Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick and Caroline Dinenage

Tuesday 8th December 2015 Commons Chamber

[Caroline Dinenage]

I am very happy to have the opportunity to answer that question. Obviously, sentences are based on the individual offence. Male offenders are, and will continue to be, supported through existing processes to address their needs, but let us not forget that our Prison Service and probation service were designed with male offenders in mind, because they make up 95% of their customers.

[Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down) (SDLP)]

Will the Minister outline what levels of support will be available or are being considered for those women’s dependants, many of whom are quite young children?

[Caroline Dinenage]

The hon. Lady makes an excellent point. That is why our women’s prisons have made an enormous effort to engage with families and children, and some of them give women the opportunity to hold overnight visits with their young children. That is what the pilots are about: they are about recognising offending behaviour very early on, so that we can bring in third sector organisations and local authorities to divert women from ending up in prison.