§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bail hostels there were in each year from 1980 to date.
§ Mr. MellorApproved hostels are categorised variously as bail, probation, and combined probation and bail hostels. All now take people on bail or for bail assessment. The information requested for the three categories is as follows:
Per cent. 1980 * 1981 76.7 1982 77.3 1983 77.0 1984 74.0 1985 76.4 * 1981 is the first year for which this information is available.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bail hostels are being planned at present.
§ Mr. MellorNot only bail hostels, but combined probation and bail hostels and also all probation hostels made places available for persons on bail. In England and Wales there are in all 102 such hostels providing over 1,800 places. No new hostels are planned at present. In 1985 average occupancy was only 76.4 per cent. of the approved 61W number of places, so there is no general shortage of places; nor does the Home Office have evidence of serious difficulties in finding places locally.