Oral Answers to Questions

Scott Benton Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Shaun Bailey (West Bromwich West) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to reduce reoffending.

[Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to reduce reoffending.

[Virginia Crosbie (Ynys Môn) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to reduce reoffending.

--- Later in debate ---

[Robert Buckland]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who speaks with knowledge on this subject, and I would like to thank him and the Mayor, Andy Street, for their continued work on helping to tackle reoffending. We know that offenders typically have complex needs, and the community sentence treatment requirement programme, which went live in the Black Country in June this year, aims to improve access to appropriate mental health and substance misuse services as part of community sentences. Of course I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this and other issues relevant to West Bromwich in detail.

[Scott Benton]

What assessment has my right hon. and learned Friend made of the likely impact of the reduction of rehabilitation periods on reducing reoffending?

[Robert Buckland]

My hon. Friend speaks with continuing passion on behalf of his constituents in Blackpool, and he knows that when it comes to improving rehabilitation, employment is a key factor. Reducing the length of time that offences need to be disclosed for most jobs will improve job prospects for people with previous convictions. It not only supports them but protects the public by decreasing the likelihood of reoffending, as there are few better crime-fighting tools than a regular pay cheque.