HC Deb 24 November 1995 vol 267 c379W
Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will place a copy of his draft replacement to his Department's recruitment brochure for the probation service in the Library; [2297]

(2) when he aims to publish the replacement to his Department's recruitment brochure for the probation service "Facing up to Crime"; and what will be the total cost of the new production; [2296]

(3) if he will list the organisations he is consulting or intends to consult on his replacement for his Department's recruitment brochure for the probation service, together with the closing date for comments; and if he will place copies of all responses in the Library. [2298]

Mr. Kirkhope

An information and recruitment booklet about the work of the probation service to replace "Facing up to Crime" will be published as soon as possible, at a cost of about £45,000. The Association of Chief Officers of Probation, Central Probation Council, Association of Black Probation Officers, National Association of Asian Probation Staff, National Association of Probation Officers, Probation Managers Association and the Society of Chief Officers of Probation have been consulted, with a request to comment by 20 November. We shall place a copy of the new booklet in the Library on publication but do not propose to do so in relation to the consultative draft or the one comment on it so far submitted.

Mr. Rowe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers are currently paid from public funds; how many have a qualification in social work; what is the age profile of the probation service; how many probation officers were recruited in 1994; and what was the age profile of these recruits. [1986]

Mr. Kirkhope

The latest available information is as follows:

At 31 March 1995 there were in post 6,0411 main grade probation officers.

Statistics on the age profile of probation service staff, the numbers holding a social work qualification and the numbers recruited each year are not collected centrally. 1Excludes trainee and temporary probation officers.