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Prisoners

Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the reoffending rates of former inmates of (a) private and (b) publicly owned prisons in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [113483]

Mr. Boateng: Since prisoners may move between privately owned and publicly owned prisons on a number of occasions during their sentence, it is not possible to calculate the reoffending rates requested.

Prisons

Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received from the

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operators of HMP Blakenhurst and HMP Forest Bank as to the current financial difficulties being experienced by Prison Realty Trust Inc. and Corrections Corporation of America; and what assurances he has obtained that these financial difficulties will have no detrimental effect on the companies currently operating HMP Blakenhurst and HMP Forest Bank and their ability to meet all their respective contractual obligations. [113563]

Mr. Boateng: The Prison Service has received a verbal report from the operator of Blakenhurst prison and Forest Bank prison, UKDS, about the financial issues being faced by Prison Realty Inc. or Corrections Corporation of America. The Service has received adequate written assurance that they will not have a detrimental effect on UKDS and will not affect its ability to meet its contractual obligations.

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