The Mandela tribute takes place tomorrow in the Commons at 2.30 - I shall be there.
Prison Reform and Literacy then dominate my week in Westminster: Monday sees an event with the Prisoner Learning Alliance (PLA) to launch its first year findings in Parliament. Given the rapid change within prisons and through-the-gate services under the Offender Rehabilitation Bill it is crucial to ensure that the role of learning is championed to reduce reoffending rates. It will be an opportunity to discuss the PLA’s first report ‘Smart Rehabilitation: learning how to get better outcomes’, with the keynote speech from Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons. I have written and spoken on this issue a lot – notably in my book, Doing Time.
Tuesday there is Treasury Questions, and a chance to debate Ed Balls proposals to borrow even more, and tax people more, followed by the debate on the National Insurance Contributions Bill, which helps businesses.
Wednesday is Prime Ministers Questions and in the afternoon I will be attending and then speaking very briefly at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Literacy, who are publishing the final report from the Youth Literacy and Employability Commission. Most of Wednesday I will be involved in Home office business debates in Westminster Hall at 9.30, and then in committee at 1.30 on the Private Members Bill – the Citizenship (Armed Forces) Bill of my colleague Jonathan Lord.
Details of the Bill’s passage through the House of Commons can be found here:
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/citizenshiparmedforces.html
