§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total case load undertaken by probation services; what was the average case load per probation officer; what was the real- terms change in the level of his Department's funding for probation services in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.[46260]
§ Ms QuinThe information requested is given in the table:
Year Persons commencing supervision Average caseload 1992 133,294 20.7 1993 142,152 21.3 1994 152,843 23.1 1995 154,546 25.0 1996 157,600 27.7
Year Resources (£ million) 1992–93 313.0 1993–94 330.8 1994–95 343.3 1995–96 348.3 1996–97 349.5 The overall supervision figures are taken from table 3.1 of the "Probation Statistics England and Wales 1996" and the average caseload figures are taken from table 8.13 of the same publication. The resources figures, which are expressed in real terms at 1996–97 prices using the Gross Domestic Product inflator, are taken from table 13.1 of the "Home Office Annual Report 1998". Both publications are in the Library.
§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received expressing concern over the adequacy of resources available for probation services to fulfil their statutory obligations; and if he will make a statement. [46258]
193W
§ Ms QuinWe have received representations about probation service resources from hon. Members and from the Central Probation Council, the Association of Chief Officers of Probation, the National Association of Probation Officers, area probation services and a number of individuals.
§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers have been made redundant over the last 12 months; how many redundancies are currently planned; how many new probation staff are required to implement the proposals in the Crime and Disorder Bill[Lords]; and if he will make a statement. [46261]
§ Ms QuinInformation on redundancies is not collected centrally. The Financial Memorandum to the Crime and Disorder Bill[Lords] indicates that some 600 additional probation service staff will in due course be needed once the full effect of the relevant provisions has come through. This remains our best estimate, although experience of operation of the relevant provisions will provide information bearing on it.