§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the future of the probation service in Wales;
(2) what plans he has to put parts of the probation service out to tender in Wales.
§ Mr. John PattenDecisions on the future organisation of the probation service in England and Wales are being considered in the light of responses to the Green Paper, "Supervision and Punishment in the Community" (Cm. 966) and an announcement will be made as soon as possible. We are consulting the probation service and the independent sector throughout England and Wales about how best they can work together in dealing with offenders in the community, and will make an announcement on these issues in due course.