§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in view of the fact that Merseyside Probation and After Care Service is unable to accept any more community service orders, what steps he is taking to rectify the situation;
122W(2) in view of the fact that the stop on recruitment to the Merseyside Probation Service has resulted in the withdrawal of community service orders in the Knowsley Petty Session Division, if he will now restart recruitment.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI understand that the courts were informed of a numerical limit to the number of community service orders which could be administered by the Merseyside Probation Service at any one time. My information is that the number of orders in force is currently below that limit and that new orders are now being made. I am glad to say that I have now been informed that this numerical restriction is being withdrawn.
Limitations on recruitment of staff which have been necessitated by the economic situation apply to all probation areas, and there can be no exceptions to them.