Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Children (Parental Imprisonment)

21 May 2024 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East

Children & Families

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Kerry McCarthy raised concerns about children (parental imprisonment) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • The Bill aims to establish a statutory mechanism to identify and support children with parents in prison.
  • Currently, there is no systematic data on the number or whereabouts of these children, making them 'invisible'.
  • The Bill seeks to create a process where the identification and support for these children are mandatory at the point of sentencing an adult to prison.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East

The Bill aims to establish a statutory mechanism to identify and support children with parents in prison. It is not about prisoners but their children, many of whom face emotional loss, financial instability, stigma, and potential lifelong mental health issues. Currently, there is no systematic data on the number or whereabouts of these children, making them 'invisible'. The Bill seeks to create a process where the identification and support for these children are mandatory at the point of sentencing an adult to prison.

Other contributors (1)
  • Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East

    The debate highlights that around 312,000 children a year are affected by parental imprisonment. Children Heard and Seen's Sarah Burrows emphasises the need for better identification and support mechanisms to prevent these children from being left in unsuitable or unsafe living conditions. The Bill proposes addressing emotional loss, stigma, financial instability, and the potential long-term impacts on children’s mental health and involvement in crime.

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