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The minister is not with us at the moment; he is still debating the matter somewhere in Europe. It would be useful to get an update to kick off the discussion, so we should flag up the issue.
However, I will not stop considering the programmes involved to ensure that when people come out of prison they get the help and support that they need to get back into life in their community and not reoffend.
Reports have reached me that people have been asked to pay a quarter of the full fare or to get off the bus before the boundary and get back on and buy another ticket.
If I have to write a letter, I will e-mail it to members this week so that they can get their responses back to me. I am leaving the country first thing on Friday morning, so I will get the letter signed off on Thursday.
The minister will be aware that there are two important factors in assisting ex-offenders to get into employment. First, appropriate training opportunities need to be provided while they are in prison.
People expect us to ask questions and get answers. We cannot and should not do certain things, but we would disappoint a lot of people if we did not see our role on issues such as this as being to ask questions that members of the public do not get the chance to ask.