§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average cost of a community service order in (a) the financial year 1983–84 and (b) the financial year 1984–85.
§ Mr. MellorThe average annual cost of each person on a community service order in the financial year 1983–84 is estimated in "Probation Statistics, England and Wales, 1984" (Table 12.3, page 118) at £630. The average cost of a community service order, which on average lasts about eight months, is estimated in paragraph 12.5, pages 115–116 at £420. These estimates involve a number of assumptions and should be treated with reserve. The information for 1984–85 is not yet available, but this will be included in "Probation Statistics, England and Wales, 1985", which it is planned to publish towards the end of 1986.