§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take to enable ex-prisoners to be allocated accommodation or lodgings soon after being released.
§ Mr. MellorI have been asked to reply.
Arrangements already exist to assist prisoners to find accommodation on release. As I stated in my reply to a question from the hon. Member on 22 November at column 263 we are reviewing the voluntary after-care scheme, which provides accommodation for ex-prisoners, with a view to assessing need and effectiveness more accurately.