§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when it is proposed that probation boards will begin to exercise executive functions and powers;
(2) what appointment procedures will be set in place for constituting the membership of probation boards; and when such procedures will be published.
§ Mr. MacleanPrimary legislation is required to enact the probation board proposals and the timing of this depends on an appropriate legislative opportunity. Details of the procedures proposed for appointments to boards will be confirmed at that time.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether representatives of voluntary bodies who are either tendering for or involved in partnerships will be eligible to be members of probation boards.
§ Mr. MacleanA number of probation committee members have active links with voluntary sector organisations which are, or may be, involved in partnerships with the probation service. Although those links should not be a bar to probation committee membership, it is important that committees have in place procedures to avoid any conflicts of interest which may arise. Similar considerations are likely to apply to probation boards in due course.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which probation services in England and Wales will be reducing staffing levels in the financial year 1994–95; and what will be the consequent effect on probation work loads.
§ Mr. MacleanIt is for each probation committee to decide how the resources available to it should be used to best effect; and the Home Office does not have information about committees' plans for the remainder of the present financial year with regard to numbers of staff in post.