§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what were the findings of the Audit Commission inquiry into the workings of the probation service; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what action his Department will be taking following receipt of the Audit Commission report entitled "The Probation Service, Promoting Value for Money".
§ Mr. John Patten[holding answer 14 April 1989]: The Audit Commission found that well planned and targeted probation work can be effective, and that there is an important role for the probation service to play in providing the courts with more commuity-based services. But the Audit Commission calls for several improvements, which have to be made before the probation service can do this: supervising offenders more effectively; focusing activities more sharply on serious offenders; better research and evaluation of effectiveness; closer collaboration with the courts and other agencies; and improving management systems.
I welcome the report. Further action on its important recommendations will be closely linked to action on the proposals set out in the Green Paper "Punishment, Custody and the Community", and the programme of work set out in part 2 of the Green Paper (and in "Tackling Offending: an Action Plan") is already in hand. Her Majesty's inspectorate of probation will be collaborating with the Audit Commission in a series of "value for money" audits in probation areas throughout England and Wales, starting in 1990.