HC Deb 03 February 1983 vol 36 cc167-8W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, since the coming into operation of section 65 of the Criminal Justice Act concerning probation and after-care, there has been any change in the nature of the work of the service.

Mr. Mellor

Section 65 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982, which came into operation on 31 January, is not expected to make any fundamental change in the work of the probation service. The provisions which we see as likely to have the most effect on the service's work are those which deal with the inclusion of requirements in probation orders—and particularly those enabling use of the requirement to attend a day centre to be resumed and extended. Developments will depend on the use which courts decide to make of the new provisions and on probation committees' decisions about the allocation of available resources.