Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Stephenson Excerpts

Tuesday 8th December 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vara]

My hon. Friend is right to say that we have met. With this proposed closure of 91 courts, I have tried to make myself available to as many colleagues as possible—as far as I am aware, I have met every person who wanted a meeting. I am seriously considering my hon. Friend’s proposals, and I am grateful to her for submitting them.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

7. What steps his Department is taking to improve prisons’ engagement with employers; and if he will make a statement.

[Sir David Amess (Southend West) (Con)]

12. What steps his Department is taking to improve prisons’ engagement with employers; and if he will make a statement.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Michael Gove)]

The investment in prison reform announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the spending review is designed to make it easier to get prisoners learning and working. As a result, I recently met the Employers’ Forum for Reducing Re-offending to discuss how we can improve employment opportunities for ex-offenders.

[Andrew Stephenson]

New Call Telecom in Pendle is working with Spacious Place, a social enterprise, to help young offenders at Forest Bank prison with training and employment opportunities. Will my right hon. Friend join me in welcoming New Call Telecom’s work to improve rehabilitation and get young offenders back into society and into employment?

[Michael Gove]

I wholeheartedly welcome its work, and I commend its efforts to other companies. About 20% of companies employ ex-offenders, but as many as 90% of companies have expressed an interest in doing so. I suspect that the example set by the employer in my hon. Friend’s constituency will inspire more companies to support ex-offenders into work.