Offenders: Rehabilitation Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Offenders: Rehabilitation

Lord Dholakia Excerpts
Thursday 27th November 2014

(9 years, 12 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Faulks Portrait Lord Faulks
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That is clearly a matter of concern. The Government are aware that that can be an issue and are anxious to ensure, so far as possible, that when offenders leave prison they are given as much support as possible. The noble Baroness will be aware of the transforming rehabilitation steps that have been taken by this Government. We wish to ensure, so far as possible, that the return to the community is as satisfactory as it can be.

Lord Dholakia Portrait Lord Dholakia (LD)
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My Lords, will my noble friend agree with me that the provision in my Private Member’s Bill, which is now incorporated in the LASPO Act, has benefited a large number of young people and a large number of offenders leaving prison? Will he therefore now look at the international dimension, in particular at what is going on in Sweden, and at how such provisions can help to reduce the prison population in this country?

Lord Faulks Portrait Lord Faulks
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My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for acknowledging that we have made progress. We hope to continue to make progress. Of course, he is quite right: we must learn from experience elsewhere, in Sweden or wherever else there is good practice.