HC Deb 20 November 1990 vol 181 c71W
Mr. Andrew Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the efficiency scrutiny of in-service training for the probation service to begin.

Mr. John Patten

The efficiency scrutiny of in-service probation training will begin on 26 November. It will have the following terms of referenceTo examine the current arrangements for providing in-service probation training, and to advise and make recommendations on:

  1. (a) what in-service training, including management training, should be offered to probation officers up to and including SPO grade;
  2. (b) who should provide it and how;
  3. (c) what it will cost and how it should be financed;
  4. (d) how it should link with pre-qualifying training and management training for chief officers grades;
  5. (e) what steps should be taken to monitor quality, relevance, effectiveness and consistency throughout the service, to measure performance and to ensure value for money; and
  6. (f) what the line of accountability should be, and what structured systems and procedures are needed."

The scrutiny will be conducted by a small team of officials led by Dr. Savas Hadjipavlou of the Home Office. He will be closely assisted by Mr. Steven Murphy on secondment from the inner London probation service. We expect to receive the report during April 1991.

The scrutiny team will be consulting widely. Interested parties may wish to send their observations in writing to the In-Service Probation Training Scrutiny Team, Room 116/117, Home Office, Whittington house, 19–30 Alfred place, London WC1E 7LG.