§ Mr. ConwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the additional cost of custodial sentences compared with non-custodial sentences.
§ Mr. John PattenIn the year 1990–91 the average annual cost of prison custody was £20,070. It was £1,070 for a probation order and £920 for a community service order. Offenders should be punished according to the seriousness of their offences. We believe that less serious offenders can be punished adequately in the community under demanding supervision which can protect the public and help to reduce reoffending.