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Tuesday Volume 597 23 June 2015 No. 21 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 23 June 2015 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2015 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 735 23 JUNE 2015 736 is my right hon. Friend taking to support such charities House of Commons and to ensure that offenders leave prison ready to face the world of work? Tuesday 23 June 2015 Michael Gove: I commend my hon. Friend for raising the work of those two voluntary sector organisations. The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Without the work of voluntary and third sector organisations, we would not be able to provide the educational and rehabilitative services that enable people PRAYERS who are currently in our prisons to have a second chance. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Michael Fabricant: Not just voluntary services have a role to play, but private businesses such as Marks & Spencer, and indeed other well known department stores. Does my right hon. Friend agree that we should encourage Oral Answers to Questions private enterprise to help in the rehabilitation of offenders to get them back to work? Michael Gove: I absolutely agree—that is a very good JUSTICE point. May I single out for praise the John Lewis Partnership, which does such a fantastic job in helping people from a variety of backgrounds to be all they can The Secretary of State was asked— be? I stress that there are other organisations, such as Greggs the bakers and, of course, Timpson, the shoe Prisoner Rehabilitation Services and key repair firm. John Timpson’s leadership in providing ex-offenders with a second chance is exemplary. 1. Lucy Allan (Telford) (Con): What his plans are for the future of rehabilitation services for prisoners; and if Jeremy Lefroy: Given that 12% of the prison population he will make a statement. [900485] are sex offenders, including many in the prison in Stafford, what specific rehabilitation work is being done for sex 2. Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) offenders? (Con): What his plans are for the future of rehabilitation services for prisoners; and if he will make a statement. Michael Gove: The excellent work that is done in [900486] Stafford prison is close to my hon. Friend’s heart, and he is absolutely right. We need to make use of the most 10. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): What his sophisticated means that psychologists can devise to help plans are for the future of rehabilitation services for people to tackle the problems that led them to offend. I prisoners; and if he will make a statement. [900494] had the opportunity earlier this week to talk to the psychologist in charge of that work at the National 14. Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con): What his plans Offender Management Service, and to guarantee her all are for the future of rehabilitation services for prisoners; support in the weeks and months ahead in dealing with and if he will make a statement. [900498] those terrible crimes. The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Michael Gove): May I begin by praising the work of my 23. [900509]Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab): Lord predecessor to improve the rehabilitation of offenders? Laming is inquiring into looked-after children and the Thanks to his reforming zeal, we have broadened the criminal justice system. As well as rehabilitation, what range of people providing and benefiting from is the Justice Secretary doing to help youngsters who rehabilitation, but there is still much more to do. have been in care to avoid a life in crime? Lucy Allan: I thank the Secretary of State for his Michael Gove: I welcome Herbert Laming’s work. He reply and for the great work to support the rehabilitation has been an inspirational figure in social work. He is of offenders to give them a second chance. Will he right to draw attention to the high number of male and assure me that that rehabilitation will never be appropriate particularly female offenders in our jails who spent in cases such as the brutal murder of Telford teenager their lives in care. Working with the Education Secretary Georgia Williams? and the Minister for Children and Families, who has responsibility for children in care, I hope we can work Michael Gove: Absolutely. May I emphasise that, on the reforms of the coalition Government to ensure with heinous crimes such as the appalling murder of that more children in dysfunctional homes can be adopted Georgia Williams, judges have the freedom to impose and fostered quickly, and that there are better educational whole-life orders? One was imposed on the killer in that outcomes for children who have to spend their lives in terrible case. care. Michael Tomlinson: Clean Sheet and Footprints are Nick Thomas-Symonds (Torfaen) (Lab): Does the two charities in Dorset supporting ex-offenders into Secretary of State agree that central to reducing crime work and reducing the risk of reoffending. What steps rates overall is reducing the rate of reoffending? Does 737 Oral Answers23 JUNE 2015 Oral Answers 738 he therefore also agree that to cut rehabilitative services, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service. Any new and funding for them, ultimately would be counter- proposals on the future of the courts will be subject to productive in the long term? consultation. Michael Gove: The hon. Gentleman is a distinguished Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: Will my hon. Friend, as part barrister and historian and is absolutely right, because of the Courts and Tribunals Service reform programme, the historical record shows that, overall as a country, we consider establishing one purpose-built building to house have been very poor at reducing the rate of recidivism. all court services? We need to ensure that, both in our prisons and afterwards, we have high-quality services provided by professionals Mr Vara: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his who know how to change the behaviour of individuals comments. I am very mindful of the state of affairs of who deserve a second chance. Gloucestershire’s court estate. It is important that court buildings provide value for money and meet local demand. Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab): I congratulate the I will certainly ensure that his comments are taken on Lord Chancellor on his recent appointment. He looked board. very impressive in his new robes, if I may say so. Thirty-five per cent. of prisoners have a drug addiction Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con): I have discussed and 6% acquire that addiction while in prison. What the issue of the courts in Gloucestershire—and in specific help is being given to those with a drug addiction Gloucester in particular, where we have a Crown court when they come out of prison? that predates the battle of Waterloo—with the Minister and his predecessors for several years. As my neighbour Michael Gove: I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman and colleague, my hon. Friend the Member for The on his re-election as Chairman of the Home Affairs Cotswolds (Geoffrey Clifton-Brown), has said, our courts Committee. He did an exemplary job in the previous are in a dire position. Will he confirm today that Parliament and I know he will do a very good job in this the Department will look very closely at the state of the Parliament. May I also thank him for his kind words courts and take advantage of the opportunity to use about my dress sense? When it comes to cutting a the site we have reserved free of charge in Blackfriars? sartorial dash, there are few who can match him. Mr Vara: I congratulate my hon. Friend on his re-election. The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that I know the issue of the court structure was a key drug addiction is one of the principal factors that lead element in the general election. It is good to see that, individuals to commit crime. It is also the case that post-election, he continues to battle for that cause. We there is an unacceptable level of drug use, both of illegal have met and corresponded on this issue, so he will be drugs and so-called legal highs, in our prisons. We are aware that, as we speak, officials are engaged in considering determined to ensure that the psychological support the best way forward. currently available in prison, and the support rehabilitation companies can provide for individuals who are drug- addicted, is enhanced so that individuals can be weaned Prisons: Work off a habit that brings misery to themselves and to their victims. 4. Matt Warman (Boston and Skegness) (Con): What progress he has made on ensuring that prisoners Joanna Cherry (Edinburgh South West) (SNP): Does undertake work in prisons. [900488] the Secretary of State agree that an important part of rehabilitation is the nature of the custodial arrangements The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice we make for our prisoners? He will have seen yesterday’s (Andrew Selous): We want prisons to be places of industry announcement by the Scottish Government on their and purposeful activity by replicating as far as possible plans to reform the custodial arrangements for female a normal working week, and by teaching skills that lead offenders in Scotland. Will he commit to considering a to employment on release and reduced reoffending. similar approach as he reforms the prison estate in From 2010-11 to 2013-14, the number of hours worked England and Wales? in prisons increased by a third from 10.6 million to 14.2 million in public sector prisons.