To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the projected balance is in the national probation budget for 2006-07; and what consequences are expected for service delivery. (113399)

The overall budget for 2006-07 for the national probation service is £883 million. The current projected out-turn is within 0.5 per cent. of this figure.

There are 13 main probation performance indicators which can be compared with 2005-06. For the period April to September 2006, the performance against 10 of these indicators is equal to or exceeding the 2005-06 performance.