Baroness Scotland says more cooperation is needed to reduce re-offending. Is government joined-up enough to make it happen?

Both ministers spoke passionately about promoting self-employment as a route to successful resettlement.  However, a lack of cash may limit the outcome.

Job Centre Plus is slashing expenditure on New Deal for Self-Employment.  This delivers major government funding for small business support organisations and vulnerable start-ups.  It seems next year’s budget for the whole programme will be £6m, with for example only 6 placements a month available for the whole of London and the South East.

When questioned on this issue, Baroness Scotland (pictured above) said government departments must work more closely to get the resources to support the programme.   This is clear evidence that spending departments are not winning the battle to get the necessary funds from the Treasury to “reduce re-offending through enterprise”. 

So, whilst DTI and the Home Office are laying out enterprise as the highway to success for ex-offenders, the Department of Work and Pensions is digging up the access roads. This is not joined-up government. 

It is ironic that only a year ago, at the same venue, a ministerial pledge including DTI, Home Office and Work and Pensions stated: “Government departments are joining forces to give offenders a second chance by helping them start their own business.”  It seems they are not coming up with the cash.  And we all know, that’s what it takes to run a business. 

In a spirited speech the Baroness called for all to collaborate with a passion, to better the chances of ex-offenders.  Let’s hope we can make a difference here on The Learning Journey. The next priority for TLJ is more information about available funds.

The Unlocking Potential: working for yourself booklet can be got from DTI Publications Orderline on 0845 015 0010 quoting URN 05/1556.