Liberal Democrat Justice Minister Lord McNally today announced significant reforms for women offenders which will improve family relationships and employment opportunities, and aim to reduce the rates of reoffending.
The reforms will provide employment opportunities for low risk offenders.
Prison service staff will be responsible for forging links with local employers and providing practical training so offenders are able to join the workforce on release.
By Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister
The fundamental reason why, I believe, education matters so much is to ensure every child has a fair chance of a successful life. That's also why, I expect, many of you got into this profession in the first place.
Yet despite the efforts of successive Governments and the progress made to raise education standards in this country, on average, children from poorer families still do worse than their better off peers.
Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey said:
"I am saddened to hear of INEOS' plans to place petrochemicals business into administration, particularly because of the impact it will have on the workforce and local community.
"While respecting INEOS' right to make this decision, it is regrettable that both parties have not managed to negotiate a fair and equitable settlement that delivers a viable business model for the plant.
"Even at this late stage, I urge INEOS to continue dialogue with the workforce, and Government will offer help and support with this.
"INEOS have informed us that the refinery will stay open and the management wish to restart full operations as soon as possible.
"We stand ready to help with discussions between the management and the union to ensure this can happen.
"Fuel supplies continue to be delivered as usual and there is no current risk of disruption to supplies.
"I continue to work very closely with the Scottish Government, and other colleagues across Government to share information with them."
These projects have passed the first stage in proving that they are eligible for the guarantees and are now at a stage called prequalification.
More than half of those that have prequalified are energy projects, which will help ensure that Britain develops a sustainable future energy supply.
The prequalified projects are now subject to further discussions and assessment, which could result in receiving Government backing to act as a guarantor.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show crime against households is down by 7 per cent compared with the same time last year and has hit the lowest level since the record began in 1981.
Norman Baker said:
"The drop in number of crimes is very welcome. It shows we are tackling crime better than any time during the last 30 years and are providing safer communities for people than Labour ever did.
"Police reform is working and crime is falling. Recorded crime has dropped yet again and now by more than ten per cent under the Coalition Government.
"People have the right to go about their daily lives without being scared of becoming victims of crime, and it is Lib Dems in the Coalition Government who are helping to make their lives safer."
Across the UK the number of unemployed people in the UK has dropped by 18,000 in the last three months.
The figures released show that the number of people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance has fallen by 41,700.
Today's figures also show that the total number of people in employment is at a new record high, with 29.87 million people in work between June and August.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Minister for the Department of Work and Pensions Steve Webb said:
"Because many problems like climate change can only be tackled if we work together."
"Because crime crosses borders: justice should too."
"Because I can buy real champagne for my wedding next month at €12 a bottle in Calais."
Just four of the reasons given this week as part of a social media blitz to launch our European election campaign. Under the hashtag #whyIamIN over 5,000 people gave their own reasons why Britain is better off as part of the European Union. Richard Branson even joined in, with an article setting out his own view of how important the EU is to Britain and our economy.
I am a pro-European - that is no great revelation, I know. But sometimes you need to say it, clearly and unambiguously.
The isolationist forces in Britain are on the rise - UKIP on the doorstep; Conservative politicians at their conference; familiar headlines in some of our newspapers each placing Britain's ills firmly at Brussels' door: too much immigration, too much crime, too much red tape. And every time Europe is back in the spotlight, their hostility towards it - this negative reaction to all things continental - drowns out the other voices in this debate.
"This is a tax cut for some paid for by everyone else.
"Liberal Democrats are committed to helping everyone with the cost of living, single or married, and to deliver a tax system which is fair and progressive to everyone. That is why we have given a £700 tax cut to over 20 million working people across the UK.
"You don't build a fairer society by using the tax system to favour one type of family over another. We should support all families, not just the minority of married ones where one person stays at home. Extending marriage to as many people as possible is what's right and that's why we successfully campaigned for same-sex marriage, which I wholeheartedly support.
"All relationships are surely founded on love, not the tax system. It is also not clear to me why a single person should pay more tax on their income than someone who is married.
"The Liberal Democrats' priority is clear: in tough times we must support all families, not just a few. That is why we have prioritised funding free school meals for all infants, ensuring that children have the best possible start in life."
