation to pay that I hesitate to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion, although I realise the urgency of the matter.