To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how the funding formula for probation services takes account of the costs of providing probation services in rural areas. (277056)

There are a number of factors taken into account to ensure that funding allocations are as fair as possible, including:

current financial performance and pressures;

detailed work by specifications benchmarking and costing programme to identify areas where efficiencies and savings can be achieved;

contrasting previous budget allocations with amalgamated indictable and summary convictions for the area. Adjustments have been made where data indicates significant (i.e. over 10 per cent.) relative over-provision compared to the norm; and

the need to avoid radical budget changes within any one area.