Probation Committees (Hansard, 19 November 1984)

§ Mr. Fatchett
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which existing local authorities will provide the servicing for the probation joint committees in metropolitan county areas in the event of the abolition of the metropolitan counties.

§ Mr. Mellor
Following the abolition of the metropolitan county councils, the duty to meet the expenses of probation committees in the metropolitan counties will pass to the district councils; it will be for each of these probation committees to make such arrangements as it sees fit for the provision of specialist services by outside organisations, which could include one or more of the district councils in the area.

§ Mr. Fatchett
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the event of the abolition of the 9W metropolitan counties, the successor probation committees will be empowered to determine their own budgetary requirements without reference to or consultation with all the metropolitan districts in their areas.

§ Mr. Mellor
Following the abolition of the metropolitan county councils, the duty of probation committees in the metropolitan counties to consult local authorities on their proposed expenditure in support of probation officers will he revoked. But each of these probation committees will be required to co-opt a member of every district council in the area, and to furnish copies of its annual estimates to those councils; and it will be open to a district council or the probation committee—as it now is to the county council or that committee—in the event of disagreement on the provision for expenditure in support of probation officers, to seek a determination by my right hon. and learned Friend.

§ Mr. Fatchett
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on whom the responsibility will fall for determining the numbers of local authority representatives to be co-opted on to probation committees should Cmnd. 9063 be implemented; and what are his proposals for governing the composition of such co-options.

§ Mr. Mellor
The Government propose that, after the abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils, probation committees in outer London and the metropolitan counties should be required to co-opt one member from each of their constituent borough or district councils unless the Home Secretary has by order specified that a greater number should be co-opted from any particular council. The procedure to be followed by a probation committee in co-opting will be specified in an order to be made by the Home Secretary; consultations are being held on the details of the arrangements.