What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of multi-agency public protection arrangements in the management of serious offenders.

Prison, police and probation services are now required to work together rather than in isolation to assess and manage the risk presented by known offenders in the so-called MAPPA system. In 2008-09, of the 10,924 sexual, violent and other dangerous offenders managed at MAPPA levels 2 and 3, with multi-agency intervention and resources, 48 were charged with a serious further offence. Not least in the light of the Sonnex case, we are constantly making efforts to strengthen the MAPPA system.

The Secretary of State has met the family of the 10-year-old boy who was abducted and raped by Stephen Ayre in my constituency several years ago. Even though the right hon. Gentleman would not release the internal report into the event and the failings of the Prison Service and the probation service, will he explain what measures the Department is taking to pay compensation to the families of people who suffer from such appalling mismanagement?

Compensation is a matter for the courts. There is no-and never has been-statutory responsibility directly on the Government in respect of victims. Very occasionally victims in such circumstances can get compensation, but I am sorry to have to tell the hon. Gentleman, as successive Governments have said, that it is a matter for the courts, and clearly within rather narrowly defined circumstances.