§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the current extent of delays in the probation service in worst and best cases in dealing with(a) conciliation cases and (b) child welfare reports, both in divorce cases.
§ Mr. John PattenThe figures on which such an estimate would have to be based are not collected locally or centrally.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for the work of the probation service in conciliation and child welfare reports in civil divorce cases; what studies he has commissioned on this work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenThere are no proposals at present to alter the arrangements under which this work is done. Her Majesty's inspectorate of probation, as part of their continuing programme of inquiries into specific themes of probation service work, will shortly be starting on an investigation of the civil work of the probation service.