MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

Acknowledged the progress made towards implementing the Civil Partnerships Act and committed to publishing a consultation response in early summer. Emphasised that the Government is ahead of target in reducing stillbirths by 2025 but recognised the need for answers now.

Pressed the Minister about the delay in implementing the Civil Partnerships Act despite preparatory work and further cases of clusters of stillbirths since then, urging for quicker action.

Inquired about steps taken to implement the Istanbul convention on violence against women and domestic violence, questioning why 6,000 people are waiting over a year to access mental health support after experiencing sexual violence.

Responded by highlighting the Government's commitment through legislation and increased funding for rape crisis centres, noting that £32 million will be provided over three years—an increase of 50%—to support survivors.

Expressed concern about the UK’s position on ratifying the Istanbul convention compared to other countries and questioned specific issues identified in a Government report that prevent ratification, particularly around supporting migrant women experiencing domestic abuse.

Reaffirmed commitment to implementing the Istanbul convention while acknowledging outstanding concerns and expressing willingness to address them in forthcoming legislation.

Asked for an assessment of the effect of longer prison sentences on deradicalisation, questioning whether it provides more opportunity for effective interventions.

Responded that longer sentences are necessary to protect public safety and that significant investment has been made in counter-terrorism programmes and training prison officers to assess incidents.

Sought clarification on the number of prisoners released early since 2013, based on information from the House of Commons Library.

Offered to provide detailed figures and wrote that the Home Office quarterly report does not distinguish between early release and all releases.

Requested a meeting with the Secretary of State to discuss progress on the review of disproportionality in the justice system for ethnic minorities, particularly the Muslim population.

Confirmed willingness to meet the right hon. Member and noted that the Secretary of State is also keen to discuss the Department’s work on this area.

Asked about plans to help reduce prisoner reoffending, focusing on education and training for offenders to secure successful crime-free lives upon release.

Announced a renewed cross-Government effort to address health, educational attainment, family relationships, housing, and employment issues to reduce reoffending. Noted that new prison education contracts were implemented in April 2019 to deliver services meeting prisoners' specific needs.

Inquired about steps being taken to ensure housing for those leaving prison, referencing his experience mentoring young offenders and the impact of not having somewhere safe to live after release.

Stressed the importance of stable accommodation, paid work and probation reforms in reducing reoffending rates. Mentioned investment up to £6.4 million in a pilot scheme for released prisoners and over 480 businesses signing up to offer work to ex-offenders through the New Futures Network.

Highlighted the role of meaningful paid work, citing an example from his constituency where prisoners are employed in making cleaning pads by a local business.

Critiqued the Government's policy on probation privatisation and questioned their commitment to excluding private sector companies involved in past scandals from new contracts.

Asked about progress towards establishing a women’s centre in Wales for female ex-offenders, pressing the Lord Chancellor on his ambition and willingness to work with the Welsh Government.

Suggested working with the Community Self Build Agency to help ex-offenders create their own dwellings as a means to reduce recidivism rates. Asked about scaling up successful models in this area.

Cited Scotland's fall in reoffending rates and asked the Lord Chancellor to meet his counterpart in Scotland to discuss learning from their reforms, including community sentences and presumption against short sentences.

Asked about extending restrictions on perpetrators of domestic violence beyond their court-imposed sentence periods to protect victims further.

Inquired about specific measures being taken for ex-service personnel in prison suffering from PTSD, stressing the importance of identifying veterans within the prison system.

Asked about steps being taken to increase prison capacity and how new prison places will be prioritised for rehabilitation-focused offenders.

Responded on behalf of the Government, mentioning investments in additional prison places and highlighting that two category C resettlement prisons are being built. Also addressed issues of staff retention by rolling out measures to improve safety and training for prison officers.

Addressed the staffing crisis within the Prison Service, questioning how increased capacity can be considered without addressing staff retention issues such as poor pay and dangerous conditions.

Responded to a question about increasing sentences for retail crime, stating that shoplifting is triable either way under section 1 of the Theft Act 1968 with a maximum sentence of seven years.

Asked the Minister to assure that not only his own Department but the Home Office take retail crime, particularly shop crime, seriously.

Agreed with Laurence Robertson and noted that 20,000 extra police officers will focus on ensuring shopkeepers are kept safe.

Inquired about steps being taken to support victims of domestic abuse through the criminal justice system.

Asked for a cast-iron guarantee that the domestic abuse Bill will be reintroduced during this Session.

Discussed local concerns about children affected by domestic violence and asked about Government actions to support them.

Criticised the justice system for failing vulnerable victims and asked for protections against cross-examination by abusers in court.

Asked about the Secretary of State's agreement with the President of the Family Court on judges' understanding of emotional harm caused by domestic abuse.

Raised a case where an offender received a community rehabilitation order but enforcement failed, leaving his constituent harassed.

Asked for an assessment of the rape and sexual abuse fund and plans to increase its funding.

Inquired about the proportion of people serving imprisonment for public protection sentences from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Asked how many non-UK citizens are serving custodial sentences and suggested negotiating more compulsory prisoner transfer agreements with other countries.

Inquired about trends in the level of violence in prisons.

Reported a slight decrease in assaults since 2013, recognised that more needs to be done. Stated plans to visit HMP Bedford and discuss measures for improving morale among prison staff. Mentioned meeting with unions to discuss the safe prisons charter.

Asked if the Minister will ensure health, safety and welfare of prison staff at HMP Bedford as revealed by chronic levels of sickness in reports.

Requested that the Minister adopt the safe prisons charter to prioritise staff safety.

Inquired about plans to crack down on crime within prisons.

Proposed changing the law so that assaulting a prison officer leads to losing automatic right to early release as deterrent for such activity.

Disputed that Labour had no role in increasing sentences for assaults on emergency workers, mentioning the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018.

Asked about steps being taken to support veterans within criminal justice system and mentioned a Barnardo’s study showing need for more effective identification of service leavers with dedicated officers.

Inquired about supporting victims of rape through the criminal justice system, raising specific case of Dominique Martin, and requested meeting to discuss issues raised by her constituent.

Discussed deaths since 2014 of social security claimants deemed fit for work by DWP and the decrease in those receiving legal advice, questioned role of cuts to legal aid.

Asked about assessment of trends in access to early legal advice, raised concerns over complex problems faced by individuals needing comprehensive support.

Criticised delays in implementing the 'Legal Support: The Way Ahead' action plan and asked for confirmation of timelines and reasons behind missed deadlines.

Critiqued the Conservative government's funding cuts to local authorities' domestic and sexual violence services since 2010, urging the Government to bring forward a long-awaited domestic abuse Bill.

Responded to Chris Matheson by confirming that the Government intends to introduce the domestic abuse Bill before Easter. He also noted the local government settlement announced recently and highlighted the importance of decisions on non-domestic rates for funding women's shelters.

Raised a constituent’s case of £30,000 in retirement savings stolen through fraud via Google advertising services. Asked her hon. Friend to meet and discuss improving support and compensation for victims of such crimes.

Responded by highlighting the court's power under the Fraud Act 2006 and Theft Act 1968 to award compensation or order confiscation of assets from convicted fraudsters, offering to discuss further with Ruth Edwards.

Called for new laws that force officials and private companies to come clean about wrongdoings and failures, referencing the Grenfell public inquiry delay due to legal concerns. Suggested a 'public accountability law' akin to the Hillsborough law.

Responded by acknowledging the importance of the point raised but avoided commenting directly on the ongoing judicial process, offering to discuss further with Richard Burgon regarding legal proceedings and consequences.

Complimented Dyfed-Powys police for their role in sentencing twenty-two members of a county lines drugs gang. Asked his hon. Friend to assure him that repeat offenders will face harder, longer and tougher sentences.

Responded by noting the government's efforts in increasing sentencing terms for serious violent and sexual offences, ensuring offenders serve two-thirds of their sentences rather than half.

Criticised the failure to address deaths of women in prison since the 2007 Corston review. Highlighted an Inquest report detailing tragic circumstances around female deaths in custody and called for concrete action.

Responded by emphasising the importance of improving mental health, reducing self-harm among inmates, and providing therapeutic rehabilitation programmes. She cited a visit to HMP Send as an example.

Pays tribute to law centres, including Gloucester Law Centre. Supports the pilot programme for early legal support.

Welcomes progress in HM Young Offender Institution Aylesbury but urges further resources for implementation of inspectorate recommendations.

Commits to bringing two wings back online at Aylesbury prison by early next year and to making improvements. Acknowledges reduction in violence but cites recruitment of 4,300 more prison officers since 2016.

Criticises the government for staff cuts leading to high levels of prison violence and underfunding. Asks when the Government will address this crisis.

Defends against criticism, citing reduction in violence and recruitment of prison officers.

Proposes a corporate offence to prevent economic crime, referencing past scandals such as PPI and LIBOR rigging.

Acknowledges the issue of preventing economic crime and commits to further work on proposals.

Highlights issues affecting women prisoners and children separated from their mothers, urging steps to prioritise safeguarding welfare in criminal courts.

Responds by mentioning a checklist for pre-sentence reports to ensure consideration of the impact on dependants when sentencing.

Raises concern over shortage of magistrates and calls for an urgent look at increasing retirement ages to maintain experienced presiding justices.

Commits to consulting on increasing judicial retirement ages, including for magistrates, aiming to retain experience while also focusing on diversity recruitment.

Raises a case where sexual abuse by an underage perpetrator cannot be prosecuted due to legal loopholes and asks when this loophole will be closed.

Offers to discuss the individual case further, noting that prosecutorial decisions are within the remit of the Attorney General.