HC Deb 19 February 1998 vol 306 cc788-9W
Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide additional funding for sex offenders' treatment programme courses. [29872]

Ms Quin

During the financial year 1997–98, an additional £1 million was provided by the Prison Service for accredited offending behaviour programmes, which include the sex offender treatment programme.

My right hon. Friend has now made available a further £112 million for the Prison Service in addition to its existing budget for 1998–99. Part of these funds will be used for the provision of regime activities, including the sex offender treatment programme.

Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the criteria for selection of sex offenders' treatment programmes for prisoners; [29873]

(2) what account is taken of previous convictions in providing convicted sex offenders with access to sex offenders' treatment programme courses. [29874]

Ms Quin

The basic criteria for the selection of prisoners for the sex offender treatment programme arethe prisoner is currently serving a sentence for a sexual offence, or has a previous conviction for a sexual offence and has asked for treatment, or is a life sentence prisoner who may not have been convicted of a sexual offence, but whose criminal behaviour involves a sexual element; the prisoner is willing to participate in the programme; and is serving a sentence long enough in which to complete it.

Life sentence prisoners who have a current or previous conviction for a sexual offence, or whose criminal behaviour involves a sexual element, are required to undertake treatment in order to progress towards release.

A risk assessment is made on all convicted sex offenders entering prison. Those who are considered to be high risk and who satisfy the other criteria will be given priority for a place. Information about previous convictions will inform the risk assessment made of each sex offender.

Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reoffending rates for prisoners who have previously completed sex offenders' treatment programme courses. [29875]

Ms Quin

The long-term effects of the sex offender treatment programme are not yet known, but similar programmes in the United States and Canada have reduced the rate of reoffending by about 25%.