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Probation: Finance and Manpower

25 November 2008

Q: What the estimated share of national savings from the Probation Service's budget is which falls to the South Yorkshire probation area in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12;

A: The Ministry of Justice is seeking efficiency savings over the next three years as set out in the Department's annual report for 2007-08.Funding plans for 2009-10 and 2010-11 have not yet been agreed. As is the case across Government, the National Probation Service will need to make efficiency savings, in this case around 2.5 per cent. next financial year. The National Offender Management Service is working to determine how the saving can be achieved in ways that protect front line services. The aim is to remove overhead and administration and drive improvement in underperforming or expensive services. Ultimately, the size and scope of any staffing reductions will rest with the 42 areas and trusts who manage probation business at the local level.