Callous Chris Grayling shrugged off claims yesterday that his probation cuts and reforms were partially responsible for two murders.

Appearing before the justice select committee, the Justice Secretary said he would set the wheels in motion for the privatisation of community rehabilition companies (CRCs) tomorrow.

He was asked about claims made by probation union Napo in a 18-page letter to his department.

One offender with a history of domestic violence murdered his partner and killed himself when he was being supervised by an “overworked” trainee, the union said.

In a separate case, a probation officer working for one CRC who had an “excessive caseload” was unable to spend sufficient time with an offender who went on to commit murder.

In September the Star reported the union’s concerns over one killing. The second is believed to have taken place later that month.

At a parliamentary hearing yesterday, Mr Grayling said he had only just heard of the cases and that Napo had not formally raised them.

He said: “The trade union has, on occasion, put forward information and has not given full context or accuracy of the situation.”

But Napo said it had formally raised the murders in letters sent on October 20, October 22 and November 6.

“We believe he has misled Parliament, and this brings his judgment into question,” a union spokeswoman told the Star.

Next week the High Court will rule on the safety implications of the sell-off.

•The National Domestic Violence Helpline can be reached on 08082 000-247.