Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rory Stewart and Bob Blackman

Tuesday 23rd January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

2. What progress he has made on implementing his duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Rory Stewart)]

I should like to begin by paying tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) for his work on the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. With the agreement of colleagues from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Act should come into operation in April. It is absolutely vital that every prisoner leaving custody has a home to go to.

[Bob Blackman]

I thank my hon. Friend and welcome him to his new position. As he rightly says, it is in our best interest that ex-offenders leaving prison do not reoffend. One of the key issues is to ensure that prison governors honour their commitment under the Homelessness Reduction Act to ensure that people are prepared for life outside prison. What action will he take to ensure that prison governors train offenders who are due to leave prison so that they do not reoffend?

[Rory Stewart]

There are two key things to do: first, to empower governors so that they have real flexibility and control over education budgets and career advice; and, secondly, to connect that to housing. There is an obligation under the Act that my hon. Friend has championed, and co-ordination with local authorities will be essential.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rory Stewart and Bob Blackman

Tuesday 21st November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

What representations has my right hon. Friend made to the Government of Pakistan about human rights abuses and the desire for freedom in Balochistan? [Interruption.]

[Rory Stewart]

Badakhshan is of course a region of Afghanistan, so interference in Badakhshan from Pakistan would be a serious issue. My hon. Friend may perhaps be referring to Balochistan, where we continue to raise reports of human rights abuses with the Government of Pakistan.