Under the 18 day early release scheme, prisoners are financed by the Home Office fore those first 18 days - but I can't find any reference to the scheme - I know there were guidance for HB but can't find them now - any ideas where one might look ....?

have found a couple of references saying -

• 'Most recently a scheme to allow suitable prisoners to leave prison under licence for the last 18 days of the custodial portion of their sentence was introduced. This is known as release on an “end of custody licence.'
  
  http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/dmg/memletrs/m-01-08.pdf
  
  
• 'End of custody - a scheme to allow suitable prisoners to leave prison under licence for the last 18 days of the custodial portion of their sentence.'
  
  para 12035 of the DMG (http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/dmg/)