§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he received the report commissioned by the Association of Chief Officers of Probation entitled "Surviving Poverty: Probation work and benefits policy"; what response he intends to make; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JackThe report was received in November 1989 and, in response, the Department attended a follow up conference called by the Association of Chief Officers of Probation in May. In addition, DSS matters were further reviewed when a delegation of Probation Service representatives, with the hon. Member for Macclesfield, attended a meeting chaired by the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mrs. Shephard).
Following on from these meetings, the Department has undertaken to consider the implications for discharged prisoners over a wide range of benefit issues. There is also liaison at a local level; for example, the Leeds West office already have regular meetings with local social services and other welfare groups, including prison officers from Armley.