Oral Answers to Questions

Eric Ollerenshaw Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Steve Brine (Winchester) (Con)]

9. What recent steps he has taken to reduce reoffending by young offenders.

[Eric Ollerenshaw (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Con)]

14. What recent steps he has taken to reduce reoffending by young offenders.

[Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con)]

19. What recent steps he has taken to reduce reoffending by young offenders.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Blunt]

I have met people from User Voice several times, and I agree with my hon. Friend about the value of their work. I also agree that ex-offenders are uniquely placed to offer support to offenders, along with other professional services, and can connect with them in a way that many other agencies cannot. Peer-mentoring services using ex-offenders are being developed at Ashfield and Cookham Wood young offenders institutions, working with the Prince’s Trust.

[Eric Ollerenshaw]

What particular support will there be for young offenders institutions such as Lancaster Farms in my constituency, particularly in dealing with young offenders on short-term sentences?

[Mr Blunt]

I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s support for the work of Lancashire Farms, which is a young offenders institute for young adults. There are a range of initiatives. The piloting of drug recovery wings will apply to those with short sentences. We are reforming the way in which education and training are delivered and linking them directly to the demands of the labour market on release. Prisoners who are assessed for jobseeker’s allowance before their release will be mandated to the Work programme on the first day of their release, and that will be an important way of joining up Government and involving the Department for Work and Pensions.