§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the. Home Department why he has decided to reduce the salaries of probation trainees starting training during 1983.
§ Mr. MellorThe special and generally more favourable treatment in salaries and other financial support given to probation students sponsored by the Home Office, as compared with other social work students, had its origin in a need found in the early 1970s to attract more applicants. In recent years the number of suitable applicants has much exceeded the numbers required.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the numbers entering probation training in the current year compare with each of the last five years.
§ Mr. MellorThe number of students sponsored by the Home Office who are due to enter probation training this autumn is 288. In each of the past five years the number of such students was as follows:
Number 1982 295 1981 254 1980 412 1979 457 1978 425 The number of students accepted for training in any year is determined by the requirements of the probation service, and has not depended on the number applying for sponsorship.