REPORTS of prisoners being released with tents to live in have sparked a Government challenge by one of West Somerset’s MPs.

Sir Ashley Fox, whose Bridgwater constituency takes in a number of West Somerset parishes, questioned the Government’s early release scheme.

He queried reports that prisoners were being issued with tents on their release, which raised concerns about the impact on reoffending and public safety.

Speaking in the House of Commons during an urgent question on the electronic monitoring of offenders, Sir Ashley questioned the Government’s policy of letting offenders out of prison early and the pressure it was placing on the probation service.

Sir Ashley said: “The Minister says the Government are building new prison places, yet she will be aware that there are fewer prison places today than on the day Labour took office.

“She will also be aware this vast flood of prisoners being released early has overwhelmed the ability of the probation service to find them accommodation, and that some prisoners are now being issued with tents, setting them up to fail.”

Prisons Minister Catherine McKinnell in response said providing tents to prisoners was not Government policy.

She acknowledged tents should never be considered an acceptable housing solution.

However, the Minister failed to provide the figures requested by Sir Ashley and instead pointed to the responsibilities of local authorities for housing.

Sir Ashley said later: “We cannot set people up to fail by releasing them from prison without somewhere suitable to live.

“It is completely unacceptable that prisoners are being handed tents upon release, rather than being given the proper support and accommodation they need to rebuild their lives and avoid reoffending.”

It has been calculated that by the end of this year about 2,500 prisoners will have been released early, spending the remainder of sentences on licence in the community.