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25 Jun 2007 : Column 354W—continued

Prisoner Escapes

Mr. Swire: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many inmates have absconded from prison in each year since 1997, broken down by individual prison. [145824]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The information requested is set out in the following table and covers the period from 1 April 1997 to 31 March 2007. Figures for 2006-07 are provisional and subject to validation.

25 Jun 2007 : Column 355W

[Official Report, 18 February 2008, Vol. 472, c. 1MC.]

25 Jun 2007 : Column 356W

Absconds from open prisons in England and Wales (1997-98 to 2006-07)
	1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000	2000-01	2001-02	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07
Askham Grange	35	17	20	21	19	12	31	12	14	7
Drake Hall	122	134	94	39	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
East Sutton Park	5	3	3	3	3	0	1	2	4	2
Ford	53	40	68	57	57	91	142	110	96	62
Moorland	77	80	36	34	50	56	68	73	49	41
Hewell Grange	40	17	32	20	15	23	31	24	24	13
Hollesley Bay	13	25	11	24	8	14	36	32	16	21
Kirkham	234	202	171	169	163	208	213	120	74	54
Latchmere House	n/a	n/a	n/a	1	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Leyhill	20	25	34	25	19	33	114	102	66	37
Morton Hall	20	15	23	6	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
North Sea Camp	25	32	27	24	36	34	79	33	49	48
Norwich	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	8	2	2
Prescoed	7	13	19	14	5	8	35	19	9	9
Spring Hill/Grendon	20	9	14	14	12	23	60	36	34	11
Standford Hill	35	40	43	29	37	83	89	39	58	38
Sudbury	81	75	63	69	81	68	75	77	76	78
Thorn Cross	168	135	147	110	135	152	130	90	105	82
Wealstun	48	70	72	105	79	101	144	74	28	46

Prisoners Release: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice whether her recent announcement about the early release of prisoners who are coming to the end of their sentences on licence extends to Northern Ireland. [145750]

Mr. Hanson: The announcement made on 19 June does not apply to prisoners in Northern Ireland, which remains the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Office.

Prisoners Release: Ribble Valley

Mr. Evans: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many prisoners set to be released under the new release scheme have residential addresses in the Ribble Valley. [145960]

Mr. Hanson: I estimate that around 2,500 prisoners per month will be eligible for release on an End of Custody Licence. This is a national figure. Data is not currently available to break down this number by area.

Prisons: Construction

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how much the Government budgeted to spend on the construction of new prisons in 2006. [145533]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The National Offender Management Service had an overall budget for increased prison places in 2006-07, including places in existing prisons. £35.7 million was spent in 2006-07 in respect of potential new prisons.

Probation: Expenditure

Norman Lamb: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how much was spent on probation services in each year since 1997; what expenditure is expected for the forthcoming financial year; and how much of this spending (a) was and (b) will be dedicated to (i) mental health services, (ii) substance abuse rehabilitation services and (iii) vocational education in each of these years. [144165]

Mr. Sutcliffe: Expenditure on probation services is as follows:

£ million
	Resource	Capital
2007-08	976	15
2006-07	959	11
2005-06	872	32
2004-05	793	29
2003-04	742	38
2002-03	641	40
2001-02	595	34
2000-01	539	16
1999-2000	491	23
1998-99	466	22
1997-98	464	17
1996-97	467	22

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