§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many sponsorships for the training of probation officers are available for September 1983;
(2) how many applications for sponsorship for the training of probation officers his Department has received from persons who have been offered a place on a certificate of qualification in social work course within that course's quota of sponsored places;
280W(3) how many applicants for sponsorship for the training of probation officers (a) had been refused, (b) had been successful and (c) were undecided at 1 July 1983; and how many sponsorships were still available on that date because no satisfactory application had been received.
§ Mr. MellorA recruit to the probation service as an established probation officer must hold a certificate of qualification in social work. To ensure there are sufficient eligible applicants the Home Office sponsors students for courses at selected universities and polytechnics. The number of sponsorships is determined by the needs of the service and each course is allocated a quota of sponsored places. The number of sponsorships available for the academic year 1983–84 is 288.
An applicant for sponsorship must first have been selected by an appropriate educational institution for a place on a relevant course and recommended for sponsorship within its quota. By 1 July 289 applications had been received, with the following results:
Number Sponsorships awarded *249 Applications withdrawn 5 Applications rejected 13 Applications under consideration 22 * Including two subsequently declined. Nineteen sponsorships are still available, in addition to those covered by the applications under consideration.