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Prisons: Population

My Lords, in thanking the noble and learned Lord for making that Statement to this House, I thank him—as the whole House implied earlier—for making it here first rather than repeating a Statement made in another place. However, I should have liked to have had a copy of the Statement a little earlier. I received mine at 2.30 pm, which was fine, but I then received a revised copy at precisely 3.04 pm, which did not give me much time to have a look at it before responding. I congratulate the noble and learned Lord on resisting the temptation to appear on the ““Today”” programme to pre-announce the Statement and on making it in this House, although that does not seem to have stopped either him or his department briefing the press, as we read all about it in today’s Times and later in the Standard. He might have been rather loath to appear on the radio or television following his interview on Sky only some five weeks ago during which he categorically denied that there would be any early release and said that the allegations were simply untrue. I hope that that is correct but if that is not the case the noble and learned Lord will correct me. I believe that interview took place about five weeks ago. This is the first time I have responded to a Statement made by the noble and learned Lord since the creation of the new Ministry of Justice and his acquiring such extensive responsibilities. We very much hope that he will continue in his exciting new role for a considerable time. He is the fifth prisons Minister, after four Home Secretaries, since 1997. I think that we all agree that we need a period of stability in relation to prisons policy. Since the noble and learned Lord has managed this matter for all of five weeks, I think that the whole House would appreciate his staying in office for considerably longer. When the noble and learned Lord became the first Secretary of State for Justice he issued a manifesto entitled, Justice—A New Approach, in which he talked of the department’s objectives. The document states: "““We will reduce re-offending and protect the public … We will promote justice””." I think that there are six objectives in all. He could have added a seventh—we will let out 2,000 prisoners early because we have so mismanaged the system that there are not enough prison places. I looked through that document, which has relatively little about prisons for the very good reason that the Ministry of Justice issued a second manifesto in June, Penal Policy—A Background Paper. The noble and learned Lord set out in that paper, as he has again today, exactly how many prisons places there are and how many new places we will get—8,000 by 2012. He announced another 1,200 today, following the receipt of more money from the Treasury. But at no point did he suggest that some 2,000 or more prisoners would be let out early. As I say, the noble and learned Lord became the new Secretary of State for Justice and took over responsibility for prisons policy only five weeks ago. I have questions arising from the Statement. First, if the Government need to provide more temporary accommodation, why have they not—I appreciate that it was not the noble and learned Lord’s decision but that of his predecessor, the Home Secretary—found the prison ship which they sold at a loss not so very long ago? That could provide further accommodation. Why have they not looked to make use of redundant military camps—of which there is a large number, as the noble and learned Lord will know—former secure hospitals and other available accommodation? Why did they not do these things last year or even earlier? I appreciate that the noble and learned Lord was not in charge at that stage, it was his colleague the Home Secretary, but he must now get on with it. The Government say that they will release prisoners early. They did that before with tragic consequences and there were far too many innocent victims. As they release inmates early from open prisons, will they not transfer unsuitable offenders from secure prisons to the open estate? Can the police and Prisons Service, already overstretched, keep their eyes on yet more offenders released on licence? Lastly, the Statement was somewhat coy on the precise number who will be released early. The noble and learned Lord talks very firmly of this being release by licence not executive release and stresses how important that is. However, we need to know—the noble and learned Lord must tell us this—just how many will be released early. If he does not know that, he should.