§ 1. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest figures for the number of areas operating community service arrangements; and what steps he is taking to further the extension of these arrangements.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Brynmor John)Community service arrangements now exist in the whole of 28 probation areas and in parts of 25 others. The Government have repeatedly emphasised the importance they attach to the development of community service within the limits of the resources available to probation and after-care committees, and have encouraged committees to achieve extensions where possible by appropriate reallocations of resources. I am glad to say that further extensions of these arrangements will take effect in certain areas from 1st April.
§ Mr. RobertsI greatly welcome that answer and I congratulate my right hon. and hon. Friends on the progress they 586 have made in this direction. Is it possible still to speed up the development of this service in view of the many factors involved, including the pressure on the prison population? Will the Minister also look at the possibility of providing additional resources for this purpose?
§ Mr. JohnAs my hon. Friend will know, the question of resources is difficult, but within available resources we encourage the probation and after-care committees to look at their priorities, and we believe these arrangements to have high priority.
§ Mr. SimsDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that the freeze on recruitment to the probation service which was imposed last autumn makes it difficult, if not impossible, for probation committees to extend or develop their community order schemes? Will he reconsider this policy and perhaps lift the restrictions on recruitment?
§ Mr. JohnI understand the difficulties which financial constraints place upon all public services. In answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts), I said that redeployment in favour of these services is something which such committees would need to look at because it can be a valuable arrangement.