To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the rates were for re-offending by offenders who have completed accredited offending behaviour programmes, broken down by (a) programme and (b) area, in the most recent complete year available. [109516]

The information sought is not yet available. The reconviction rate is measured over a two-year period from completion of the programme. The first accredited offending behaviour programmes were introduced in 2001 and reconviction data will not be available until spring 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many completions there have been of accredited offending behaviour programmes since each programme's inception, broken down by

The National Probation Service is making good progress with the implementation of its accredited offending behaviour programmes. There were 3,383 completions in the only full year for which figures are available, April 2001 to March 2002. Table A provides a breakdown by area and programme. Since roll out began in January 2001, 8,613 individuals have completed accredited offending behaviour programmes.The National Probation Service is tackling attrition by addressing case management and programme targeting. Each probation area is required to prepare an attrition action plan which will be monitored as part of the National Probation Service's performance management framework.