§ 18. Mr. Fitchasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many of Her Majesty's prisons in England and Wales the hostel system is operating; and if he will make a statement on this system.
§ Mr. BrookeThirteen, including two for women.
Two new hostels were opened last yew and it is hoped to open two more this year. I attach great importance to the scheme, and its results continue to be encouraging, though naturally some prisoners in whom this trust is placed fail to justify it. Research is in progress into the value of the scheme for different types of prisoners.
§ Mr. FitchCan the Home Secretary say what percentage of men and women who have taken part in this scheme have been convicted again after their release?
§ Mr. BrookeI am not sure that I can do the mathematics quickly enough, but of 335 men discharged from hostels up to the end of 1961, on completion of long sentences, 290 had not been reconvicted a year later.