§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) probation officers and (b) management staff work in probation services in Avon and Somerset. [107033]
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§ Hilary BennThe information requested is as follows:
Avon and Somerset 2001–02 Number of staff.1,2 Probation officers 154.8 Management staff3 40.9 Other staff 261.3 1 Numbers shown as whole time equivalents. 2 Information shown taken at 31 December 2001–information for 2002–03 is currently being collected and is as yet unavailable. 3Management staff include all staff at senior probation officer grade and above. Figures obtained from data collected for RDS Probation Statistics 2001.
§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers there are in(a) Sedgemoor and (b) West Somerset; and how many hours per week they work in those two areas. [107258]
§ Hilary BennThe information requested is as follows:
(a) Avon and Somerset 1,2Numbers of staff Probation Officers Probation Service Officers Sedgmoor 7.1 7.6 West Somerset 1.0 0.0 1Numbers shown as whole time equivalents 2Information collected as at 3 April 2003
(b) The hours worked by probation staff in these areas are as follows: Hours per week Probation Officers 137.5 Probation Service Officers 37.0 1 Probation Officers generally work 150 hours over a 4 week period and therefore, 37.5 hours per week is given as an average.
§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training for probation officers is carried out in Somerset. [107259]
§ Hilary BennTrainee probation officers are required to undertake the Diploma in Probation Studies which has been developed and is delivered through consortia of probation areas working with higher education institutions and NVQ assessment centres since 1998. The Diploma is a professional qualification, which confers probation officer status on successful trainees, subject to employment by a local probation board. It is an integrated programme of education and training that combines work and university based learning through a Community Justice NVQ level 4 award and an undergraduate degree. Trainee probation officers are appointed to probation areas following a rigorous recruitment and selection process and are paid a trainee salary. Programmes Leading to the Diploma in Probation Studies are normally completed within 24 months.
Main grade probation officers in Avon and Somerset Probation Area are specifically trained for their specific functions. Training is not generic, but practitioner based. Therefore probation officers are trained in group 451W working programmes, report writing and case management. Officers are also placed to work in prisons and hostels.
Avon and Somerset develop their officers in all areas of public protection, including diversity training, race equality issues, risk assessment, working with sex offenders and child protection issues.
Mr. Liiddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total number was of staff management of the probation service in Somerset in(a)2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03. [107260]
§ Hilary BennThe information requested is as follows:
Avon and Somerset 1,2Numbers of staff management (a) Avon 2002–01
(b) Somerset 2002–01
3(c) Avon & Somerset
2001–02
Senior Probation Officers 10.0 7.9 33.8 Area Manager 0.0 0.0 0.1 Assistant Chief Officer 4.0 0.8 6.0 Deputy Chief Officer 0.0 2.0 0.0 Chief Officer 1.0 1.0 1.0 Total 15.0 11.7 40.9 Note: Figures obtained from data collected for RDS Probation Statistics 2001. 1Numbers shown as whole time equivalents 2Information shown taken at 31 December 3Information for 2002/03 is currently not available
§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total budget is for the probation service in Somerset. [107261]
§ Hilary BennSomerset does not have its own separate probation service. It is part of the Avon and Somerset Probation Area and has been allocated a budget of £15,975,000 by the Home Office for the financial year 2003–04.
§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further funds have been allocated since 30 November 2002 to probation areas in England and Wales for financial year 2003–04. [107387]
§ Hilary Benn[holding answer 8 April 2003]Since 30 November 2002, a further £5.67 million has been provisionally allocated to probation areas in England and Wales for the financial year 2003–04. This is made up as follows:
- £3.81 million—Approved Carry Forwards from 2002–03.
- £1.0 million—Funding of additional property and pension costs.
- £0.43 million—Funding to commission drugs treatment.
- £0.42 million—Retained Probation Accommodation Grants.
§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether funds for the financial year 2003—04 have been re-distributed from the National Probation Directorate budget to probation areas since the announcement of additional funds in November 2002. [107388]
§ Hilary Benn[holding answer 8 April 2003]Since 30 November 2002, a further £5.67 million has been provisionally allocated to probation areas in England452W and Wales for the financial year 2003—04 from the National Probation Directorate Budget. This is made up as follows:
- £3.81 million—Approved Carry Forwards from 2002–03.
- £1.0 million—Funding of additional property and pension costs.
- £0.43 million—Funding to commission drugs treatment.
- £0.42 million—Retained Probation Accommodation Grants.