§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) probation orders, (b) community service orders, (c) combination orders and (d) parole cases were being supervised by the probation service on (i) 30 June 1993 and (ii) 30 June 1994.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerPersons supervised by the probation service in England and Wales were as follows:
Thousands of persons 30 June 1993 31 December 1993 Probation 46.7 48.2 Community service 36.3 38.8 Combination 5.1 9.0 Parole 9.1 7.0 Figures for 30 June 1994 are not yet available.
§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the resource implications of extra duties in respect of victims for the probation service.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerI have received a number of representations that changes to national standards for the supervision of offenders in the community which were published for consultation in the autumn would impose additional costs for the probation service in relation to contacts with the victims of crime. I am still considering whether those representations have substance and whether the earlier proposals should in any event be modified.
§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Probation Service's overall budget in England and Wales changed as a result of the Chancellor's statement in November 1993 for the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerPlanned levels of central Government support for probation service expenditure 961W both before and after the Chancellor's statement in November 1993 were:
£ million 1994–95 1995–96 Pre-Statement Probation current grant 307.4 323.6 Probation capital grant 20.1 20.7 Post-Statement Probation current grant 306.3 309.1 Probation capital grant 19.2 19.3
§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation service posts will be abolished or frozen as a result of reductions in the Probation Service budget during 1994–95 and 1995–96.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerIt is for individual probation committees to decide what measures to take to live within their budget. I understand that committees are still considering how best to plan their 1995–96 expenditure in the light of the Chancellor's Budget statement.