Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time is after the issue date of the judgment for prisoners who have been granted release to directed premises by Parole Boards (a) being found suitable premises and (b) being released from prison in the most recent period for which figures are available.

The information requested could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Case management systems cannot readily distinguish between releases that are made to “directed” premises and those that are not. 2017 saw the release of over 2100 prisoners who were serving indeterminate or determinate parole eligible sentences. To obtain the requested information would require a manual check of all records for the prisoners directed to be released in this period.

Where the release plan of a prisoner requires accommodation in National Probation Service approved premises then the prisoner cannot be released until a place in those premises becomes available, allowing the prisoner to be safely released. Where possible, HMPPS aim to release prisoners within 14 days of receipt of the Parole Board’s decision.