§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have completed the sex offender treatment programme to date; and how many are currently on such courses. [10097]
§ Ms QuinA total of 2,247 prisoners had completed the sex offender treatment programme by 31 March 1997.
The number of prisoners on the programme at any one time during the course of a year could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Prison Service has planned for a further 742 prisoners to have completed 646W accredited versions of the programme by 31 March 1998. By this date, an additional 42 prisoners will have completed a version of the programme which it is hoped will be accredited later in the year.