Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prisoners released from each prison in 2019-20 were released without a fixed address.

We recognise that it is vital that everyone leaving prison has somewhere safe and secure to live as a platform to access the services and support needed to stop the cycle of reoffending.

Data on the accommodation status of prisoners released from each prison between 2019 and 2020 is not yet available but is due for publication on 30 July 2020.

The Government has now decided that because of public health and public protection considerations, there is a need to provide accommodation for prison leavers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Justice has secured appropriate funding for a time-limited period to support the provision of accommodation for all individuals released from prison during this period, who are at risk of homelessness. The temporary accommodation scheme will run until 26th June at which point it will be reviewed, taking account of the situation at that time. This is an exceptional measure reflecting the current challenges. Additionally, we are also working in collaboration with other Government Departments and interested parties to help to secure a range of accommodation options for prisoners on their release.