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Electronic Tagging

Volume 301: debated on Wednesday 24 September 1997

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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to use electronic tagging as a substitute for part of a custodial sentence so as to bring about the early release of convicted prisoners. [17158]

I refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made on 20 November 1997, Official Report, column 453.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all foreign visits (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department have undertaken since 2 May separately identifying those examining the operation of electronic tagging systems; and if he will make a statement. [16582]

[holding answer 20 November 1997]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 13 November 1997, Official Report, column 642. Of the foreign visits listed in that reply, only the one on 4–6 November involved study of electronic monitoring. That visit was undertaken by one Minister accompanied by three officials. No other foreign visits by officials on this subject have been undertaken since 2 May. The right hon. Member may, however, be interested to note that I looked at the operation of electronic tagging in one city in the United States of America while on a visit there in 1995.