Topical Questions 2022-02-08

2022-02-08

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Luke Pollard Lab Co-op
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
On behalf of the prison officers I represent in Plymouth, I ask the Secretary of State: now that he has dropped his plans to close Dartmoor prison, what plans does he have to invest in facilities at the dilapidated prison to ensure that it can be a safe and humane environment again?
I am happy to write to the hon. Gentleman about that particular prison in his constituency. He will know that we are investing almost £4 billion over the next three years to deliver 20,000 additional modern prison places by the mid-2020s. I have been to look at some of the advantages that they can have, including at Glen Parva prison, which has started the operational build.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit specifically to investing in Dartmoor prison but mentioned broader investment plans.
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Wrexham houses the newest and largest prison in the UK, HMP Berwyn, with a criminal justice network to support it. Wrexham is therefore the perfect place to locate a justice satellite hub, and I welcome the relocation of hundreds of jobs to Wales under the levelling-up White Paper. Does my hon. Friend agree that this is proof that the Government have a commitment to the seats that Labour left behind?
My hon. Friend is an absolute champion of her constituency and she is right to want it to get its place in the levelling-up agenda. As she said, the Ministry of Justice is already a major employer in Wrexham through HMP Berwyn, which employs around 750 staff directly and over 250 more through partner organisations.
Assessment & feedback
Did not explicitly agree to locate a justice satellite hub but praised the initiative and highlighted employment benefits.
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Women leaving custody without a safe and secure home risk harm to themselves and to the public, but many of those women are not captured in official homelessness statistics. Will Ministers commit to rolling out the temporary accommodation service to all probation areas this year, and to extending support for vulnerable women to get into permanent housing beyond 12 weeks?
I thank the hon. Lady for her point about the important role that accommodation plays in resettling women. I know that she will take comfort from the fact that nearly 23% fewer women are in custody than in 2010, but of course work continues and we need to ensure that women as well as male prisoners are set up for their life on release.
Assessment & feedback
Acknowledged the importance of accommodation without committing to expanding services or extending support.
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Reforming our broken asylum system and tackling illegal immigration is in part dependent on reforming the Human Rights Act. The British people expect action on the issue, so how quickly can we expect firm proposals to reform the HRA, following the end of the consultation next month?
I thank my hon. Friend for his support. He is right that across a whole suite of issues, including illegal migration, the proposals for a Bill of Rights with common-sense, sensible reforms will help us to address the problems. Once the consultation results come back, we will want to listen very carefully and proceed to legislation in the next Session.
Assessment & feedback
Provided general support without specific timeline or commitment.
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Gill Furniss Lab
Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
When my constituent Neil was 27, they discovered that they were the product of rape. Although they had been adopted as a baby by a loving and supportive family, this left them feeling hollow, cut adrift, scared and alone. Thanks to Share Psychotherapy, a fantastic charity based in Sheffield, Neil got the support that they needed, but so many like them do not have such services available. Will the Secretary of State commit to recognising in law those conceived from rape as victims?
May I thank the hon. Lady and express my solidarity in the awful and harrowing case that she refers to? If she writes to me, I will be happy to look at her specific proposal. The overall level of funding for victims this year is three times the level in 2010.
Assessment & feedback
Expressed sympathy and willingness to review but did not commit to legal recognition.
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
The Judicial Review and Courts Bill—I served on the Public Bill Committee—will allow a few low-level crimes to be dealt with automatically online. Will the Minister consider extending that provision to help clear the courts backlog?
My hon. Friend, who put in a great shift on the Committee, makes an excellent point. The Judicial Review and Courts Bill will introduce a new procedure for certain low-level offences such as travelling on a train without a ticket, enabling defendants who wish to plead guilty to make a plea and accept a conviction and standard penalty entirely online.
Assessment & feedback
Acknowledged the proposal but did not commit to extending provisions.
Response accuracy
Q7 Partial Answer
Abena Oppong-Asare Lab
Erith and Thamesmead
Context
The question addresses the recruitment and retention crisis in prisons, highlighting increasing violence due to understaffing.
There are three prisons in my constituency: Belmarsh, Thameside, and Isis. Prison officers and other justice staff go into work to protect us but the Government are failing to protect them at work. One cause of increasing violence in prison is understaffing. Can the Minister tell us what the Government are doing to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis?
The hon. Lady is absolutely right to say that our officers and staff are a critical part of protecting the public through our prisons. Without those staff and officers, our prisons simply do not function. The Deputy Prime Minister and I are looking intensively at not only the pay but the other conditions under which officers and staff are working. We take this very seriously. I also want to look at the conditions for staff and officers working in prisons, because they are the hidden emergency service that keeps us safe day in, day out.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific actions or commitments to address recruitment and retention issues.
Looking Intensively At Pay And Conditions
Response accuracy
Q8 Direct Answer
Context
The National Audit Office recently commented on the delivery of the female offender strategy. The question focuses on plans to address these comments and highlight effective community support organisations.
What plans are there to take heed of the National Audit Office's recent comments on the delivery of the female offender strategy? Can I highlight community solutions such as the North Wales Women's Centre in my constituency, which provides support to help tackle the root causes of crime, such as domestic abuse and poverty?
We are committed to delivering the female offender strategy by reducing the number of women in custody and seeing a greater proportion of women managed in the community. We have invested £9.5 million in women's community sector organisations, including nearly £50,000 for the North Wales Women's Centre last year.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Gavin Robinson DUP
Belfast East
Context
The question addresses IRA murderers who have evaded justice and asks about proposals to deal with the legacy of past events.
There is a cohort of IRA murderers who have evaded justice, successfully fought extradition, and now reside in other countries. Would any Government proposals to deal with the legacy of our past be morally repugnant if those individuals were allowed to return home?
I do understand the level of pain, suffering and anxiety that has been expressed. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has come forward with a set of proposals that offer a balanced approach and hope to allow communities on both sides to move forward.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific government proposals or address the moral implications.
Understanding The Level Of Pain, Suffering And Anxiety
Response accuracy
Q10 Direct Answer
Context
The question asks about progress towards setting up local partnership boards to support victims of domestic abuse.
In Darlington, organisations such as Family Help provide specialist domestic abuse support for women and children fleeing abuse. Will my hon. Friend outline the progress being made towards establishing domestic abuse local partnership boards?
I am delighted to confirm that all tier 1 local authorities have set up domestic abuse local partnership boards, providing advice on the provision of specialist services. I encourage Members across the House to engage with these boards.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q11 Partial Answer
Liam Byrne Lab
Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North
Context
The question raises concerns about strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and asks for measures to defend against them.
Tom Burgis is appearing in court today against oligarchs seeking to silence him. When will the Secretary of State bring forward a defence against SLAPPs?
The House has periodically looked at questions of libel law and we will keep those issues under constant review. This is an opportunity to reinvent the priority attached to freedom of speech.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to specific legislation or timeline for bringing forward a defence against SLAPPs.
House Periodically Looks At Libel Law
Response accuracy
Q12 Partial Answer
Context
The question addresses the focus on getting prisoners into stable employment when they leave prison to achieve lower reoffending rates.
Does my right hon. Friend agree that focusing on getting prisoners into stable employment has been critical in achieving current reoffending rates? Can he outline further measures in this area?
I totally agree. We are making it a presumption that offenders can be given a pathway into employment when suitable and secure, as part of the review in the prisons White Paper.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific measures beyond acknowledging current efforts.
Making It A Presumption
Response accuracy
Q13 Partial Answer
Context
A Raith Rovers FC fan forced the club to reverse a decision to give a playing contract to someone found guilty of rape and showed no remorse. This highlights the importance of role models for young men.
The justice system is vital for prosecuting offences against women, but it's also important that young men understand misogyny is unacceptable. Will the Minister join me in commending Raith Rovers fans who forced a club to reverse a decision due to someone's criminal history? Does he agree that unrepentant rapists cannot be role models?
I agree with the hon. Gentleman that it is absolutely abhorrent, and I think the club took the right decision. We are taking a suite of measures including local justice scorecards, the victims' Bill, VAWG strategy, and the rape action review.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for commendation was not addressed directly.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q14 Direct Answer
Context
Section 28 is set out in the victim's Bill, dealing with pre-recorded evidence from rape victims.
Will the Minister commit to supporting victims of sexual abuse by rolling out section 28 in the victim's Bill?
I endorse my hon. Friend's point about section 28, which deals with pre-recorded evidence from rape victims and we will articulate clearly a plan to move from limited trials to a national roll-out in the first half of this year.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q15 Partial Answer
Context
Two Loughborough organizations, the Exaireo Trust and Carpenter's Arms, help repeat offenders and those with addiction issues, changing their lives.
The hon. Member congratulates organisations in her constituency for helping people into work by addressing root causes of offending such as drug addiction. What financial support is available from the government to these organizations?
I congratulate the hon. Member on her work with those organisations, which are transformative for people's lives. As part of our 10-year drugs strategy, we will bind together coalitions to make an assault on this kind of crime and addiction in every area.
Assessment & feedback
The specific financial support was not detailed.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q16 Direct Answer
Context
The best new prison will be opened in Wellingborough on the site of an old prison that was planned to close years ago. A councillor's community group saved it.
My hon. Friend is right about the upcoming opening of a super-prison in Wellingborough, despite plans to close it years ago due to local efforts to save it. Does the Under-Secretary have any knowledge of that?
I am grateful for my hon. Friend's innovative questions, I remember well his campaign, and it is good that we changed our minds and are opening a new super-prison which will employ constituents.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q17 Partial Answer
Context
60% of cases going to the Family Division are safeguarding or domestic abuse cases, but many do not need court intervention.
The hon. Member champions the work of the Private Law Working Group and the Family Solutions Group on resolving family disputes inside and outside courts in 2020 reports. What steps is he taking to increase resolution?
My hon. Friend is right; many cases do not need court intervention and I am working with the judiciary to try to achieve reform focusing on incentives, disincentives, mediation use, and restructuring the system.
Assessment & feedback
The specific steps were not detailed.
Under Review
Response accuracy