§ 64. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further progress has been made in the recruitment of students for training as probation officers; what is the present shortage in this service; whether the case loads of male probation officers have risen or fallen during the past twelve months; and what percentage of applicants for training have respectively been rejected, and have commenced training but have withdrawn before completion of the course during the past twelve months.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerOne hundred and twenty-one persons entered probation training during the twelve months ended 31st January, 1960. There are at present about seventy advertised vacancies in the probation service, but the shortage is probably somewhat greater. Information on the movement of case loads during 1959 is being collected, but will 153W not be complete for some months. Many of the applications for training received during 1959 are still under consideration and I cannot say what the percentage rejected will be. Three students withdrew from training during 1959.