§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in the last three months about "Probation—The Next Five Years," a joint statement by the Central Council of Probation Committees, the Association of Chief Officers of Probation and the National Association of Probation Officers.
§ Mr. John PattenSixteen letters have been received from hon. Members on the subject. My right hon. Friend and I met representatives of the three organisations in August and discussed the statement with them.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he or other Ministers in his Department have made any recent visits to probation services in England and Wales; and if he has any plans to do so in the future.
§ Mr. John PattenSince April this year the Home Secretary has visited probation services in north Wales (in April) and the west midlands (in October); I visited the Inner London probation service in July. My right hon. Friend plans to visit a day centre project in Norwich in March 1988; and I plan to visit the Hampshire and Oxfordshire services this month, Northumbria probation service in November and Hereford and Worcester probation service in January 1988.