HC Deb 27 November 1997 vol 301 c608W
Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the savings which will arise as a result of the use of tagging to bring about the early release of prisoners from custodial sentences. [17742]

Ms Quin

I expect the costs of electronic monitoring to be considerably smaller than the expenditure on prisons which would otherwise be necessary. Fuller information will be given in the Financial Memorandum to the Crime and Disorder Bill.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the criteria by which the Prison Service will carry out a risk assessment of offenders under consideration for early release through tagging. [17744]

Ms Quin

I shall publish more detailed information about the working of the home detention curfew scheme in due course. The risk assessment procedures will build on those applying at present to release on temporary licence, as set out in Instruction to Governors 36/95, a copy of which is in the Library. A copy of the Instruction to Governors on home detention curfew will also be placed in the Library.