Oral Answers to Questions

Jason McCartney Excerpts

Tuesday 21st May 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Grant]

I agree with my hon. Friend, who makes an astute and sensible point.

[Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)]

2. What steps he plans to take to reduce the number of offences committed by people on probation.

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Chris Grayling)]

On 9 May, I announced “Transforming Rehabilitation: A Strategy for Reform”, which sets out how we will transform the way in which we rehabilitate offenders to make progress in driving down reoffending rates. Under our proposals, for the first time in recent history, every offender sentenced to less than 12 months in prison will receive statutory supervision and rehabilitation in the community when they are released from custody. Alongside that, we will open up the market to a diverse mix of providers, freeing them to innovate and paying them by results, so that they focus relentlessly on reducing reoffending.

[Jason McCartney]

I would like to take this opportunity to praise the innovative work that my local Kirklees probation service is doing to bring down offending rates. Rates in West Yorkshire are down by 10% and in Kirklees the reduction is nearly 17%. I spent time with my local service over the Easter recess. What effect will the extension to a minimum of 12 months’ supervision in the community now have?