Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Brandon Lewis and Stephen Metcalfe

Tuesday 18th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Brandon Lewis]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We want to get more prisoners the skills and qualifications that they need to get into employment and have the chance to contribute to society, which cuts crime and grows the economy. I am delighted that the first apprentices have now started work. We are planning a roundtable to encourage a wide range of employers, particularly in the UK hospitality and construction industries, where there is a lot more that we can do.

[Stephen Metcalfe]

I welcome my right hon. Friend’s commitment to building links with employers to ensure that prison leavers go into sustainable employment. Will he assure me and the House that his Department will support that ambition with appropriate funding?

[Brandon Lewis]

Yes. My hon. Friend makes an important point. We are investing in new roles, such as prison employment leads and a head of education, skills and work, to give our prisoners the support that they need to get into jobs. We are also funding new infrastructure such as employment hubs. This investment will cut crime and help prisoners to get work-ready, which will mean a better, safer society and a healthier community.

--- Later in debate ---

[Brandon Lewis]

As the hon. Lady rightly says, that report has been published. We are considering it and we will respond in due course.

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

T3.   I was pleased by my right hon. Friend’s announcement at the party conference that more criminals will be closely monitored through GPS tagging. Can he assure me that the funding for that is available, so that my constituents can have the confidence that they will be safer on their streets?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Brandon Lewis and Stephen Metcalfe

Monday 28th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

As my right hon. Friend develops a new immigration system, will she ensure that she pays particular attention to its design to facilitate the movement of scientists, researchers and technicians in and out of the country to protect our world-class science base and maintain our position as a global science superpower?

[The Minister for Security (Brandon Lewis)]

My hon. Friend makes a very good point. Yes, the Home Secretary has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee to look at a future points-based immigration system that is intended not to be geographical but based on the skills that this country needs so that we continue to be globally leading but also globally open.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Brandon Lewis and Stephen Metcalfe

Monday 6th June 2016 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

T7. Empty homes are a blight on our local communities, with some becoming derelict and dangerous, meaning that not only are local people deprived of somewhere to live, but entire areas can appear run down or unkempt. What is the Minister’s assessment of the number of empty homes and what is his Department doing to improve the situation?

[Brandon Lewis]

My hon. Friend makes a good point, and he has made the case to me before outside the Chamber about ensuring that we make the best use of the housing stock we have. I am pleased that under our Government we have seen a drop to the lowest level on record—a third down on the peak—and that in Thurrock the number of empty homes has dropped from 319 homes to 214. But we need to keep going, which is why our changes on the powers over council tax and the new homes bonus give a real incentive to local authorities to make sure we get these empty homes back into use. We should keep pushing.