§ Mr. SawfordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many probation officers are currently in training; [65764]
(2) what assessment he has made of the prospects for a national shortage of qualified probation officers based on current projections of annual turnover, natural wastage and numbers in training; [65786]
(3) how many probation officers were in training in each year from 1990 to the latest year for which figures are available. [65765]
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§ Mr. George HowarthThere are at present 274 trainee probation officers. A work force planning study is currently being undertaken, and this will provide national data on the number of new probation officers needed over the next five years.
Under the previous training scheme for probation officers, the Home Office sponsored students on Diploma in Social Work courses. The numbers of students starting sponsored courses from 1990 to 1995 was:
- 1990: 336
- 1991: 434
- 1992: 451
- 1993: 470
- 1994: 305
- 1995: 300.
The scheme ended with the 1995 students. It should, however, be noted that research indicated that only about 60 per cent. of those sponsored went on to become probation officers.