Home / Sources / Select Committees / Justice Committee / Rehabilitation and resettlement: ending…
Index live
Select Committee · Justice Committee

Rehabilitation and resettlement: ending the cycle of reoffending

Status: Open Opened: 26 Nov 2024 21 recommendations 26 conclusions 1 report

The Justice Committee has launched its inquiry into Resettlement and Rehabilitation, which is centred around investigating the cycle of reoffending. HM Prison and Probation Service aims to reduce reoffending by rehabilitating the people in its care through education and employment. However, reoffending in England and Wales remains high. For the year ending December 2023, 78% … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffending – part one: re… HC 469 14 Nov 2025 47 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

6 items
27 Recommendation 7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe… Accepted in Part

Require formal report outlining prison rehabilitation's contribution to violence against women reduction target

The Government must outline how rehabilitation in the prisons, including for both convicted and remand prisoners, is going to contribute to the Government’s target of reducing of violence against women and girls by 50 per cent, with a formal report within six months. (Recommendation, Paragraph 105) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts, outlining various existing and expanding rehabilitation programs aimed at reducing reoffending by perpetrators of violence against women and girls (VAWG). However, it does not explicitly commit to outlining *how* these contribute to the 50% VAWG reduction target with a formal report …
Read full response →
Ministry of Justice
31 Recommendation 7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe… Accepted in Part

Set statutory minimum for time out of cell in Young Offender Institutions, with data published

As well as making every effort to meet the statutory minimum of 15 hours for education, HMPPS must set a statutory minimum for time out of cell in Young Offender Institutions. As with adult prisons, this minimum must be monitored centrally using formalised and standardised data, which should also be … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts, committing to consider introducing a statutory minimum for time out of cell in legislation and assess its effectiveness, while noting the Youth Custody Service already works to an 8-hour daily expectation which is centrally monitored, though not consistently met across all …
Read full response →
Ministry of Justice
32 Conclusion 7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe… Accepted in Part

Significant real-term cuts to prison education budgets undermine reoffending reduction efforts

We are alarmed by reports of significant real-term cuts to prison education budgets, with some prisons facing reductions of up to 50 per cent. As this report makes clear, prison education is already underfunded when compared to provision in the community, and such cuts risk undermining efforts to reduce reoffending. … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts, clarifying the national prison education budget has not been cut in cash terms but acknowledges real-term reductions in delivery hours (20-25% from October 2025) due to rising costs. It details a revised funding formula, new education contracts, and digital systems to …
Read full response →
Ministry of Justice
33 Recommendation 7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe… Accepted in Part

Require Government to clarify scale and rationale for planned prison education cuts and their impact

We expect the Government to urgently clarify the scale and rationale for any planned cuts to prison education budgets. It must set out how it plans to ensure that all prisons retain the funding necessary to deliver core education provision. The Ministry of Justice must also publish an assessment of … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government clarifies the prison education budget has not been cut in cash terms but acknowledges a 20-25% reduction in core education delivery from October 2025 due to rising costs. They will use a revised funding formula, new contracts, and digital systems, and are developing …
Read full response →
Ministry of Justice
34 Conclusion 7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe… Accepted in Part

Prison education participation rates remain low with widespread poor quality provision

It is unacceptable that 50 per cent of prisoners are not involved in prison education, training or work, despite the high level of need across the adult estate. Even for those who do access education, the quality remains poor, with 75 per cent of prisons inspected by Ofsted in 2024/25 … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts the concerns, affirming education's importance and outlining steps to strengthen provision. These include maximising attendance, increasing purposeful activity through "Working Week prototypes," and introducing measures like new leadership roles and neurodiversity support managers to improve education quality, working with Ofsted on …
Read full response →
Ministry of Justice
35 Recommendation 7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe… Accepted in Part

Publish clear plan with funding to improve prison education participation and quality

The Government must publish a clear plan, with an associated funding allocation, to improve both participation and quality in prison education. This should include steps to address poor Ofsted outcomes, ensure that all prisoners—including those on remand—have access to meaningful education, and improve data collection on attendance and provision across … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts, stating it is taking steps to improve participation and quality in prison education, including maximizing attendance, increasing purposeful activity, and implementing new roles and digital tools for quality. However, it will provide a funding update next year, as future funding depends …
Read full response →
Ministry of Justice

Oral evidence sessions

9 sessions
Date Witnesses
16 Jun 2026 Jim Barton · HM Prisons and Probation Service, Matt Grey · HM Prison and Probation Service, The Lord Timpson OBE DL · Ministry of Justice View ↗
19 May 2026 Antony King · Capita, Claire Hubberstey · One Small Thing View ↗
24 Mar 2026 Chris Edwards · HM Prison and Probation Service, Linda Neimantas · HM Prison and Probation Service, Martin Jones CBE · HM Inspectorate of Probation, Nicola Davies · HM Prison and Probation Service View ↗
27 Jan 2026 Alex Clarke · Working Chance, David Apparicio MBE · Chrysalis Foundation, Ms Penelope Gibbs · Transform Justice, Paula Harriott · Unlock, Rosie Brown · COOK View ↗
9 Dec 2025 Dr Thomas Kerridge · Crisis, Gary Teper · The Housing Network, Mr Andrew Bridges · National Approved Premises Association, Peter Airey · Nacro View ↗
10 Jun 2025 Dr Russell Green · Practice Plus Group, Dr Will Haydock · Collective Voice, Kate Davies · Ofcom, Mike Trace · The Forward Trust View ↗
13 May 2025 Adrian Usher · Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), Charlie Taylor · HM Inspectorate of Prisons, Elisabeth Davies · Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) View ↗
11 Mar 2025 Annick Platt · Novus, Dr Jo Grady · University and College Union, Jon Collins · Prisoners' Education Trust, Lee Owston · Ofsted, Michala Robertson · Open University, Victoria Barnett · Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals View ↗
4 Feb 2025 Anne Fox · Clinks, Helen Berresford · Nacro, Jess Mullen · Alliance for Youth Justice, Nicola Drinkwater · Women in Prison, Pia Sinha · Prison Reform Trust View ↗

Who gave evidence

36 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Adrian Usher · Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) 1
Alex Clarke · Policy Officer Working Chance 1
Anne Fox · Chief Executive Officer Clinks 1
Annick Platt · National Operations Director Novus 1
Antony King · Managing Director and Client Partner of Capita He… Capita 1
Charlie Taylor · Chief Inspector of Prisons HM Inspectorate of Prisons 1
Chris Edwards · Regional Probation Director for Greater Manchester HM Prison and Probation Service 1
Claire Hubberstey · Chief Executive One Small Thing 1
David Apparicio MBE · Chief Executive Chrysalis Foundation 1
Dr Jo Grady · General Secretary University and College Union 1
Dr Russell Green · Medical Director for Health in Justice Practice Plus Group 1
Dr Thomas Kerridge · Policy Manager Crisis 1
Dr Will Haydock · Executive Director of Policy & External Affairs Collective Voice 1
Elisabeth Davies · National Chair Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) 1
Gary Teper · Managing Director The Housing Network 1
Helen Berresford · Director of External Engagement Nacro 1
Jess Mullen · Chief Executive Officer Alliance for Youth Justice 1
Jim Barton · Executive Director, Capacity Implementation HM Prisons and Probation Service 1
Jon Collins · Chief Executive Prisoners' Education Trust 1
Kate Davies · Public Policy Director Ofcom 1
Lee Owston · National Director for Education Ofsted 1
Linda Neimantas · Regional Probation Director for Kent, Surrey and … HM Prison and Probation Service 1
Martin Jones CBE · HM Chief Inspector HM Inspectorate of Probation 1
Matt Grey · Executive Director for Rehabilitation HM Prison and Probation Service 1
Michala Robertson · Assistant Director, Student Additional Support Open University 1
Mike Trace · CEO The Forward Trust 1
Mr Andrew Bridges · Strategic Director National Approved Premises Association 1
Ms Penelope Gibbs · Director Transform Justice 1
Nicola Davies · Regional Probation Director for Wales HM Prison and Probation Service 1
Nicola Drinkwater · Director of External Affairs and Campaigns Women in Prison 1
Paula Harriott · Chief Executive Unlock 1
Peter Airey · Director of Property and Community Accommodation … Nacro 1
Pia Sinha · Chief Executive Officer Prison Reform Trust 1
Rosie Brown · Chief Executive COOK 1
The Lord Timpson OBE DL · Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reof… Ministry of Justice 1
Victoria Barnett · Chair, Prison Libraries Group Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals 1

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
7 Jul 2026 — Correspondence from Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing …
7 Jul 2026 — Correspondence from Chris Parsons, Project Director at LandWorks, dated 1 July …
30 Jun 2026 — Correspondence from Antony King, Managing Director of Citizen Services at Serco…
17 Mar 2026 — Correspondence from Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing …
11 Feb 2026 — Correspondence to Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Re…