Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Sarah Dyke and Nicholas Dakin

Tuesday 3rd June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Nicholas Dakin]

I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting the importance of essential organisations such as Young Gloucestershire and the Nelson Trust. I am grateful for the invitation, and ask him to please write to me about the organisations. We will see what my diary can do.

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

Somerset Youth Justice Service recently got a “requires improvement” rating from His Majesty’s inspectorate of probation. The situation is clearly damaging young offenders’ chances of rehabilitation, so what steps is the Department taking to improve SYJS and support young offenders in Somerset?

[Sir Nicholas Dakin]

The hon. Lady draws attention to an important issue. Inspections are significant in identifying where additional support and effort are needed. The Department will do everything it can to give proper support to Somerset Youth Justice Service.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Sarah Dyke and Nicholas Dakin

Tuesday 22nd April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Nicholas Dakin]

I agree with my hon. Friend that for some women supported accommodation is very valuable. Existing provision includes His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service-led community accommodation services and third sector residential women’s centres, including Hope Street, which she rightly praises for its excellent work. The Women’s Justice Board is exploring options to increase use of robust community alternatives to custody, including residential options where appropriate.

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

Project SHE in Somerset, run by the Nelson Trust, allows some women who have been arrested for the first time for low-level crime an alternative to court, working with offenders on rehabilitation and reducing the impact on the community and the criminal justice system. What support is the Department providing for such schemes?

[Sir Nicholas Dakin]

These schemes are very important. The hon. Member highlights a very good one, and the Department continues to support those sorts of schemes.