19 March 2013
Waveney MP Peter Aldous calls on the Government to ensure that the payment-by-results approach for the rehabilitation of offenders does not favour larger companies over local voluntary and charitable organisations which have built up a proven track record built up over many years..
Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): What progress he has made on introducing payment by results for the rehabilitation of offenders. [148575]
The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Chris Grayling): We want to introduce payment by results to incentivise providers to reduce reoffending. It makes sense as a way of improving effectiveness and getting a good deal for the taxpayer.
Our “Transforming Rehabilitation” consultation closed on 22 February 2013. We will respond to it and bring forward detailed plans in due course.
Peter Aldous: I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that answer. There is, however, a concern that a payment-by-results approach can favour larger national companies. What measures are being put in place to ensure that local voluntary and charitable organisations, which often have a proven track record built up over many years, will not be squeezed out?
Chris Grayling: I agree with my hon. Friend. Within the voluntary sector, we find very many of the mentoring skills that I am so keen to harness in preventing reoffending. That is why we have a team in the Cabinet Office working with the voluntary sector to ensure that they are as well prepared as possible for this exercise, and why I am making it absolutely clear that I do not believe that winning contracts can take place without a contribution from the mentoring skills to be found in the sector.
| Hamlen
Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): What progress he has made on introducing payment by results for the rehabilitation of offenders. [148575]
The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Chris Grayling): We want to introduce payment by results to incentivise providers to reduce reoffending. It makes sense as a way of improving effectiveness and getting a good deal for the taxpayer.
Our “Transforming Rehabilitation” consultation closed on 22 February 2013. We will respond to it and bring forward detailed plans in due course.
Peter Aldous: I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that answer. There is, however, a concern that a payment-by-results approach can favour larger national companies. What measures are being put in place to ensure that local voluntary and charitable organisations, which often have a proven track record built up over many years, will not be squeezed out?
Chris Grayling: I agree with my hon. Friend. Within the voluntary sector, we find very many of the mentoring skills that I am so keen to harness in preventing reoffending. That is why we have a team in the Cabinet Office working with the voluntary sector to ensure that they are as well prepared as possible for this exercise, and why I am making it absolutely clear that I do not believe that winning contracts can take place without a contribution from the mentoring skills to be found in the sector.
| Hamlen
