HC Deb 16 December 1998 vol 322 cc603-4W
Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses were received and from whom, to the consultation documents, "Joining Forces to Protect the Public", and "The Future Organisation of Family Courts". [63927]

Mr. Boateng

The number of responses we have received by 14 December to the two consultation documents, "Joining Forces to Protect the Public" and "The Future Organisation of Court Welfare Services", and the category within which the respondents fall, are as detailed:

Joining forces to protect the public
Category Number of replies received
Members of Parliament 14
Probation committees and services 59
Probation representative groups 15
Sentencers, courts and associated representative organisations 48
Police forces and representative groups 18
Crown Prosecution Service 1
Other partnership agencies 16
Individual members of probation staff 9
Local Authority sources 31
Health Authorities 4
Others and the public 51
Total 266

Additionally, the Prison Service has conducted an internal consultation exercise including meetings with about 250 area managers, governors and others.

The future organisation of Court Welfare Services
Category Number of replies received
Members of Parliament 0
Probation committees and services 61
Probation representative groups 6
Probation personnel 20
Guardian ad litem and reporting officer (GALRO) panels/GALRO panel committees 68
Local Authority sources 40
Guardian ad litem and reporting officer (GALRO) personnel 2
The judiciary—judges/designated judges/family court business committees 18
The legal profession (including associations) 21
Clerks to the justices/justices clerks' society/magistrates courts 26
The court service 6
Government departments/non-departmental public bodies 2
Voluntary organisations/partnership agencies 30
The public 10
Others/academics 8
Total 318

Some responses were submitted by one agency on behalf of interagency groups. The table illustrates the range of responses received.