Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what specific schemes his department has in place to help reduce re-offending in a) South West and b) Torbay.

Through the Sentencing Act and Future Probation Service reforms, probation practitioners have greater flexibility to tailor supervision to individual risks and needs. In the South West, people on probation can access commissioned support with accommodation, debt, substance misuse, emotional wellbeing and employment, alongside mental health treatment, the Offender Personality Disorder Service, a dedicated pathway for women, probation interventions, unpaid work and electronic monitoring where imposed. Work with prisons, health partners and specialist services also supports transition from custody into the community. In Torbay and the wider region, local provision includes the Ilfracombe Health Hub pilot, which brings health and probation support together to address unmet health needs and improve access to treatment.