Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much funding was allocated to the (a) women’s services lot and (b) accommodation services lot in the Dynamic Purchasing Framework for probation services.

A total of around £54 million has been allocated to women’s services to address their specific needs and the underlying causes of their crimes as part of the Government’s pledge to see fewer women go to prison. Contracts worth over £45 million have already been awarded with women’s services procured at Police and Crime Commissioner level in 10 of the 12 probation regions. This significant investment provides long-term support to women’s centres and other dedicated services for women serving community sentences or leaving prison.

A total of around £41 million has been allocated to accommodation services with over £33 million allocated in 11 of the 12 probation regions. These have been awarded at a regional level except in Wales where they have been procured at Police and Crime Commissioner level.

For the first time, the Probation Service is jointly commissioning the full range of rehabilitative services in Greater Manchester with the region’s Combined Authority from July 2021.

In London, women’s services will be commissioned jointly with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) by providing funding to MOPAC’s existing providers for an extension and expansion of the current service. A new commissioning process will be undertaken for services from 2022.