Topical Questions

Answer from Robert Buckland

The first duty of any Government is to protect their people. Too often, our system of sentencing in England and Wales does not command the public's confidence, so last week I laid a White Paper entitled 'A Smarter Approach to Sentencing'. The measures in the White Paper will keep serious violent and sexual offenders in prison for longer and prevent the automatic release of prisoners before the end of their sentence if they present a danger to the public.

Answer from Robert Buckland

While it would be wrong of me to make direct comment on what is, sadly, a dispute, I will certainly look into the matter and report back to the hon. Lady on the latest progress or otherwise. I hugely value prison staff and the incredible work they have done, not just throughout the covid pandemic but beforehand.

Answer from Robert Buckland

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the work he is doing on this important issue and for the introduction of his Bill. I fully recognise his concern, which is why we are working with the judiciary on a programme to increase the overall number of recruited magistrates. We are consulting on proposals to increase the mandatory retirement age of judicial office holders, including magistrates.

Answer from Robert Buckland

The hon. Lady raises an issue that, as she probably knows, is very close to my heart. In the White Paper, we have announced a call for evidence about neurodivergence within the criminal justice system, because I think that we can do much, much better.

Answer from Robert Buckland

My hon. Friend is right to raise the important issue of unpaid work, because it is a way for offenders to make reparation to wider society for the damage that is caused by crime. As part of our White Paper plans, we will introduce a new statutory duty for important stakeholders, such as police and crime commissioners, to be consulted on the type of unpaid work projects in their area.

Answer from Robert Buckland

No.

Answer from Robert Buckland

My hon. Friend raises a very important point. Last year, the Government announced a £100 million boost to investment in the installation of body scanners in many of our prisons, and particularly category B local prisons with a high number of receptions and visitors. It protects not only prisoners from abuse, but staff, and it makes prisons, I believe, safer places in which to work and gives greater confidence to the wider public that we are doing everything we can to make our prisons as safe as possible.

Answer from Robert Buckland

The hon. Lady raises a very disturbing case, and sadly, it is not alone. Many shop workers have been at the frontline of providing vital services through the intensity of the lockdown and continue to do so. It is incumbent on all of us to make sure that sentencing guidelines properly reflect the role that they play.

Answer from Robert Buckland

I pay tribute to those who provide the therapeutic services at Aylesbury YOI, whom I have met in the past. We see young adults right up to the age of 25 as a group that need treatment different from other cohorts, and we have specialist models for operational delivery to support prisons holding young adults.

Answer from Robert Buckland

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising that important point, and I pay tribute to the work of the Victims' Commissioner and, indeed, her predecessor. A wider consultation on the new, revised victims code has been finished. We will be publishing the revised victims code in the next several weeks.

Answer from Robert Buckland

In our White Paper, we set out revised rules. Some custodial sentences of over four years will be able to become spent as part of criminal record checks for non-sensitive roles, in addition to significant reductions to the rehabilitation periods for sentences of under four years.

Answer from Robert Buckland

Domestic abuse trials have continued to be prioritised throughout the pandemic, with early listings. In Wales, work is being done to list cases in the magistrates court to remove the backlog.

Answer from Robert Buckland

We are investing £142 million in our court system for technological improvements, an additional £80 million for criminal courts recovery, including recruiting 1,600 members of staff and further adaptations to courtrooms to allow more usage.

Answer from Robert Buckland

I must declare an interest, because I am a member of the Northern Ireland Bar. The particular issue that the hon. Gentleman raises seems to be a matter for the Northern Ireland Justice authorities. However, I will discuss the matter with him further so that we can obtain maximum clarity.

Answer from Robert Buckland

I pay tribute to that operation in Nottinghamshire and to the many others that are safeguarding our communities. Parliament has provided the courts with the full range of sentencing powers in order to deal effectively with these offenders, but tough enforcement is also a fundamental part of our approach. We are taking a smarter approach to the restriction of drugs supply using technology and data and taking partnership action with other agencies to tackle drugs alongside other criminal activity.

Answer from Robert Buckland

The work of Devon and Cornwall police in ensuring that virtual court processes carry on at this challenging time is very much appreciated. I am going to include in primary legislation, to be introduced as early as possible in 2021, a provision to allow court-appointed contractors to staff those virtual courts within police custody suites, in order to relieve the burden on serving police officers.