Probation: Redundancy Mr. Garnier To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice whether any (a) assistant chief officers, (b) business managers and (c) staff of other grades will be made (i) compulsorily and (ii) voluntarily redundant in (A) the Greater London Probation Area and (B) other probation areas in England and Wales in 2007-08. Mr. Sutcliffe London Probation Area is in the process of restructuring and as part of that exercise has considered the appropriate levels of staffing at management levels. As a consequence assistant chief officers, business managers and directors from the area are facing possible redundancy. Currently figures from London indicate that there will be a loss of 13 assistant chief officer posts, two director posts and 10 business manager posts. Expressions of interest for voluntary redundancies are being considered. Where possible, London will seek to avoid compulsory redundancies. There are four other Probation Areas, Cheshire, Devon and Cornwall, Dyfed Powys and Thames Valley that have indicated they are considering the possibility of redundancies within the 2007-08 time frame. These redundancies will equate to 27 posts across a range of posts including middle managers and probation service officers. Again, where possible, compulsory redundancies will be avoided.