§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the cost is of placing an offender on the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme; [93359]
1035W(2) whether the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme is being evaluated; [93361]
(3) what funding is available to the Youth Justice Board for the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme; and what funding will be available in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06; [93358]
(4) what his estimate is of the number of young offenders who are eligible for the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme.[93360]
§ Hilary Benn[holding answer 28 January 2003]The Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP) was launched in 2001 to provide the courts with a tough community based programme designed to tackle persistent young offenders. It was extended last year and now provides for approximately 3,500 young offenders a year at an annual cost of £21.5million.
I am pleased to announce that provision has now been made to complete full national coverage by January 2004, providing in total for 4,200 young people annually. The total cost of the programme over the next three years will be £23 million, £27 million, and £27million respectively.
The average cost for each six month placement including bail tagging, is £8,500. The total number of young offenders who could be eligible is difficult to calculate because of the combination of criteria which must be satisfied.
The programme is being fully evaluated by Oxford University: the final report with reconvictions is due in March 2004.