Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Metcalfe Excerpts

Tuesday 18th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Jack Lopresti (Filton and Bradley Stoke) (Con)]

3. What steps his Department is taking to help offenders find employment following their release from prison.

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

5. What steps his Department is taking to help offenders find employment following their release from prison.

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[Brandon Lewis]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We want to get more prisoners the skills and qualifications that they need to get into employment and have the chance to contribute to society, which cuts crime and grows the economy. I am delighted that the first apprentices have now started work. We are planning a roundtable to encourage a wide range of employers, particularly in the UK hospitality and construction industries, where there is a lot more that we can do.

[Stephen Metcalfe]

I welcome my right hon. Friend’s commitment to building links with employers to ensure that prison leavers go into sustainable employment. Will he assure me and the House that his Department will support that ambition with appropriate funding?

[Brandon Lewis]

Yes. My hon. Friend makes an important point. We are investing in new roles, such as prison employment leads and a head of education, skills and work, to give our prisoners the support that they need to get into jobs. We are also funding new infrastructure such as employment hubs. This investment will cut crime and help prisoners to get work-ready, which will mean a better, safer society and a healthier community.

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[Brandon Lewis]

As the hon. Lady rightly says, that report has been published. We are considering it and we will respond in due course.

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

T3.   I was pleased by my right hon. Friend’s announcement at the party conference that more criminals will be closely monitored through GPS tagging. Can he assure me that the funding for that is available, so that my constituents can have the confidence that they will be safer on their streets?