Rehabilitation of Offenders

Justice – in the House of Commons am ar 10 Medi 2024.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Bobby Dean Bobby Dean Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol, Carshalton and Wallington

What steps she is taking to support the rehabilitation of offenders.

Photo of Monica Harding Monica Harding Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol, Esher and Walton

What steps she is taking to support the rehabilitation of offenders.

Photo of Paul Davies Paul Davies Llafur, Colne Valley

What steps her Department is taking to help reduce levels of reoffending.

Photo of Nicholas Dakin Nicholas Dakin Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice

Hon. Members are right to focus on reducing reoffending. Nearly 80% of offending is reoffending, and it has an immense cost to the taxpayer and to communities. As the Lord Chancellor said, we have inherited a difficult situation in relation to prison capacity, which makes it harder to address the rehabilitation needs of prisoners. The House should have no doubt that this Government will roll up our sleeves and get on with the job of reducing reoffending.

Photo of Bobby Dean Bobby Dean Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol, Carshalton and Wallington

My point speaks to what the Minister just said. The lack of prison capacity means that some people are locked up in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, and many prisons are ranked insufficient or poor for delivering purposeful activities such as education and training. How does the Minister plan to address that while we still have a bulging prison population? How will he increase the provision of those purposeful activities?

Photo of Nicholas Dakin Nicholas Dakin Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice

We are taking the hard decisions that are necessary to create space and capacity in the Prison Service to address that issue. The hon. Member is right that the report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons identified the provision of sufficient purposeful activity as its No. 1 issue to address. We know that education and employment help to reduce significantly the chance of reoffending, and we will work to do that with the Prison and Probation Service.

Photo of Monica Harding Monica Harding Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol, Esher and Walton

As my hon. Friend Bobby Dean mentioned, the chief inspector of prisons said this morning that prisoners can sometimes be banged up in their cells for up to 22 hours a day, that classrooms and workshops are empty, and that education and training are simply not given the priority they need. Does the Secretary of State agree that, in order to cut reoffending, it is time to introduce a proper workable plan to improve the rehabilitation of people leaving prison?

Photo of Nicholas Dakin Nicholas Dakin Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice

My own example demonstrates that training and education are very important in whatever role one takes on, so I agree wholeheartedly with what the hon. Member says.

Photo of Paul Davies Paul Davies Llafur, Colne Valley

Addressing literacy in UK prisons is crucial for successful rehabilitation. Improved literacy skills empower inmates with better job prospects, aiding their reintegration into society. Education fosters personal growth, self-esteem and decision-making abilities, which are essential for a crime-free life. Investing in prison literacy programmes is a vital step towards creating safer communities and offering inmates a genuine second chance. What comprehensive strategies are being implemented to address that?

Photo of Nicholas Dakin Nicholas Dakin Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice

My hon. Friend is exactly right: literacy and numeracy are crucial. I was pleased to visit HMP Humber recently, where I saw excellent best practice. It is important that those programmes are in place, that we learn from best practice and that we continue to do our best in that area.

Photo of Andrew Slaughter Andrew Slaughter Llafur, Hammersmith and Chiswick

A key driver of rehabilitation and the prevention of reoffending is sentencing policy. In our manifesto, we promised a review of sentencing policy—quite properly. When is that likely to take place, and will it take account of the very interesting recent paper by former Lord Chief Justices on sentencing inflation?

Photo of Nicholas Dakin Nicholas Dakin Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice

The paper to which my hon. Friend refers is a significant one, and I urge all Members to look at it. The Government are committed to a review of sentencing policy, and it will commence as soon as it can. We will report in due time.