Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the level of staff shortage was in the probation service (a) at the latest date for which data is available and (b) in October 2013.

The National Probation Service (NPS) and Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) were resourced to deliver their core duties at the point of commencing the new structures on 1 June 2014, for a period of shadow running prior to the transition in the public sector.

CRCs are responsible for managing their own vacancies, and we are providing support and advice where required during the transition.

We are implementing a new reporting tool for the National Probation Service from November 2014 which will enable us to capture NPS vacancies centrally to support our workforce planning.

Prior to June 2014 probation services were delivered by 35 Probation Trusts. The Trusts were responsible for managing their own vacancies and no central records were maintained of staffing levels against requirements.