HC Deb 22 January 1996 vol 270 cc71-2W
Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps have been taken by his office to monitor additional services in resettlement services and accommodation required by prisoners losing their entitlement to housing benefit under the new regulations; [10446]

(2) how many ex-prisoners were placed in hostels for the homeless in (a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96 to date; and at what cost. [10448]

Mr. Sackville

[holding answer 19 January 1996]: The general use of approved probation/bail hostels and other offender accommodation is monitored through the collection and analysis of routine information on occupancy.

Specific information about the take-up of places by ex-prisoners is not collected centrally; but inspection by Her Majesty's inspectorate of probation and reports from probation services may draw attention to particular pressures or problems.

As for the cost of offender accommodation, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 9 January 1996, Official Report, column 188.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners released after serving between 13 and 52 weeks were homeless on release in(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96 to date in respect of (i) male and (ii) female prisoners. [10449]

Miss Widdecombe

[holding answer 19 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 22 January 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners serving between 13 and 52 weeks who were homeless on release in (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, and (c) 1995–96 to date in respect of (i) male and (ii) female prisoners. The information requested is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance on the changes in housing benefit regulations has been given to prisons receiving(a) remand and (b) sentenced single prisoners with tenancies. [10450]

Miss Widdecombe

[holding answer 19 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 22 January 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about guidance issued to prisons holding (a) remand and (b) sentenced single prisoners with tenancies on the changes in housing benefit. The latest edition of the Prisoners' Information Book, which is available in all prisons and to all prisoners, refers to the changes in the rules on housing benefit and advises prisoners to seek further advice from prison staff and/or the Housing Benefit Office. By April 1996 all prisons are due to be offering Inmate Development and Pre-Release (IDPR) training covering the main obstacles to effective resettlement, including housing advice, and to have a pool of officers trained by NACRO's Prisons Link Unit (PLU) to deliver a housing and employment advice service to prisoners. The PLU also provides establishments with a substantial set of directories with relevant information and an updating service changes occur.