Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Davies Excerpts

Tuesday 28th January 2025 Commons Chamber

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

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

[Paul Davies (Colne Valley) (Lab)]

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

[Becky Gittins (Clwyd East) (Lab)]

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

--- Later in debate ---

[Sir Nicholas Dakin]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter. In this case the court’s decision was to impose a prison sentence, and neither Ministers nor officials can intervene in sentences passed down by our independent courts. I understand the frustrations and can assure the House that we are working hard to find alternative approaches to ensure a secure resolution to this issue.

[Paul Davies]

There are more than 3,000 women prisoners in England and Wales—a number that the Ministry of Justice projects will rise to 4,200 by November 2027. Like many, I welcome the newly established Women’s Justice Board, which will oversee efforts to tackle this issue and ensure a tailored approach to female offenders. What measures are being implemented to provide support through community sentences and residential women’s centres?

[Sir Nicholas Dakin]

We are awarding £7.2 million for the upcoming year to community organisations and local areas that are already supporting women in the community. We are also employing options to increase the use of residential provision as an alternative to short custodial sentences. That includes engaging with the judiciary to ensure that the option of a community order with a residential requirement is considered in appropriate cases.