HC Deb 23 May 2003 vol 406 cc94-5W
Mr. Dhanda

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he is having with the Minister for Housing and Planning regarding plans to increase the number of approved hostels for high-risk offenders following release from custody. [113748]

Paul Goggins

Although I have not had any such discussions, officials from the National Probation Directorate (NPD) are in regular contact with officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on housing matters, and on matters connected with the possible replacement of or building of new approved premises. We do not have any specific plans at this stage to build approved hostels specifically for high-risk offenders on post-release licence. However, NPD are currently developing an accommodation strategy, covering the needs of offenders under probation supervision. When the results of this are available, we will be able to make an assessment as to whether any new provision is needed to house ex-offenders, including high-risk offenders, and if so, what type of new provision is required, and in what areas it is required.

Mr. Dhanda

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the number of places available for high-risk offenders in approved hostels following release from custody in(a) Gloucestershire and (b) the UK; and what plans he has to increase the number of such hostels in each case. [113749]

Paul Goggins

There are currently 100 approved hostels in England and Wales, providing around 2,250 places. These approved premises cater broadly for three groups of residents—bailees, those on community orders with a condition of residence at the hostel, and post-release licencees. Because of the enhanced supervision that they offer, approved premises are primarily for those assessed as medium or high risk. Approved premises play a vital role in public protection by providing closer supervision for offenders in the community than other alternatives such as normal local authority housing.

The current approved hostel in Gloucester is quite small and in due course may need to be replaced or extended—but any plans to do this would need to be discussed with local agencies and community representatives before being taken forward.

More generally, the National Probation Directorate are currently developing an accommodation strategy, covering the needs of offenders under probation supervision. When the results of this are available, we will be able to make an assessment as to whether any new provision is needed to house ex-offenders, including high-risk offenders, and if so, what type of new provision is required, and in what areas it is required.