Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November to Question 118531, what discussions he has had with (a) the Chancellor the Exchequer and (b) other Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that adequate funding is in place for the services providing support to women leaving prison.

The Secretary of State for Justice has regular discussions with the Chancellor and other Cabinet colleagues, including during the recent Spending Review, to ensure that adequate funding is available to deliver departmental priorities. These priorities include working with our partners across government to address the causes of reoffending whilst offenders are in custody and in the community.

This Government is committed to reducing reoffending by ensuring that all offenders have the support they need to turn their backs on crime. Prisons and probation must provide the opportunity together with appropriate support for prisoners to rehabilitate, which will ultimately reduce reoffending and protect the public.

Reducing reoffending is a complex issue and needs to be a combined effort across government and local partners in order to help ex-offenders secure employment, find a home, get treatment for a drug addiction and support for mental health issues.

And we remain committed to delivering the Female Offender Strategy’s objectives of fewer women coming into the criminal justice system and reoffending, fewer women in custody (especially on short-term sentences) and a greater proportion of women managed in the community successfully, and better conditions for those in custody.

The Government recognises the important role played by women’s community services in supporting women leaving prison. Following the publication of the Female Offender Strategy, the Government invested £5.1 million over two years in women’s community sector organisations, including women’s centres. Thirty different organisations across England and Wales received funding, which included the creation of six new women’s centres. On 5 May, the Government announced further funding of £2.5 million for the sector.