§ 21. Mr. S. O. Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give his reasons for insisting upon the combining of the probation service of Merthyr Tydfil with that of the Glamorgan County Council.
§ Mr. BrookeI have accepted the arguments in paragraph 174 of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Probation Service which recommended the merging of small probation areas in larger units. This policy is now being pursued throughout the country, and I have been unable, after very careful consideration, to find sufficient grounds for making an exception in the case of Merthyr Tydfil.
§ Mr. DaviesIs the Home Secretary aware that there is nothing dogmatic in the reference that he has made to the Morrison Committee? Has not he already complimented the splendid work of the probation service in Merthyr Tydfil? Is it not a fact that he has made no practical suggestions in respect of all the representations made to him as to how that service can be improved? Is not he aware that his action now is regarded literally as an offence against the excellent Merthyr Tydfil probation service?
§ Mr. BrookeNo, Sir. It is in no sense a criticism. As I told the hon. Member, my decision in no way reflects upon the 605 value which I attach to the close interest which the Committee has taken in the work of the probation officers. But the Morrison Committee recommended that any probation office which could not sustain a staff of at least six probation officers and a principal probation officer should be merged with a larger administrative unit. Until recently the Merthyr Tydfil probation service had only two probation officers. Now it has only three.
§ Sir H. HarrisonDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that his policy of merging smaller authorities is an excellent one, which is paying very good dividends? The hon. Member may know of the success of the probation service amalgamation of East and West Suffolk. He would be wise to ponder on that.
§ Mr. BrookeYes, Sir. Frequently there is objection in some quarters to a proposed merging, but the criticism always dies away because of the success of the larger units.
§ Mr. DaviesMy Question was addressed to the Home Secretary and not to a stranger who does not know the first thing about my area of South Wales.
§ 22. Mr. S. O. Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the event of the combining of the Merthyr Tydfil probation service with that of Glamorgan, what will be the proportional representation on the then joint probation committee of each authority, respectively; and what will be the function and authority of the present Merthyr Tydfil probation committee.
§ Mr. BrookeI have asked the Glamorgan and Merthyr Tydfil probation committees to consult together and to advise me about representation on the committee for the new combined area. After combination, it will be the duty of the justices acting for the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil to provide a probation case committee. Case committees have a statutory duty to exercise a general supervision over the work and records of probation officers, to receive and consider reports from them on the progress of persons under their supervision, and to afford 606 probation officers such help and advice as they can.
§ Mr. DaviesIs not the Home Secretary aware that he has not answered my Question? I was not asking for the obvious reply with which he entertained the House. I was asking him to be good enough to tell the hon. Member representing Merthyr Tydfil what would be the proportional representation of Merthyr Tydfil, side by side with the Glamorgan administrative county, in the so-called joint probation committee.
§ Mr. BrookeAs I indicated in my Answer, I hope that the Merthyr and Glamorgan committees will be making agreed recommendations to me. It is not for me to be dogmatic and to lay down what they should do without consulting them.
§ Mr. DaviesIn view of the unfavourable reply of the Home Secretary, I beg to give notice that I propose to raise this matter again at the first opportunity.