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Prisoner Early Release

My Lords, victims of rape and child sexual exploitation have now received letters informing them that their attackers and abusers are soon to be released from custody, much earlier than would have been expected. Yet during the recent passage of the Sentencing Act, which paved the way for such reductions in custody, Ministers repeatedly assured Parliament that the most serious offenders would not benefit from these changes. Today we have been told that some convicted rapists and child abusers will be released only half way through their custodial sentence. I therefore ask the Minister two simple questions. First, does he consider that rapists and child abusers are not serious offenders? Secondly, will he explain why the assurances the Government gave to Parliament during the passage of the Sentencing Act have been so swiftly abandoned?