To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the number of those designated as persistent and prolific offenders are presently serving prison sentences. (224332)

The most recent data available from the performance management arrangements for the Prolific and other Priority Offender programme cover the period from January to March 2008. Based on returns from 93 per cent. of all Prolific and other Priority Offender schemes in England and Wales, the data show that 38 per cent. of Prolific and other Priority Offenders were serving custodial sentences at that time.