HC Deb 09 February 1999 vol 325 cc139-40W
Mr. Soley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he plans to monitor the effectiveness of the Home Detention Curfew Scheme. [69480]

Mr. George Howarth

An evaluation of the Home Detention Curfew (HDC) scheme is being carried out by the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate. The study will cover a variety of issues including the impact on prisoners and on the prison and probation services, assessments of suitability for HDC, the extent to which home detention curfews are successfully completed, recalls to prison, the rate of re-offending and the cost effectiveness of the scheme.

We expect results on the first year performance of the scheme to be available in mid-2000.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 1999,Official Report, columns 76–78, concerning the home detention welfare provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, when he proposes to write to the hon. Member for Hertsmere. [70280]

Mr. George Howarth

I wrote to the hon. Member on 8 February. A copy of this letter is in the Library. I will write again to the hon. Member when the remaining information becomes available.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the prisoners released under the home detention curfew provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 have been released subject to supervision by a probation officer; [70115]

(2) how many of the prisoners released since 28 January under the home detention curfew provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 are serving sentences as a result of convictions for offences (a) of violence, (b) of burglary and (c) to which Part I of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 applies; [70117]

(3) how many of the prisoners released since 28 January under the home detention curfew provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 have previous convictions for offences (a) of violence, (b) of burglary and (c) to which Part I of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 applies. [70116]

Mr. George Howarth

The data are not yet available and I will write to the hon. Member when they have been collated.