Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Tuesday 2 February 2021 · 16 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 10 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister confirmed government reforms to the Mental Health Act 1983 to better protect vulnerable individuals in the criminal justice system.
  • Prison staff meeting wave one criteria for vaccination are being prioritized, with support from the Department of Health and Social Care for the next phase.
  • The Government is reviewing and implementing measures to address risks and improve conditions for women prisoners, including investing in secure centers and revising incarceration methods.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Duncan Baker
Justice & Courts Mental Health
Context

The criminal justice system faces challenges in dealing with individuals who have serious mental health conditions or neurodivergent disorders. The Mental Health Act reforms and the independent review on neurodiversity were recently announced.

Question

I am concerned about the challenges faced by the criminal justice system when it comes to people with serious mental health issues, autism, learning disabilities, or neurodivergent conditions. Can you confirm the government's commitment to improving this situation and explain what steps are being taken?

Answer from Robert Buckland

We have announced reforms to the Mental Health Act 1983 that will strengthen protections for vulnerable people, enhance checks and balances to respect patients' rights, and ensure quicker access to care for offenders with mental health issues. An independent review is being conducted to understand neurodiversity in justice services better.

Answered
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Q2 Duncan Baker
Justice & Courts NHS
Context

Prison staff in Duncan Baker's constituency at HMP Bure are working tirelessly to manage the pandemic. The questioner wants to know about the prioritisation of prison staff for vaccinations.

Question

I would like to pay tribute to all the incredibly hard work that prison staff in my constituency at HMP Bure have contended with over the pandemic. Can you tell me what assessment has been made regarding vaccinating them as soon as possible?

Answer from Robert Buckland

Prison staff who meet wave one criteria are being vaccinated. For the next phase, I am supporting their prioritisation and my officials are working with the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure this happens.

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Q3 David Lammy Lab Tottenham
Justice & Courts NHS
Context

Covid-19 cases are increasing rapidly in prisons compared to the wider community. The estate is reporting a significant number of outbreaks, leading to concerns about staff and prisoner safety.

Question

Cases of covid-19 are now getting out of control in our prisons. There were 75 cases per 1,000 inmates in December compared to 46 in the wider community. With 87 outbreaks across an estate of 170, how many prisoners and staff have died after being infected by coronavirus in January?

Answer from Robert Buckland

I will provide the precise figures soon. Two thirds of prisons currently have no outbreaks or fewer than 10 cases, reflecting our efforts to control the virus through testing and quarantine measures.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for death toll numbers was not fully answered; only assurance to provide data later was given

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Q4 Andrea Leadsom Con
Justice & Courts Women & Equalities Children & Families
Context

Early years healthy development review is ongoing, focusing on support for new babies and their mothers within the prison system.

Question

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware of the early years healthy development review? Can he tell me what support is available to new babies and their mothers who are in the prison system?

Answer from Robert Buckland

Support includes multidisciplinary teams, compassionate leave policies, individual care plans, and a review to ensure policy is effective. The female offender strategy aims to understand why women end up in custody and how to improve this situation.

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Q5 Janet Daby Lab Lewisham East
Justice & Courts Mental Health
Context

Women in prison are facing intensified lockdowns with limited daily time outside cells. Incidents of self-harm have increased significantly, prompting concerns about their wellbeing.

Question

During the pandemic, women in prison have experienced an intensified lockdown. Many are permitted only 30 minutes outside their cell a day and 30 minutes every other day for exercise. Alongside this, incidents of self-harm and suicide have risen by 8% in 2020. What measures will the Government take to protect these women from mental health crises?

Answer from Robert Buckland

We continue investing in secure centres and reimaging incarceration methods for women. The female offender strategy focuses on understanding why women end up in custody and aims to prevent self-harm through better rehabilitation and support.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures were not directly outlined, rather a general commitment was given without concrete details

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Q6 James Davies Con
Justice & Courts
Context

Prisoner transfer increases the risk of virus transmission, despite lower prison occupancy.

Question

Despite best efforts, prisoner transfers increase covid-19 risks. With prison occupancy 6% lower than last year, what steps are being taken to ensure only essential transfers occur?

Answer from Robert Buckland

We allow only essential transfers for court service and justice, have clear policies on need for such transfers, compartmentalisation strategy to isolate new admissions from general population, testing of incoming prisoners and those being transferred.

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Q7 Mike Hill Lab
Crime & Law Enforcement Employment
Context

Retail workers are not adequately protected from abuse by specific legislation in England and Wales.

Question

Will the Government ensure that key retail workers in England and Wales receive similar specific legislative protections as those recently passed for Scottish counterparts?

Answer from Robert Buckland

In response to serious crimes against retail workers, Sentencing Council guidelines refer specifically to such workers' roles in public services, increasing sentences. Courts should find aggravating factors where shop workers are victims of crime.

Partly answered

Not addressed: no commitment on specific legislation for England and Wales

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Q8 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Concerns raised about prosecuting covid-related offences, including lockdown breaches and vaccine fraud.

Question

What assessment has been made of the effectiveness in prosecuting offenders related to false representations, such as spitting or vaccine fraud?

Answer from Robert Buckland

Fraud Act 2006 provisions can cover false representations. Spitting is an assault and should be treated accordingly.

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Q9 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Justice & Courts Employment
Context

Rejecting a fair and sustainable pay rise for prison officers is claimed to be an economic mistake given the significant costs of losing staff.

Question

With over £30 million wasted due to frontline prison officers leaving within two years, is rejecting a reasonable pay rise justifiable?

Answer from Robert Buckland

£250 rise next year with incremental increases under current terms. Viable balancing exercise considering exceptional times. Will continue constructive work on support and retention.

Partly answered

Not addressed: does not directly address if rejecting pay raise is false economy, instead states it was difficult decision due to current situation

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Q10 Antony Higginbotham
Children & Families
Context

Children in households experiencing domestic violence need protection under the Domestic Abuse Bill.

Question

Could you update us on the status of the Domestic Abuse Bill, which will protect all victims including children who witness it?

Answer from Alex Chalk

The Bill recognises the impact of domestic abuse on children as victims. It was given a Second Reading in another place last month, expected to complete passage by spring.

Answered
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Q11 David Linden SNP
Justice & Courts Benefits & Welfare
Context

Pre-release assistance from DWP prison coordinating staff is needed under the early release scheme.

Question

Can you confirm that DWP prison staff have returned to help prisoners with pre-release benefits as per guidelines?

Answer from Robert Buckland

Work coaches are in prisons supporting release, benefit loans available on release, announcement made about accommodation for people leaving prison.

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Q12 Robert Halfon Con
Justice & Courts Children & Families
Context

Charlotte Budd, a Harlow resident and domestic abuse survivor, faced issues in the family court system. The Ministry of Justice report highlighted concerns about assessing risk to children and parents.

Question

I would be grateful if my right hon. and learned Friend could provide an update on what steps the Government are taking to address the concerns brought to light by the Ministry of Justice report on assessing the risk of harm to children and parents in private law children cases. Will he also explain what measures the Government are taking to make certain that the correct guidance and education is in place for members of our judiciary in dealing with domestic abuse cases such as that of Charlotte Budd?

Answer from Alex Chalk

Good progress is being made following the expert panel's report. First, we have launched a review into the presumption of parental involvement. Secondly, the design of the pilot integrated domestic abuse courts is under way. Thirdly, measures in the Domestic Abuse Bill to provide further protection to victims and survivors who use the family courts are passing through the other place. Guidance is a matter for the judiciary but I have raised this with the president of the family division and he is very much seized of it and will consider making recommendations on judicial training to the judicial college.

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Q13 Zarah Sultana Your Party Coventry South
Justice & Courts Education
Context

Covid cases in prisons surged by 50% and deaths by 70% in December. Teachers are required to go into prisons for lessons, risking virus spread.

Question

Unlike during the last lockdown, the Government insist that non-essential workers go in and out of prisons every single day, risking spreading the virus. The University and College Union tells me that teachers are not even allowed to prepare lessons or carry out marking at home. Instead, they have to go into prisons to print worksheets, deliver them to cells, pick them up from cells and mark them on site. Will the Minister please intervene to stop this reckless practice?

Answer from Robert Buckland

It is important that we balance the needs of prison security alongside the needs of prisoners to access education. I will look carefully at the point she makes, but I think she will understand that a sensitive balance has to be struck between prison security and providing education.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific intervention request

How: Sensitive Balance

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Q14 Robert Largan
Justice & Courts
Context

Many old prisons are located in densely populated inner-city areas, raising concerns about safety and effectiveness.

Question

What plans do the Government have to replace these old prisons with modern facilities that are safer for both inmates and guards, much cheaper to run and more effective at rehabilitation and at reducing reoffending rates? There is an opportunity not just dramatically to improve our prisons but to raise significant funds to be reinvested back into the justice system and to free up much-needed land for housing in inner-city areas.

Answer from Robert Buckland

My hon. Friend will understand that it is very important that proper calculations are made about prison capacity and that we do not end up in a position like that under the last Labour Government when we were having to use police cells to house prisoners, which was both expensive and, frankly, inhumane. He will know about and will welcome the huge commitment of £4 billion to deliver 18,000 additional prison places—modern places—across the estate by the middle of this decade.

Answered
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Q15 Yvonne Fovargue Lab
Justice & Courts Housing
Context

Reports suggest bailiffs are breaking rules meant to govern their behavior, raising concerns about protecting vulnerable people.

Question

There are yet more reports this week of bailiffs on people's doorsteps breaking the rules meant to govern their behaviour. In view of those reports, will the Minister meet me and representatives of concerned charities, such as StepChange and Citizens Advice, to discuss what further measures can be taken to protect vulnerable people?

Answer from Alex Chalk

We have been very clear that there should be no enforcement of evictions during this pandemic—the law is in place—save for the most exceptional and egregious circumstances. I am very concerned to hear the hon. Lady's point about bailiffs behaving inappropriately. I would of course be delighted to meet her to discuss it further.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific measures request

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Q16 Damien Moore Con
Justice & Courts
Context

The questioner seeks information on steps being taken to increase Nightingale court provision.

Question

What steps is my hon. Friend taking to increase the provision of Nightingale courts during the pandemic?

Answer from Alex Chalk

This Government consider the opening of Nightingale courts to be absolutely essential. I have visited a number myself. They play an important role in taking the strain, allowing other courts to carry out custody cases. We have already opened 40 Nightingale courts—an additional 20. That will play an important role in our ongoing courts recovery.

Answered
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