Member

I also speak in favour of Amendment 93B tabled by my noble friend Lady Neville-Rolfe. As she has set out, it aims to introduce mandatory participation in education, training, unpaid work or other purposeful—I emphasise “purposeful”—activities as a condition of a custodial sentence. Too many defendants, and thereafter convicted persons, are functionally illiterate; I think the figure in prisons is 25% to 30%. This is certainly a factor that contributes to being in unemployment and subsequent offending. Important points were made on the same lines by my noble friend Lady Porter. I hope the Government are listening to them.