PROBATION SERVICE

HL Deb 10 January 1994 vol 551 cc16-7WA

Lord Harris of Greenwich

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What will be the level of expenditure for the Probation Service for 1994–95 and 1995–96 compared with the estimated outturn for 1993–94; and what will be the consequences for the numbers employed in the service.

Earl Ferrers

The planned level of central government expenditure on the Probation Service, which includes probation staff working in prison service establishments, is as follows:

		(£ million)
1993–94	1994–95	1995–96
(estimated outturn)	(forecast)	(forecast)
400.6	412.7	416.8

It is for each area probation committee to use its revenue budget in a way which will provide the most effective and efficient service, having regard to local circumstances and priorities. The number of staff employed in the Probation Service will accordingly depend on these local decisions.