Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
The Ministry told us that it wanted to work with others to help it make...
Conclusion
The Ministry told us that it wanted to work with others to help it make greater progress.44 In particular, it referred to a recent publication, Tackling Double Disadvantage that specifically addresses issues faced by minority ethnic women in relation to the CJS.45 It said it recognises many of the recommendations in the publication and wants to work with its authors to make sure it addresses the concerns they have raised.46 42 Clinks is an umbrella body that supports, promotes and represents the voluntary sector working with people in the criminal justice system and their families. 43 Q 54 44 Q 54 45 Tackling Double Disadvantage, 10 point action plan for change, Agenda, Hibiscus Initiatives, Muslim Women In Prison, Zahid Mubarek Trust, Criminal Justice Alliance and Women In Prison, January 2022 46 Q 54 14 Improving outcomes for women in the criminal justice system 2 Programme management Holding to the Ministry of Justice to account
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4: PAC conclusion: The Ministry is taking some steps to address the needs of ethnic minorities in the CJS, but it recognises that it has not yet done enough to achieve equality of outcomes for ethnic minority women. 4: PAC recommendation: The Ministry should work with specialist providers and experts to establish a set of actions it needs to take to deliver equality of outcomes for ethnic minority women. This should include its arrangements for supporting smaller specialist organisations that support them. It should publish the set of actions with a timetable so that Parliament, stakeholders and others can hold it to account. It should confirm in its response to this report a planned timescale for publishing this action plan. 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2022 4.2 The Female Offender Strategy Delivery Plan, to be published by Summer 2022, will be the mechanism by which the department sets out its commitments for ethnic minority women, with key milestones, reflecting the work of the Female Offender Minority Ethnic working group, which brings together officials and stakeholders with specialist expertise. 4.3 Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has begun work to increase the capacity of ethnic minority specialist voluntary organisations. This includes the establishment of the Voluntary and Charity Sector Stewardship Fund in November 2020 to strengthen the capacity of ethnic minority specialist voluntary organisations to be able to engage in probation commissioning. The HMPPS Race Action Programme (RAP) is conducting an evaluation of the Stewardship Fund to determine the efficacy of the approach. Following evaluation, RAP will make recommendations to optimize the framework with a view to securing the future of the Stewardship Fund across HMPPS 4.4 The department is exploring options to increase the use of grant funding for the voluntary sector to provide services for disadvantaged groups, including women from ethnic minority groups. To support this, HMPPS has developed guidance that makes clear that grants should be the presumptive choice for funding where possible. 4.5 In summer 2022, the department will commence work with Clinks to support ethnic minority specialist organisations to improve their capacity to share best practice and form networks through facilitated events and more structured communication of policy developments. Clinks supports, promotes and represents the voluntary sector working with people in the criminal justice system and their families.