To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2009, Official Report, column 1554W, on approved premises; how many bail hostels other than those operated by ClearSprings (a) operate and (b) are planned to open in (i) Eastbourne and (ii) England. (254096)

The properties provided by ClearSprings are not bail hostels. What were known as approved hostels, probation hostels and bail hostels are now approved premises. There are 97 approved premises in England, and four in Wales. None is in Eastbourne, and there are no plans to open one there or to expand the number of approved premises in England or Wales. The core purpose of approved premises is to protect the public from offenders who pose a significant risk of harm, and, at 30 November 2008, only 157 of the 2,205 places were filled by defendants on bail.