Alex Norris

“Twenty more hotels have closed, and hotel numbers have more than halved since their peak.”

“The justice secretary Alex Norris previously said about 1,000 prisoners would now not be released early following the revision to the scheme.”

“The justice secretary said about 5,000 extra releases will take place in 10 batches from October - down from about 6,000 before the revision.”

“The justice secretary said 5,000 extra releases will take place in 10 batches from October.”

“Approximately 1,000 prisoners will now not be released early following the revision to the scheme, he clarified.”

“That is why new Justice Secretary Alex Norris says there is a 'prison capacity crisis' which means the government has to implement the latest early release scheme.”

“Norris has said that 5,000 prisoners are now due to be released from October - down from 6,000 due to the new exclusions.”

“Fewer than 170 hotels are housing asylum seekers, Mr Norris also said, 'a reduction of more than half compared to the peak of around 400 under the previous government'.”

“Under this Government, removals of foreign national offenders are up 36 per cent, with nearly 10,000 returned since we entered office.”

“he added. The minister stressed, however, that the 'barrier to removal' was section seven of the Immigration Act 1971, adding that the Government made 1,300 returns to Pakistan.”