Oral Answers to Questions

John Whitby Excerpts

Tuesday 28th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Nicholas Dakin]

As I have said, the Lord Chancellor has requested advice on this matter. We promote our strong employee total reward package as part of our recruitment. The terms and conditions of the civil service pension scheme are some of the best in the public sector, with a low employee contribution rate and a significant employer contribution rate of 28.97%. However, that does not mean it is not a right and proper question to ask, and if the hon. Member wishes to have a meeting with me, I am quite happy to meet him.

[John Whitby (Derbyshire Dales) (Lab)]

3. What steps her Department is taking to support female offenders.

[Jayne Kirkham (Truro and Falmouth) (Lab/Co-op)]

4. What steps her Department is taking to support female offenders.

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[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir Nicholas Dakin)]

This Government’s plan to support women is clear and ambitious: to reduce the number of women going to prison and to have fewer women’s prisons. Our Women’s Justice Board, which met for the first time last week, will support implementing this vision. I would also remind the House that, as the Minister responsible for youth justice, I have initiated a review of the placement of girls in custody, on which Susannah Hancock will report at the end of this month.

[John Whitby]

What family support is available for women at Foston Hall prison and young offenders institution?

[Sir Nicholas Dakin]

We know that family support is very important to women in custody, which is why grant funding has been awarded to the charity Parents And Children Together—PACT—to provide a resettlement family engagement worker in HMP Foston Hall, as well as in seven other women’s prisons.