Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard Excerpts

Tuesday 8th December 2015 Commons Chamber

[Michael Gove]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for making that point. In my constituency, HMP Coldingley works with a group of disparate employers to provide offenders with the chance to contribute again. He makes a very important point.

[Tom Elliott (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) (UUP)]

What specific measures are being put in place to reduce the bureaucracy that companies have to overcome to employ offenders?

[Michael Gove]

The first thing we need to do is give governors a greater sense of freedom so that they are able to invite employers in, ensure they can make use of prisoners while they are still on the prison estate and employ them through the gate. Specific reforms we hope to bring forward in the new year will give more governors precisely that freedom and flexibility.