§ Mr. HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he plans to make to the boundaries of the probation areas of Mid-Glamorgan and Gwent following the creation of the new unitary authority of Caerphilly. [24871]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerI propose to make a combined probation areas order under the Probation Services Act 1993 altering the boundary between the probation areas190W of Gwent and Mid-Glamorgan, subject to consultation with the justices concerned and other interested parties. The order would involve combining the petty sessions divisions within the unitary authority Caerphilly with those in the existing probation area of Gwent, and withdrawing the corresponding divisions from the Mid-Glamorgan probation area, with effect from 1 April 1996. Subject to the views of consultees, I believe that this outcome would promote the effective and efficient provision of probation services in South Wales and their co-ordination with other criminal justice services.