Committee publication · Correspondence · 11 June 2025
Correspondence from the Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending to the Chair dated 5 June 2025 replying to the Committee's letter on the Independent Sentencing Review and the Swansea Residential Women’s Centre
From: Welsh Affairs Committee
Summary
Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Justice, replies to the Welsh Affairs Committee's May 2025 letter on the Independent Sentencing Review and the Swansea Residential Women's Centre. He confirms the project is paused pending the Women's Justice Board's strategic recommendations and Spending Review funding decisions, but reiterates commitment to community-based sentencing for women and exploring non-custodial alternatives.
Key findings
- The Swansea RWC project (site purchased March 2022, planning permission August 2023) is currently paused; funding was withdrawn in Autumn 2022 due to delays in the planning appeal process.
- The Ministry of Justice has established the Women's Justice Board and Women in Justice Partnership Delivery Group to set strategic direction, with initial focus on early intervention, diversion, and community alternatives to custody.
- Government remains committed to ensuring the majority of women are diverted from custody into community options where appropriate, but will only proceed with models that are 'fit for purpose' and 'sustainable'.
- The Welsh Government is represented on the new forums shaping women's justice policy; the Minister will keep the Committee informed as discussions progress.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Lord Timpson, Ruth Jones MP, Welsh Affairs Committee, Ministry of Justice, Welsh Government, Women's Justice Board, Women in Justice Partnership Delivery Group
Notable line
“We must however ensure that we are delivering a model that is fit for purpose, and one that is sustainable .”
Key Quotes
“I share the Committee's recognition of the importance of non -custodial and community-based sentencing, particularly for women.”
“… the Swansea RWC was originally announced under the previous government, with the site purchased in March 2022 and planning permission secured in August 2023. Unfortunately, delays in the planning appeal process led to the withdrawal of allocated funding in Autumn 2022 June.”
“I recognise the strong stakeholder support in Wales for such a facility and want to reiterate our commitment to ensuring that the majority of women are diverted from custody into community options where appropriate to do so.”
“We must however ensure that we are delivering a model that is fit for purpose, and one that is sustainable .”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗