To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has for the harmonisation of the conditions of service of probation service staff in the event of the establishment of an all-Wales probation trust. (306475)

Job evaluation exercises previously carried out within probation should minimise the number of harmonisation issues. These issues would be dealt with if the trust application process is successful and once the trust becomes a legal body, as there is no power to do so before the trust is legally established. The harmonisation activities would be undertaken in a phased approach after 1 April 2010.