HC Deb 23 March 2000 vol 346 cc683-4W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial grants have been allocated to the Metropolitan police in each of the last four years. [115551]

Mr. Charles Clarke

Grants to the Metropolitan police in the last four years are given in the table:

the process by which prisoners are released from prison, with specific reference to enabling them to avoid former criminal inmates. [115622]

Mr. Boateng

No. All adult prisoners serving sentences of 12 months or more are released on licence and required to comply with whatever conditions may be contained in the licence. Young offenders (those under 21) are mostly subject to licence, if sentenced to a month or more. A standard licence condition is to be of good behaviour and not to do anything to jeopardise the aims of supervision. A licensee who mixes with criminal elements may be regarded as breaching this condition and recalled to custody. It is the responsibility of the probation service to supervise prisoners released on licence to ensure that the public is protected, further offences are not committed, and that the offender is successfully rehabilitated.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he is making to ensure that vulnerable female prisoners on release from prison are not met and coerced by former associates. [115609]

Mr. Boateng

If, prior to release, a prisoner of either sex, or prison staff, has or have information to suggest that the prisoner concerned is at risk of being met and coerced by former associates outside prison, this would be a matter for the local police. The prison's police liaison officer would be responsible for passing on the information. In the case of a prisoner who is released on licence, the supervising probation officer would be able to provide advice, support and assistance. The supervising officer may also need to liaise with the police if it is feared that offences may be committed as a result of such associations.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is putting in place to ensure that prisoners on release are given appropriate assistance with transport to their homes. [115612]

Mr. Boateng

Under Standing Order 11 (Discharge of Prisoners), all discharged prisoners are entitled to receive a travel warrant, or payment of fares where a warrant is inappropriate, to their home or destination within the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland. The issue of a travel warrant, or payment of fares, is in addition to the discharge grant which is paid to the majority of released prisoners, to help them meet their immediate needs on release.