§ 17. Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the probation service in each area is up to full strength; how new entrants to the service are trained in each area; what duties they are trained for; how many probation officers are employed for the work they do before attaining full professional standards; the reason why this is done; to what extent pay and conditions of service have been cited as reasons for staff leaving the probation service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CarlisleMost areas have vacancies. Most new entrants have been through a pre-entry course of professional training at a university or other educational or training establishment, but about one-quarter of the established strength have been appointed without this prior training, because of the need to expand the service. Some officers have left for reasons of pay, but precise figures are not available.
§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers left the probation service in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Carlisle160 established officers in 1966 and subsequently 177, 181, 231 and 250.
§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet able to announce increased pay for probation officers.
§ Mr. CarlisleNo.
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§ Sir E. Bullusasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to make a statement about probation officers' salaries.
§ Mr. CarlisleI would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply given today to Questions by the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. David Stoddart) and the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short).