§ Ross CranstonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the post of(a) Head of Human Relations and (b) Head of Standards in the National Offender Management Service will be advertised. [168461]
§ Fiona MactaggartThe Home Office uses external recruitment when there is a shortage of the necessary skills and knowledge to fill the vacancy. These posts will not be advertised. They are being filled by existing Home Office staff on level transfer and on their existing salaries.
§ John McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will ensure that the National Offender Management Service reduces the prison population. [167516]
§ Paul GogginsThe National Offender Management Service will ensure the more effective management of offenders as well as better targeting and co-ordination of custodial and community sentences. As a result we intend to maintain the prison population at a stable level of around 80,000 by 2009. Without these reforms, the latest estimates indicate that the prison population may otherwise increase to 93,000 by that date.
Population under sentence of open prisons—England and wales As at 30 June Less than 12 months Percentage 12 months to less than or equal to four years Percentage 4 years and over Percentage 1994 2,017 48.4 1,261 30.3 887 21.3 1995 1,489 36.2 1,697 413 922 22.4 1996 1,244 28.3 2,150 48.9 1,000 22.8 1997 1,279 26.9 2,388 50.2 1,086 22.8 1998 1,125 24.2 2,263 48.7 1,256 27.0 1999 732 77.7 1,884 45.4 1,530 36.9 2000 635 16.0 1,755 44.3 1,569 39.6 2001 586 15.0 1,730 44.4 1,583 40.6 2002 625 15.0 1,728 41.4 1,823 43.7 2003 624 13.0 1,790 37.3 2,382 49.7