Since I became Minister in 1997, I have presided over an unprecedented investment in the prison infrastructure which has virtually eliminated the unplanned release of offenders. In all over 1200 additional prison spaces have been provided with a further 700 closed spaces on the way. The prison system has reached the stage where it can accommodate almost all those sentenced by the Courts for the full duration of their sentences. I qualify these statements only by reference to the female prison population where we currently have higher than anticipated committal numbers and for whom extra spaces will be built shortly.
As a direct consequence of the ongoing prison building programme, there has been a significant reduction in the proportion of temporary release of the total number of persons serving sentences from 19% in October 1996 to 6% in January 2001. The actual number on temporary release has fallen from a daily average of 550 in October 1996 to less than 200 in January, 2001. These figures offer incontrovertible proof that I have decisively addressed the chaotic prisoner management situation which I inherited on taking office in 1997.
Almost all prisoners on early release at present are on structured programmes, in many cases under the direct supervision of the probation and welfare service. Many of those not on structured programmes have been temporarily released for valid compassionate reasons, ill health or family related circumstances.