§ 11. Mr. Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funds are to be made available to the probation service in order that it may carry out its extended functions in respect of after-care; and whether he is satisfied that the funds being made available will be adequate to avoid any restriction of the effectiveness of the service.
§ Miss BaconI assume that the hon. Member has in mind financial assistance for discharged offenders whose needs cannot be met by the National Assistance Board. My right hon. and learned Friend has recently indicated to probation committees his readiness to consider applications for increases in the annual maximum of expenditure authorised for this purpose.
§ Mr. ShepherdIs it not a fact that those from detention centres are now subject to after-care? Is she satisfied that the probation service has enough in the way of resources, in both physical and financial terms, to do the work which it is now called upon to undertake?
§ Miss BaconYes. The hon. Member knows that changes are taking place and have been taking place in the arrangements for after-care. We are very anxious indeed to see that sufficient funds are available for this important purpose. Some of the charitable funds which were to be spent by the Discharged Prisoners Aid Societies have been passed over to the Probation and After-Care Service.