Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to support prison leavers find employment.

There is evidence that prison leavers who get a job within a year after release are up to nine per cent less likely to re-offend than those who do not.

We have put in place a series of measures to give prisoners the chance to work while in prison, while released on temporary licence, and following release. Dedicated Prison Employment Leads will identify candidates and match them to jobs. They will also oversee our new Employment Hubs, where prisoners can access support with job applications.

Building strong links with employers is a key part of the steps we are taking. We are working with James Timpson to roll out Employment Advisory Boards, which will link prisons with industry, so that local businesses can provide challenge and advice on the training prisoners can be given in prison to meet the needs of the local labour market.

We are on track to roll out Prison Employment Leads, Employment Hubs and Employment Advisory Boards across all 92 resettlement prisons by April 2023.

We have recently changed the law so that prisoners can become apprentices. The first prisoner apprentices started on 30 September and employers recruiting prisoner apprentices include construction firm Kier Group.