asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have taken advantage of the job release scheme; and what is the net cost per job released under the scheme, allowing for the savings on social security of those coming into the scheme.

Since January 1977, when the full-time job release scheme commenced, over 288,500 have joined the scheme. Allowing only for savings on social security payments, the approximate annual net cost per person on the scheme in 1984–85 was £1,650.