Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to encourage newly released prisoners into employment.

Getting more prison leavers into employment is crucial to this government’s mission to cut crime and make our streets safer by reducing reoffending. We know that employment reduces the chance of reoffending significantly, by up to nine percentage points. That is why I am pleased to say that, in England and Wales, the proportion of prison leavers who were employed six months after their release almost doubled from 14% in April 2021 to over 30% in March 2023.

In England and Wales, we have completed recruitment of dedicated Prison Employment Leads, who get prisoners work ready and match them to jobs on release. They work with key partners in the prison including DWP, probation, education and Information Advice and Guidance providers to ensure joined-up working. In custody and in the community, HMPPS Creating Future Opportunities (CFO) provides tailored resettlement services in England, focusing on supporting those furthest from the labour market.

The Government will continue to progress this work to help businesses fill the nearly one million vacancies in the UK, while also cutting crime and reducing reoffending.

Prisons and Probation services are devolved in Northern Ireland, and employment support is a transferred matter and the responsibility of the Department for Communities.