§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the additional expenditure required by the Crime (Sentences) Bill has been included in his Department's projected spending; what are the figures per year; and if he will make a statement. [21591]
§ Mr. HowardThe public expenditure survey 1996 produced a baseline settlement for my Department up to the end of the financial year 1999–2000, which is set out in the Home Office Annual Report 1997 published on 20 March (Cm 3608). The only provisions in the Crime (Sentences) Bill which are likely to have a significant financial impact before the end of that survey period are the provisions relating to automatic life sentences for repeat serious sexual or violent offenders and to minimum sentences for drug traffickers. The cost of implementing these provisions can be met from within current Home Office resources.
The White Paper "Protecting the Public", made clear that provisions for honesty in sentencing and minimum sentences for burglars could be implemented in 1999, but that implementation will be dependent on the availability of prison places and securing the necessary provision in subsequent public expenditure survey rounds.
944WIt is not possible to identify the costs to the Prison Service of the additional prisoners likely to be accommodated as a consequence of the implementation of the automatic life sentences and of the minimum sentences for drug traffickers separately from the costs of accommodating other new prisoners in accordance with the prison population projections.