HC Deb 07 February 2001 vol 362 cc606-9W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new responsibilities have been given to probation services since 1997, including new court orders; and if he will make a statement. [148570]

Mr. Boateng

The following are new requirements or responsibilities since 1997Criminal Justice Act 1991: Sections 12 and 13 introduced the power to impose a curfew order. Following successful pilots, these orders were rolled out nationally in December 1999. Pre-sentence, the probation service is required to establish the suitability of the proposed curfew address. The order is electronically monitored and enforced by contractors, who liaise with the service. Crime and Disorder Act 1998: Sections 58–60 deal with extended sentences requiring probation services to supervise certain sexual and violent offenders for longer than normal periods following release from prison. Crime and Disorder Act 1998: Sections 89–95 introduced the power to impose a drug treatment and testing order. These orders were rolled out nationally on 1 October 2000. Crime and Disorder Act 1998: Sections 100 and 101 introduced the Home Detention Curfew scheme from 28 January 1999 for prisoners serving sentences of between three months and four years. They are eligible for release up to two months before they would otherwise be released, to serve the remaining part of their sentence in the community subject to an electronically monitored curfew. The probation service contributes to the risk assessment prior to release. Crime and Disorder Act 1998: Sections 104 and 105 require probation services to supervise offenders following periods of recall or return to custody where previously those offenders would not have been re-released on licence.

In addition there is supporting work: Multi-Agency Risk Management Work: all areas now have some form of multi-agency arrangements for the assessment and management of risk posed by sex offenders. In many areas similar arrangements apply to other violent offenders. Probation has a key role in this work and is central to risk assessment and planning.

Increases in financial support to local probation areas
Expenditure implied by cash limit Percentage increase Percentage increase
1992–93 (£ million) 1997–98 (£ million) Actual Real Annual real Expenditure implied by cash limit 2001–02 (£ million) Actual Real Annual real
Avon and Somerset 9.267 10.961 18.3 4.1 0.8 13.48 23.0 11.7 2.9
Bedfordshire 3.233 3.748 15.9 2.0 0.4 5.135 37.0 24.5 6.1
Cambridgeshire 3.435 4.243 23.5 8.7 1.7 5.545 30.7 18.7 4.7
Cheshire 5.053 6.389 26.4 11.2 2.2 9.216 44.2 31.1 7.8
Cumbria 3.667 4.231 15.4 1.5 0.3 5.151 21.7 10.6 2.7
Derbyshire 4.512 5.696 26.2 11.1 2.2 8.601 51.0 37.2 9.3
Devon and Cornwall 8.523 10.294 20.8 6.3 1.3 13.071 27.0 15.4 3.8
Dorset 3.851 4.493 16.7 2.6 0.5 5.475 21.9 10.7 2.7
Durham 3.94 4.503 14.3 0.5 0.1 6.357 41.2 28.3 7.1
Essex 7.886 9.268 17.5 3.4 0.7 13.068 41.0 28.1 7.0
Gloucestershire 3.303 4.004 21.2 6.6 1.3 4.863 21.5 10.3 2.6
Hampshire 7.962 9.755 22.5 7.8 1.6 14.647 50.1 36.4 9.1
Hertfordshire 5.08 5.918 16.5 2.5 0.5 7.306 23.5 12.2 3.0
Humberside 5.469 6.574 20.2 5.8 1.2 9.37 42.5 29.5 7.4
Kent 8.389 10.385 23.8 8.9 1.8 14.415 38.8 26.1 6.5
Lancashire 7.88 9.916 25.8 10.7 2.1 15.49 56.2 41.9 10.5
Leicestershire 4.744 5.723 20.6 6.1 1.2 8.608 50.4 36.6 9.2
Lincolnshire 3.404 4.049 18.9 4.6 0.9 5.629 39.0 26.3 6.6
Norfolk 3.469 4.395 26.7 11.5 2.3 6.627 50.8 37.0 9.2
Northamptonshire 2.913 3.576 22.8 8.0 1.6 5.07 41.8 28.8 7.2
North Yorkshire 2.707 3.705 36.9 20.4 4.1 5.835 57.5 43.1 10.8
Nottinghamshire 7.709 8.908 15.6 1.7 0.3 11.281 26.6 15.1 3.8
Staffordshire 6.799 7.558 11.2 -2.2 -0.4 9.201 21.7 10.6 2.7
Suffolk 3.165 3.805 20.2 5.8 1.2 5.31 39.6 26.8 6.7
Surrey 4.837 5.85 20.9 6.4 1.3 6.996 19.6 8.6 2.2
Sussex 6.316 7.873 24.7 9.7 1.9 10.95 39.1 26.4 6.6
Teesside 4.399 5.455 24.0 9.1 1.8 7.957 45.9 32.5 8.1
Thames Valley 11.995 13.73 14.5 0.7 0.1 16.729 21.8 10.7 2.7

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets have been set for Probation Service officer recruitment; what changes in the number of Probation Service officers have taken place since targets have been set; and if he will make a statement. [148571]

Mr. Boateng

No central targets have been set. The considered assessment is that the numbers of Probation Service officers, and kindred grades, will need almost to double, from 2,400 to 4,660, by the year 2003–04. This is part of the overall probation staff increase from 12,835 to 17,250 (including an increase from 4,964 to 5,770 in main grade probation officers-about 16.5 per cent.) in the same period to deliver accredited programmes under the "What Works" initiative. (All figures are full-time equivalents).

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the real-terms change in(a) central funding and (b) total spending was (i) in each probation service and (ii) for the probation service in total between (A) 1992 and 1997 and (B) 1997 and the latest date for which figures are available; what the estimated real terms changes are in total funding in the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [148569]

Mr. Boateng

The detailed information relating to each probation service for 1992–93 to 1997–98 and 1997–98 to 2001–02 is set out in the table. In total, probation service funding is projected to increase from £ 542 million in 2000–01 to £ 713 million in 2003–04, an increase of 31.5 per cent., equivalent to a real-terms increase of 22 per cent. over the three years covered by the spending review 2000 period.

Increases in financial support to local probation areas
Expenditure implied by cash limit Percentage increase Percentage increase
1992–93 (£ million) 1997–98 (£ million) Actual Real Annual real Expenditure implied by cash limit 2001–02 (£ million) Actual Real Annual real
Warwickshire 3.06 3.523 15.1 1.3 0.3 4.212 19.6 8.6 2.2
West Mercia 6.242 7.133 14.3 0.5 0.1 9.258 29.8 17.9 4.5
Wiltshire 2.946 3.515 19.3 5.0 1.0 4.959 41.1 28.2 7.0
Greater Manchester 21.129 25.528 20.8 6.3 1.3 32.058 25.6 14.1 3.5
Merseyside 14.096 15.733 11.6 -1.8 -0.4 19.329 22.9 11.6 2.9
Northumbria 10.784 12.631 17.1 3.0 0.6 17.587 39.2 26.5 6.6
South Yorkshire 10.763 12.465 15.8 1.9 0.4 15.657 25.6 14.1 3.5
West Midlands 22.217 26.155 17.7 3.6 0.7 32.532 24.4 13.0 3.3
West Yorkshire 16.827 19.981 18.7 4.5 0.9 24.978 25.0 13.6 3.4
Greater London 65.721 77.819 18.4 4.2 0.8 94.147 21.0 9.9 2.5
Dyfed-Powys 2.307 3.01 30.5 14.8 3.0 4.687 55.7 41.5 10.4
Gwent1 2.343 3.771 60.9 41.6 8.3 5.852 55.2 41.0 10.2
North Wales 3.009 3.921 30.3 14.6 2.9 6.229 58.9 44.3 11.1
South Wales1 9.76 10.943 12.1 -1.4 -0.3 15.13 38.3 25.6 6.4
Total 345.111 411.133 19.1 4.8 1.0 537.998 30.9 18.9 4.7
1 The figures for Gwent and South Wales are affected by a substantial boundary change

Notes:

1. Before 2001–02, funding for local probation services was 80 per cent. by Home Office grant and 20 per cent. by local authority contribution. From 2001–02 funding will be 100 per cent. Home Office grant.

2. Figures are provided for the probation boards that will be in existence in 2001–02. Where amalgamations have taken place, previous years figures have been amalgamated for the local probation areas concerned.

3. In order to provide a realistic comparison, the 2001–02 figures include provision for the Family Court Welfare Service which transfers to the Lord Chancellor's Department from April 2001.