§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) of 2 February 2000,Official Report, column 596W, how many curfewees charged with an offence while on home detention curfew were charged with an offence similar in character to that for which they were serving a sentence of imprisonment prior to being released on the curfew. [109509]
§ Mr. BoatengAccording to Prison Service records, of the 174 curfewees referred to in the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on 2 February, who have been charged with a further offence while subject to Home Detention Curfew, 69 have been charged with an offence similar to that for which they were serving a sentence of imprisonment prior to being released on curfew. In one case it has not been possible, in the time available, to confirm whether the further offence is similar in nature to the original offence. I will write to the hon. Member when this information is available.