Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Carol Monaghan and Rory Stewart

Tuesday 24th April 2018 Commons Chamber

[Carol Monaghan (Glasgow North West) (SNP)]

2. What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of community sentences on reducing reoffending rates.

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Rory Stewart)]

This is something the Department studied in detail in 2015, and we have conclusive evidence that giving somebody a community sentence rather than a short custodial sentence reduces reoffending over a one-year period.

[Carol Monaghan]

We have evidence of that in Scotland as well. The Scottish Government’s move towards community payback orders has helped Scotland to achieve its current 18-year low in reoffending. Is the Minister looking to the Scottish Government’s example and considering how they have managed to achieve these figures?

[Rory Stewart]

Absolutely. We have a lot to learn from Scotland, specifically on community sentences, and indeed we will be looking at what more we can do to emphasise that a custodial sentence in the short term should be a final resort. In reoffending terms, it is often much better for somebody to be given a community sentence.