§ 10. Mr. Brewisasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of probation officers in Scotland; and how far this number is short of establishment.
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteAt the end of 1961 there were 164 persons—including 29 women—in whole-time service as probation officers in Scotland. Local shortages have generally been of a temporary nature. My right hon. Friend is considering the implications of the Morison Report on the future of the service.
§ Mr. BrewisWould not my hon. Friend agree that the staffing of this service is very satisfactory in Scotland and that it does a good job of work? Could he say a little further about the Departmental Committee and what action he proposes to take over their salaries for the future?
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteI think that any answer to that will have to wait till we have had time to consider the very wide-ranging recommendations of the Morison Committee.
§ Mrs. HartWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that while, of course, many of us on this side of the House agree with what the hon. Member has just said about the excellent work being done by the probation officers' service in Scotland, nevertheless many jobs and tasks are being carried out in England and Wales by probation officers which are not done in Scotland and that in fact the shortage reflected in the Morison Report conceals the fact that there is a great scope for increasing probation work in Scotland?
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteWe are considering the whole problem in its widest aspects.