§ Mr. Charles Irving asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places in non-custodial projects are to be developed in the current year and the following year.
§ Mr. Mayhew:More than 115,000 offenders are estimated to be under statutory supervision in the community by the probation service. A wide range of residential accommodation, supported work schemes, day centers and other projects is provided to support this supervision. There is no fixed number of places available in such projects. Within the resources that can be made available, the Government will encourage their expansion in accordance with its policy of promoting the use of alternatives to imprisonment in all proposals.