§ 11. Mr. Fitchthe Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many of Her Majestys' prisons the hostel scheme is in operation; and if he will make a statement on how the scheme is working.
§ Mr. BrookeThe hostel scheme is in operation at 16 prisons, 2 of which are for women. Three new hostels were opened in 1963. The results of the scheme continue to be encouraging. Research into its effects with different types of prisoners is proceeding.
§ Mr. FitchCan the right hon. Gentleman tell the House how many prisoners have taken part in the hostel scheme, and how many of those have subsequently been reconvicted?
§ Mr. BrookeUp to the end of 1962, 460 men serving sentences of imprisonment had been in hostels and had been discharged from them at the end of their sentences. Four hundred and fifteen of those 460 had not been reconvicted a year later, at the end of 1963, and it was on this ground that I said that the experience was encouraging.