Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Crabb Excerpts

Tuesday 9th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Frazer]

We must of course prosecute those who are alleged to have committed the terrible crimes that my hon. Friend talks about. We have strengthened the law. Failing to protect a girl from FGM is now an offence, and we have introduced an element of coercive control in domestic violence. We in the Ministry of Justice continue to work closely with the Home Office and the Attorney General, who is responsible for the Criminal Prosecution Service, to ensure that crimes are prosecuted.

[Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire) (Con)]

3. What steps the Government are taking to help offenders find employment immediately after they leave prison.

[James Heappey (Wells) (Con)]

15. What steps the Government are taking to help offenders find employment immediately after they leave prison.

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr David Gauke)]

In May we published the education and employment strategy, which will set each prisoner on a path to employment, with prison education and work geared towards employment on release from the outset. Since publication of the strategy, we are working with about 70 new organisations that have registered an interest in working with offenders.

[Stephen Crabb]

I welcome the Secretary of State’s response. Given that we have a shortage of about 60,000 HGV drivers in this country—it is a good job, paying a decent wage—does my right hon. Friend think that there is an opportunity in his strategy to work with industry bodies and other Government Departments to deliver a pathway for ex-offenders to train, get their HGV licence and be able to walk into a job on day one when they walk through the prison gates?

[Mr Gauke]

My right hon. Friend is right to raise the point. My hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (David T. C. Davies) has also raised that point on the Floor of the House, and we are working on proposals to do precisely that. Getting offenders into work makes them less likely to reoffend and enables them to contribute to society. It is something that we should absolutely aspire to.