§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed by the National Probation Service by division and function(a) on the last date for which figures are available and (b) in April 2001. [28784]
§ Beverley HughesThe information requested is given in the tables.
Information on staff in post by grade, gender and type of employment is collected at end June and end December each year. There is a separate collection of numbers of staff in post by grade, gender and ethnicity; this was annually from December 1995 to December 2000 but has now changed to a September and March basis starting September 2001.
The numbers of probation officers in post fell between December 2000 and June 2001 because of the transfer of Family Court Welfare Work, and associated staff, to the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (CAFCASS) at 1 April 2001.
The reduction in numbers of probation officers is a reflection of the loss of "Family Court Welfare Officers". The Probation Service is no better or worse off, in terms of having enough staff, than before the transfer took place.
78WThe numbers exclude those in the National Probation Directorate (NPD). The numbers are purely those working in areas including Chief Officers who are appointed by the Home Office.
Table 1: Probation officers in post, by grade and type Number England and Wales 31 December 2000 30 June 2001 CPO T54 42 DCPO 12 11 ACPO 213 209 Area Manager 49 51 Regional Training 48 39 Senior Probation Officers Family Court Welfare 60 — Other field work 816 864 Seconded to prison 110 121 Hostels 71 82 Other 8 14 Senior Practitioner Field work 105 109 Seconded to prison 11 5 Hostels 9 8 Other 4 12 Main Grade Family Court Welfare 543 — Other field work 4,258 4,060 Trainee 564 543 Seconded to prison 509 480 Hostels 74 67 Other 53 69 All probation officers1 7,571 6,785 1 Whole-time equivalent. Individual figures may not round to the total because of the rounding of part-time hours.
Table 2: Staff other than probation officers in post, by grade and type Number England and Wales 31 December 2000 30 June 2001 Probation Services Officers 1,019 1,083 CS schemes 1,019 1,083 Seconded to prison 132 136 Other duties 869 916 General duties 849 1,076 Clerical and Secretarial 2,529 2,317 Research and Information Officers 106 141 Administrative officers 1,489 1,532 Sessional supervisors 421 444 Others 254 194 Hostels 791 778 All staff other than probation officers1 8,458 8,616 1 Whole-time equivalent. Individual figures may not round to the total because of the rounding of part-time hours.