§ Mr. Bodyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the national average case-load for men and women probation officers, respectively, in rural and urban areas, respectively, in 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe national average case-loads for probation officers were 113W as follows on 31st December, in the first three years mentioned:
— Men Women 1954 54.9 37.8 1955 55.9 38.1 1956 58.9 37.7 I regret that the figures are not recorded separately for rural and urban areas and that the figures for 31st December, 1957, are not yet available: they are likely to be somewhat higher than those for 1956.
§ Mr. Bodyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the estimated shortage of permanent probation officers in England and Wales on 1st January, 1957, 1st April, 1957, 1st January, 1958, and 1st April, 1958, respectively.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe advertised vacancies outstanding on the various dates were:
1st January, 1957 12 1st April, 1957 32 1st January, 1958 56 1st April, 1958 57 The shortage of permanent probation officers would have been somewhat greater than these figures suggest, particularly in 1958, owing to there being some vacancies which were not advertised at the time.