16. Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on the provision of bail hostels in the west midlands.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Government continue to support the provision of approved bail and probation hostels in the west midlands, as elsewhere, where those meet the needs of sentencers in a cost-effective way and within the requirements of national standards.
Mr. AinsworthDoes the Minister agree that people outside this place will find it absolutely incredible that 394 Conservative Members have been complaining about people being released on bail when, in the west midlands, it is proposed to close two much-needed bail hostels and save £200,000, thus depriving the courts of the ability to choose appropriate accommodation for people who need it?
§ Mr. MacleanWhat people will find extraordinary is that the west midlands has nine bail hostels. If the hon. Gentleman had told me that those were at 100 per cent. capacity I should be more concerned about his point. If we remove the two smallest hostels, we would remove only 15 per cent. of capacity. Given that there is at least 20 per cent. surplus capacity, the hon. Gentleman has not a leg to stand on.