Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Selous and David Gauke
Tuesday 9th October 2018

(5 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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We are looking at various options in this context. I know that Scotland introduced a presumption against three months. I think it is fair to say that that did not make much of a difference, and it has now been extended to 12 months, and we are looking at the evidence from that. I hope it is very clear to the House that, when it comes to reducing reoffending and to rehabilitation, we do question the effectiveness of short sentences.

Andrew Selous Portrait Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)
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Would not the effectiveness of all custodial sentences be increased if we reduced the number of prisoners who were released on a Friday night when no public services are available for them, often leaving them to fall into the hands of the local drug dealer and go straight back into a life of crime?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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My hon. Friend is right to raise that concern. There are different ways in which one can address that matter. More support could be provided. For example, there could be release on a temporary licence a few days before the final release so that many of the public services can be accessed. Whether we look at release on a particular day or at other ways of addressing that matter, I completely understand his point. We need to make sure that when people are released, they are in a strong position to access accommodation and a job and to be able to maintain their family links; that is what we want to do.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Selous and David Gauke
Tuesday 10th July 2018

(5 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Andrew Selous Portrait Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)
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What analysis has the Ministry of Justice done on how well the public sector is doing in taking on ex-offenders in employment? Does the Minister agree that we cannot just exhort the private sector to step up to the plate in this area if the public sector is not leading by example?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight this point. Indeed, many parts of the public sector are stepping up and doing that—the Prison Service itself takes people on. We have a pilot programme in north-west England that is focused on this. My hon. Friend is tireless in campaigning for employers to take on ex-offenders, and I commend him on his activity.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Selous and David Gauke
Tuesday 5th June 2018

(5 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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We must work across government to ensure that those circumstances do not happen. It is right that we engage with local authorities, the MHCLG and the DWP to ensure that the support is there, and we also need to make sure that the probation service is working as it should to provide support for those offenders.

Andrew Selous Portrait Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)
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Some local authorities claim that prisoners sent away from their home area have no local connection when they need to find housing. Will the Secretary of State have a word with the Secretary of State for Communities to make sure there is no discrimination among local authorities against ex-offenders; they just need to be treated fairly, the same as everyone else?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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My hon. Friend makes a good point and we discuss this issue with the MHCLG. We are also working with the Local Government Association in advance of its October commencement of the duty to refer under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 to improve partnership working between prisons, probation providers and local authorities.

--- Later in debate ---
Andrew Selous Portrait Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)
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While we regularly praise the likes of Greggs, Timpson and Halfords for the great work they do in employing ex-offenders, do Ministers agree that the time has now come no longer to allow employers that have made a blanket refusal to employ any ex-offenders to carry on such an approach in secret?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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My hon. Friend raises a very good point. As I have said before, I think there has been a shift in public mood, and employers should explain themselves if they take such an approach, which I do not think is good for them or for society.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Selous and David Gauke
Tuesday 6th March 2018

(6 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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The hon. Lady raises a good point, and rightly so. I am keen to do precisely as she suggests. A lot of work already goes on in prisons with, for example, work coaches providing this support. Part of the challenge is about access to emails. We need to look very carefully at that because it raises a large number of questions.

Andrew Selous Portrait Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)
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Work experience in prison that leads to work on release is proven to reduce reoffending. Does the Secretary of State therefore believe that, while we rightly praise employers who offer ex-offenders work experience, we need to call out those employers who have a blanket ban on employing ex-offenders unrelated to any reasonable or fair risk assessment of doing so?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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I agree with my hon. Friend. I have seen surveys suggesting that some 50% of employers simply will not engage. It is frustrating that when one speaks to employers who do take on ex-offenders, their experience is frequently very positive indeed. If we can increasingly build a culture whereby these offenders are given that opportunity, that is good for the offenders and good for society, as it will reduce reoffending.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Selous and David Gauke
Monday 9th October 2017

(6 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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Universal credit is adding to what the Government have already been doing—ensuring that work is at the heart of welfare. That is why we have 3 million more jobs than we did in 2010. Welfare reform is part of the reason for that, and it is part of the reason why we will continue to press on with reforming the welfare state to encourage work and help people to progress in work.

Andrew Selous Portrait Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)
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May I warmly welcome advance payments within five days and immediate needs payments the same day as a definite step forward? Given the reasonably high levels of adult illiteracy and poor computer skills in some areas, can the Secretary of State say something about how volunteers might be able to work alongside personal advisers to help people fill in the application form in the first place?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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It is important that people filling in forms receive the necessary support, but jobcentre staff provide that support. Voluntary organisations may be able to assist, but Jobcentre Plus staff are already giving the intensive support necessary to help people to complete the applications.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Selous and David Gauke
Tuesday 17th January 2017

(7 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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We are likely to build more affordable homes in this Parliament than have been built since the 1970s.

Andrew Selous Portrait Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)
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There are currently 87,000 ultra-low emission vehicles on our roads, but the Committee on Climate Change says that we need 1.7 million by 2020. What more can the Treasury do to help us to reach that challenging target?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Selous and David Gauke
Tuesday 24th June 2014

(9 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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I am not sure whether the hon. Gentleman is criticising the long-term approach of our economic plan, but it is important that we think about the long term. Infrastructure spending, both private and public, will on average be higher in this Parliament than it was in the previous Parliament.

Andrew Selous Portrait Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)
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Is the Exchequer Secretary aware that a partnership between the Government, Central Bedfordshire council and developers is leading to the construction of 5,200 houses north of Houghton Regis and the provision of a bypass, for which we have waited 60 years, as a result of a £45 million contribution from the developers? Is not that the way to get construction going?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It is as a result of this Government’s long-term approach to the economy that we will see significant increases in infrastructure over the years ahead.