Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 4.53 of the report on an unannounced inspection of HM Prison and Young Offenders Institute Bronzefield by HM Inspector of Prisons, published in November 2015, what steps his Department is taking in response to the finding that people who were released from prison with nowhere to go had been given tents and sleeping bags by the prison and its chaplaincy.

As part of our probation reforms we now provide unprecedented support for offenders to make sure all receive support on release, including those sentenced to less than 12 months.

While we work extremely closely with each offender before and after release to give them the support they need to find accommodation, the responsibility for making sure there is housing available ultimately lies with the local authority.

All prisoners meet regularly with their offender manager after release, and efforts are made to help find emergency accommodation where needed.

All prisoners receive a resettlement plan, including help to find somewhere to live following release, and any specialist referrals required.