§ Mr. Geoffrey Lloydasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the additional recruitment of trained probation officers so far this 174W year, net of resignations and retirements; whether he is satisfied with the progress that this represents towards the numbers required for the expanded rôle of the probation officer; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsDuring the first ten months of 1967, 196 trained and 104 untrained officers were appointed to the probation and after-care service in England and Wales, producing net increases of 99 and 61, respectively. The total number of established officers at 31st October was 2,717. A further 360 students are expected to complete training and become available for appointment as probation officers before the end of 1968.
The marked improvement in recruitment to training which began in the second half of 1966 is being maintained and has been accompanied by a decline in wastage from the service. While the net increase in strength has fallen short of what was planned in 1965, I believe that the service will be able to meet its various responsibilities. The Advisory Council for Probation and After-Care is continuing to keep a close watch on the staffing needs of the service.