HC Deb 10 December 2003 vol 415 c495W
Vera Baird

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial resources have been allocated for community punishments in the current financial year; and what proportion is directed towards women offenders. [141624]

Paul Goggins

Resources are not specifically allocated to local probation areas for community punishment. The Boards receive a general allocation that they are permitted to spend on the range of activities they carry out. Financial information collected from the 42 Boards indicate that they collectively will spend about £75 million on community punishment orders in 2003–04 and a further £20 million on community punishment and rehabilitation orders. The number of women offenders in receipt of community punishment orders is estimated at about 12 per cent. of the total.