§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applicants there were for places on probation training courses in 1980 and 1981; what proportion of these came from ethnic minorities; how many were successful; and what proportion of these came from ethnic minorities;
(2) if he will review the selection criteria for the probation service with a view to promoting the appointment of recruits from ethnic minorities;
(3) what steps are taken to encourage the recruitment of ethnic minorities into the probation service.
§ Mr. MayhewThe number of applications for courses with a probation option received in 1980 was 1,926, and in 1981 it was 1,992. Of these, 409 and 325, respectively, were sponsored by the Home Office. Information relating to ethnic origin is not sought.
Advertisements inviting applications are placed in the ethnic minority press, and a coloured probation officer was depicted in illustrated advertisements in 1981.