§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are on probation; how many fully trained probation officers there are; and what are his plans for the probation service.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesOn 31st August 1975 there were 1, 140 persons on probation in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Probation Service comprises one Chief Probation Officer, one Assistant Chief Probation Officer, 10 senior probation Officers, 44 probation officers, five ancillaries and 23 trainee probation officers making a total of 84 officers. 11 officers have completed a Home Office probation training course, 20 are professionally qualified social workers, eight are seconded to professional training courses and the 23 trainees are at various stages of professional training. All remaining officers have undergone in service training and, except for ancillaries, will be given the opportunity to take professional training on secondment in the future.
I intend, in so far as circumstances permit, to continue the development of Northern Ireland Probation Service to the highest professional standards.