Oral QuestionCabinet Office

“What steps the Government is taking to increase opportunities for small businesses to bid for Government contracts.”

Tabled: 18 November 2021Answered: 25 November 2021

Answering Minister

the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Answer from Hansard

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir Nicholas Dakin)

This Government’s plan to support women is clear and ambitious. The aim is to reduce the number of women going to prison. Our Women’s Justice Board will support that. The independent sentencing review’s recommendations— [ Interruption. ] I am on the wrong question; apologies. [ Interruption. ] Well, you got a preview of the next answer, Mr Speaker. We are committed to ensuring that offenders leave prison with the jobs and skills needed to lead law-abiding lives. That is why we have launched regional employment councils, which for the first time bring businesses together with prisons, probation and the Department for Work and Pensions to support offenders in the community.