Oral Answers to Questions

Kate Green Excerpts

Wednesday 20th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab)]

7. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of Government funding for women’s voluntary organisations.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr Nick Hurd)]

The Government recognise the tough conditions that all voluntary organisations face at present while we open up new opportunities for them. With limited resources we are helping the sector build its resilience and ability to take up those opportunities, including more than £107 million-worth of transition funding, some of which has been accessed by women’s organisations such as Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid.

[Kate Green]

What discussions has the Minister had with Ministry of Justice colleagues to ensure that the excellent work done by women’s organisations to meet the specialist needs of women offenders will be protected in a payment-by-results system?

[Mr Hurd]

I share the hon. Lady’s concern that, for example, the upcoming commissioning process for reform of probation and rehabilitation services is sensitive and sympathetic to, and makes full opportunity of, the voluntary sector, including the many organisations that do incredibly valuable work with women offenders. We are working very closely with the Ministry of Justice to make sure that happens.