I am therefore announcing today a package ofmeasures to accelerate our reforms to improve prison conditions and make moreeffective use of custody:We now plan to remove afurther 550 slopping-out places by 2006.We will create 200 newplaces by using rapid-build units on existing sites where the land andinfrastructure can best support the additional numbers.We will use electronictagging to reduce the number of accused persons remanded in custody.We will enhance thearrangements for home leave for long-term prisoners at the end of theirsentences to reintegrate them better into society.We shall seek earlyintroduction of legislation to allow for home detention curfews underelectronic monitoring for prisoners nearing the end of their sentences.These measures areconsistent with our overall vision for the criminal justice service in Scotlandwhich deals fairly and effectively with offenders and reduces reoffending byproviding robust and effective penalties, including community sentences.I have also instructed the SPSto update its estates strategy to take account of our existing plans forcreating new and fully modernised prisons, the impact of the measures I amannouncing today and our wider reforms.Having examined LordBonomy’s judgement in Napier against this background, we believe there aregrounds for appealing his conclusions.