§ 59. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the present rate of recruitment and the national shortage of probation officers; to what extent the case loads of male probationer officers have risen in recent years; and what further action is now being taken to attract more recruits pending the conclusion of the inquiries by the Departmental Committee.
§ Mr. RentonThe establishment of whole-time probation officers increased by 31 persons during the first four114W months of 1959, and 99 students should complete training and enter the service by the end of the year. There are at present about seventy advertised vacancies, but the shortage is probably somewhat greater. The increase since 1951 in the average case-load of male probation officers was six on 1st August, 1958, the latest date for which figures are available. Recent action to attract more recruits has included a display at the National Education and Careers Exhibition at Olympia, and the publication of a booklet entitled "The Probation Service as a Career", of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.