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26 Feb 2008 : Column 1502W—continued

Prisoners Release

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many prisoners on indeterminate sentences have been released following the completion of rehabilitation courses; [188639]

(2) how many prisoners on indeterminate sentences have been released despite not having access to pre-release rehabilitation courses; and how many of those were sex offenders. [188640]

Mr. Hanson: Prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) may be considered for release by the independent Parole Board once they have completed the period of imprisonment considered necessary to meet the requirements of retribution and deterrence (the tariff period). This period is set in open court by the trial judge when passing sentence. The Parole Board may direct the release of such a prisoner only if it is satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined. The Secretary of State may release such prisoners at any time only if exceptional circumstances exist which justify release on compassionate grounds.

26 Feb 2008 : Column 1503W

As at 31 January 2008, 17 IPP prisoners have been released on licence. The IPP licence will remain in force for at least 10 years, at which point the licensee can apply to have it cancelled. Similar applications can be made annually thereafter. Of those 17 cases, 16 were released on the direction of the Parole Board. One prisoner was released by the Secretary of State prior to tariff expiry on compassionate grounds.

Consideration of the files of the 16 prisoners released on the direction of the Parole Board indicates that 11 had completed courses specifically aimed at addressing identified risk factors. Such work could also continue as appropriate during the post release licence period.

26 Feb 2008 : Column 1504W

Prisoners: Food

Mr. Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost was of the daily food allowance for prisoners in each contracted-out prison in each of the last five years. [188345]

Mr. Hanson: Information on the cost of the daily food allowance for prisoners in each of the last five years for each contracted prison is provided in the table as follows.

Cost of daily food allowance for prisoners
£( 1)
	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003
Altcourse	2.18	2.23	2.24	2.19	2.10
Ashfield	2.81	2.84	2.63	2.63	2.63
Bronzefield (2)	3.45	3.73	3.93	n/a	n/a
Doncaster	2.40	2.33	2.23	2.18	2.17
Dovegate	2.25	2.25	2.22	2.17	2.15
Forest Bank	2.91	2.93	2.93	2.85	n/a
Lowdham Grange	2.25	2.25	2.22	2.17	2.15
Parc(3)	2.46	2.46	2.46	2.46	2.46
Peterborough (4)	2.95	3.18	4.42	n/a	n/a
Rye Hill	2.15	2.17	2.20	2.12	2.06
Wolds	2.17	2.18	2.15	2.09	2.05
(1) Due to information not being held centrally data have been supplied by each of the four contractors Serco, Kalyx, G4S and GSL. (2) HMP Bronzefield did not open until June 2004. (3) Information provided by Parc is the actual daily allowance per day, however the actual food cost varies over the period between £2.45 and £2.60. (4) HMP Peterborough did not open until March 2005. Data also include providing free staff meals, as it is not possible for the contractor to provide a separated cost.

Prisoners: Skilled Workers

Mr. Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners in each contracted-out prison started a work skills award in each of the last five years; and what percentage of these completed a work skills award. [188304]

Maria Eagle: Information on the number of completed work skills awards against the target in each contracted prison in each of the last five years is provided in the following table. Information is not centrally available for the number of prisoners who started work skills awards and can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Target and actual key work skill awards in each contracted prison( 1)
	2006-07		2005-06		2004-05		2003-04		2002-03
	Actual	Target	Actual	Target	Actual	Target	Actual	Target	Actual	Target
Altcourse	977	752	1,090	663	591	400	506	200	342	17
Ashfield	5,204	630	931	630	616	500	1,689	150	—	—
Bronzefield(2)	1,935	800	1,177	800,	630	150	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Doncaster	961	470	1,041	440	783	320	411	240	238	241
Dovegate	2,014	1,137	1,134	1,010	994	825	753	800	554	200
Forest Bank	1,042	844	837	782	804	600	771	300	317	300
Lowdham Grange	1,221	1,208	1,102	1,071	1,056	354	265	221	—	—
Parc	2,210	1,400	2,067	1,060	1,150	750	866	165	637	154
Peterborough(3)	1,830	760	n/a	—	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rye Hill	334	330	354	330	408	320	229	300	144	150
Wolds	674	345	386	305	642	250	164	150	231	149
(1) Information has been obtained from the PSimon reporting system. Data have also been published in the Prison Service annual report, Office for Contracted Prisons Statement of Performance and the Regional Commissioning and Partnerships annual report available on the HMPS and NOMS website. (2) HMP Bronzefield did not open until June 2004. (3) HMP Peterborough did not open until March 2005. Data for 2006-07 are provided from the Commissioning and Partnerships annual report 2006-07: East of England as data are not available on PSimon. Data have been combined for the male and female prison sites.

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Mr. Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners in each contracted-out prison started (a) entry level, (b) level one and (c) level two basic skills awards in each of the last five years; and what percentage of these completed (i) entry level, (ii) level one and (iii) level two basic skills awards. [188305]

Maria Eagle: Information on the number of completed basic skills awards against the target in each
26 Feb 2008 : Column 1506W
contracted prison in each of the last five years is provided in the following tables. Information is not centrally available for the number of prisoners who started basic skills awards and can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Entry level basic skill award( 1)
	2006-07		2005-06		2004-05		2003-04		2002-03
	Actual	Target	Actual	Target	Actual	Target	Actual	Target	Actual	Target
Altcourse	135	242	194	194	379	200	114	50	47	20
Ashfield	326	315	282	378	313	300	0	100	n/a	n/a
Bronzefield(2)	113	90	106	90	22	25	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Doncaster	82	120	125	112	129	120	66	40	33	20
Dovegate	345	290	291	264	191	170	185	90	62	50
Forest Bank	265	220	241	215	244	210	71	40	59	40
Lowdham Grange	69	95	96	95	121	66	47	40	38	40
Parc	388	252	266	237	230	200	252	140	143	140
Peterborough(3)	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rye Hill	85	99	104	99	136	105	26	25	2	40
Wolds	216	180	190	180	212	200	210	90	183	89

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