asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much they have spent in each of the last five years on grants to voluntary organisations for the provision of housing, aftercare and training for ex-prisoners; and what sums they propose to spend for these purposes in each of the next five years.[HL6246]

It is not possible to identify grants made specifically to support ex-prisoners, as in many cases the organisations funded are working across several purposes and with ex-prisoners, prisoners and those on community sentences. Grants made centrally by the Home Office to voluntary sector organisations working in this area in the past two years were: in 2004-05, £7.6 million; and, in 2005-06, £8.7 million. In 2006-07, they are planned to be £8.9 million. In addition, grants of £7.5 million, £8 million, and £8.1 million respectively were made/are planned for the provision of voluntary sector approved premises that house people under supervision in the community. For future years, spending plans have not been finalised to this level of detail. These figures do not include grants made by local probation boards, as these figures are not held centrally.