§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of planned expenditure on probation in(a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02,(c) 2002–03 and (d) 2003–04. [133400]
§ Mr. StrawPlanned spending on probation in 2000–01 is £555 million.
On 19 July, I announced that the spending review settlement provides an additional £240million/£380 million/£470 million for prisons and probation. This will increase capacity, boost the "What Works" programme to reduce offending, and support the modernisation of the probation service. We have produced indicative figures which show that the Probation Service funding could increase by up to £97 million/ 1176W £139 million/£170 million in the three years starting in 2001–02. These figures are provisional and may be subject to change. I shall be considering the spending review settlement over the summer and making detailed plans for future years in due course.