To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is per person of the sexual offender treatment programme; and what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the programme in reducing reoffending.

The prison and probation services offer a range of sex offender treatment programmes to meet different needs. The cost varies across programme and by establishment or area depending on factors such as the risk presented by the offenders concerned, nature of the programme, volume of delivery and the existing infrastructure. Cost therefore can vary from around £3,500 to £10,000 per completion.

Sex offender treatment programme participants in prison and probation have demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in sexual and/or violent reconviction within two years of release or completion of a community programme, in comparison with offenders who have not undergone the programme (Friendship et al., 2003; Allam, 1998).