§ Mr. Simsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report details of the percentage increase in the salary of a main grade probation officer since the implementation of the Butterworth scales, the percentage increase in the retail price index and the percentage increase in the average pay of non-manual workers 464W during the corresponding period; and what steps he proposes to take to raise probation officers' salaries to a level which reflects the extent of their responsibilities and their importance to society.
§ Dr. SummerskillBetween July 1972 and July 1978, when current rates of pay came into effect, the salaries of main grade officers at the entry points for professionally trained graduates and non-graduates increased by 115 per cent. and 122 per cent. respectively, and the maximum of the scale increased by 89 per cent. It is estimated that average gross earnings of main grade officers increased by 107 per cent. while the retail price index rose by about 131 per cent. Statistics of average pay of non-manual workers are not available but between April 1972 and April 1978 the average gross earnings of male non-manual workers over 21 including overtime and other emoluments increased by 132 per cent.
Following the report of the Butterworth inquiry of 1972, probation officers' salaries were linked to those of local authority social workers. In 1977 the joint negotiating committee of the probation and aftercare service appointed a working party comprising members of both sides of the committee to examine the pay structure of the service. The working party is required by its terms of reference to take account of changes in the functions, work and structure of the service since the Butterworth inquiry and of relativities with other groups, in particular local authority social workers. My right hon. Friend will consider any recommendations which the joint negotiating committee makes as a result of the working party's report.