Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of Armed Forces-friendly employment practices in prison and probation services.

The Ministry of Justice recognises the valuable skills and experience that members of the Armed Forces community can bring to the Civil Service, including roles across His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).

The Department supports veterans into employment through the Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme, which recognises the contribution that former members of the Armed Forces can make to the Civil Service and provides opportunities for them to secure rewarding jobs.

HMPPS also operates Advance into Justice, which supports members of the Armed Forces and their family members into frontline operational roles across prisons and probation. This includes service leavers who are within their resettlement period and due to leave the Services within 18 months, veterans, eligible spouses and civil partners of service leavers or veterans, and Armed Forces Reservists.