§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposed merger of the probation services for Cornwall and Devon. [64379]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe consultation document "Joining Forces to Protect the Public", published on 6 August 1998, included proposals to align probation area boundaries with police force area boundaries, which would mean combining the Devon and Cornwall probation areas. We are now carefully considering the replies received, including that from the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell, and expect to announce decisions about the future organisation of these services soon.