Oral Answers to Questions

Matt Hancock Excerpts

Tuesday 13th March 2012 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Matthew Hancock (West Suffolk) (Con)]

1. What plans he has to promote work in prisons.

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

4. What plans he has to promote work in prisons.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Kenneth Clarke)]

We have ambitions to deliver a step change in the amount of work done in prisons. By making use of the lessons learned from the prisons that are already delivering full working weeks, we will work with the public and private sectors—including commercial customers and partners—and through the prison competition system to make our ambitions real.

[Matthew Hancock]

The Secretary of State will know of the great work being done in Her Majesty’s prison Highpoint, in my constituency, which is one of our biggest category C prisons. Enabling third sector, private and other providers to work with prisoners before they are released has improved their chances of finding accommodation and work on release. What further action is the Secretary of State taking to ensure that that is replicated throughout the country?