Written question asked by David Burrowes (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 June 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 1 July 2010. It was answered by Crispin Blunt (Conservative) on Monday, 5 July 2010 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Probation Boards

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many probation boards have assumed trust status; and which probation boards have had their application for trust status rejected.

Answer: Six trusts were vested in the first wave of probation trusts in April 2008, these were South Wales, Dyfed Powys, Humberside; Leicestershire and Rutland, West Mercia and Merseyside. Two further trusts were vested in April 2009 these were Lancashire and Greater Manchester. All probation boards were required to apply for trust status and a rigorous examination took place in terms of their performance and management capability. All areas were successful in this application process. During 2009 a number of probation boards decided that they would be better placed by proposing voluntary amalgamations. All remaining probation boards achieved trust status on 1 April 2010 with the following succeeding as amalgamated trusts - Durham Tees Valley, Norfolk and Suffolk, Wales Probation Trust (the former South Wales and Dyfed Powys Trusts) and the Probation Boards of Gwent and North Wales; Surrey and Sussex; West Midlands and Staffordshire.In total there are 35 probation trusts for England and Wales.

Secondary information