To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders placed on the end of custody licence scheme have been recalled to custody since the scheme's inception; and how many of the alleged further offences committed were (a) robbery, (b) burglary, (c) theft and handling, (d) fraud and forgery, (e) drug offences, (f) rape, (g) attempted rape and (h) other sexual offences. (252345)

47,515 offenders have been placed on the end of custody licence scheme (ECL), of whom 1,594 (approximately 3 per cent.) have been recalled to custody from the start of the scheme on 29 June 2007 to 31 December 2008.

Independent of the number of recalls is the number of offenders notified to the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) as having allegedly re-offended during their period of ECL. NOMS may be notified of an alleged further offence for which it is not possible to recall the offender to custody because, for example, the ECL period has expired by the time the offender is charged with the offence.

Between 29 June 2007 and 31 December 2008, 712 offenders were notified to NOMS as alleged to have committed a total of 959 further offences while on the scheme. The following table shows the types of offences allegedly committed in the categories requested.