Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Tuesday 14 May 2024 · 18 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 6 Partly answered 10 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Secretary of State secured funding from the Treasury to roll out early legal advice in private family law to protect children's welfare.
  • Victims of scams may be entitled to updates about their case, compensation information, and special measures if it goes to court under the victims code.
  • The Government has invested record amounts in prisons, turning around estates like HMP Liverpool and HMP Chelmsford to improve safety and rehabilitation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Virendra Sharma Lab
Children & Families
Context

More than 80,000 children are involved in private family law proceedings.

Question

With more than 80,000 children caught up in private family law proceedings, what is the Secretary of State doing to ensure that the welfare of children is protected?

Answer from Alex Chalk (Minister of State for Justice)

We have managed to secure funding from the Treasury to roll out early legal advice in private family law. Alongside the Pathfinder pilot scheme, it is designed to make the process of dealing with private family disputes more seamless and less painful, ultimately ensuring that children are put first.

Answered
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Q2 Elliot Colburn
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

People in Carshalton and Wallington, particularly women, are being targeted by 'crash for cash' scams.

Question

Could my right hon. and learned Friend outline what support is available to victims of this sort of crime?

Answer from Alex Chalk (Minister of State for Justice)

Victims of such scams may be entitled under the victims code to updates about their case, compensation information, and special measures if it goes to court. The state should support them regardless of whether they are a victim of 'crash for cash', theft, or another crime.

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Q3 Shabana Mahmood Lab Birmingham Ladywood
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The chief inspector of prisons found that the Government's early release scheme undermines safety at HMP Lewes.

Question

This week the chief inspector of prisons found that, at HMP Lewes, the Government's early release scheme is undermining safety and risk management. In one case, a high-risk prisoner was released early despite being a risk to children, having a history of stalking and domestic abuse, and being subject to a restraining order. Is this the Secretary of State's idea of putting public safety first?

Answer from Alex Chalk (Minister of State for Justice)

We will look very carefully at that specific case. The critical point is that under our scheme, if there is a concern about an individual proposed to be eligible, the governor can impose a veto and escalate the decision to a panel as an important safeguard.

Answered
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Q4 Shabana Mahmood Lab Birmingham Ladywood
Justice & Courts
Context

Prison conditions at Parc Prison, Bedford, Wandsworth have raised significant concerns.

Question

Report after report; failure after failure. At Parc Prison, nine people have died in just two months. At Bedford, cells were flooded with raw sewage. At Wandsworth, a suspected terrorist escaped last year, the prison is still not secure and the governor has resigned. She has taken responsibility. When will the Secretary of State?

Answer from Alex Chalk (Minister of State for Justice)

We take this issue incredibly seriously, investing record amounts in our estate. We have turned around prisons like HMP Liverpool and HMP Chelmsford which had scathing reports but are now safe, decent and rehabilitative.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline or immediate actions to address failures mentioned by the questioner

How: We Take This Issue Incredibly Seriously

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Q5 Theresa Villiers Con
Policing & Resources Justice & Courts
Context

Some constituents report delays in getting court judgments implemented by bailiffs.

Question

A number of my constituents in Chipping Barnet tell me that they continue to have problems with delays in getting court judgments implemented by bailiffs. Will the Secretary of State do everything he can to tackle delays in the courts and bailiff system, especially for possession proceedings?

Answer from Alex Chalk (Minister of State for Justice)

We are running recruitment campaigns and have reduced administrative burdens to free up resources for bailiffs to focus on enforcement activity. Nearly 90% of county courts list possession hearings within four to eight weeks after a claim is received.

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Q6 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Justice & Courts
Context

The early release scheme has expanded to 10 weeks, contributing to a probation crisis with staff warnings that releases are unsafe and result in recall within days.

Question

I am concerned about the Government's latest measures dealing with prison capacity, which have fuelled the probation crisis. Can the Minister confirm what specific extra resources he has put into this service so it can cope with increased workloads?

Answer from Edward Argar

Over the long term, since 2021 we have put an extra £155 million a year into the probation service, and 4,000 more staff in training. The probation reset enables officers to focus on where it makes the greatest difference.

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Q7 Rob Butler
Justice & Courts
Context

Prisons are full, meaning they cannot focus on rehabilitation. There is a proposal for an intensive control and rehabilitation order (ICRO) to be served in the community under strict conditions.

Question

Will the Minister look again at the proposals I put forward with the Centre for Social Justice for an ICRO, to be served in the community but under strict conditions including GPS tags and compulsory courses?

Answer from Gareth Bacon

Officials have reviewed and considered ICROs. In June last year, we began a pilot involving intense supervision courts which divert offenders with complex needs away from short custodial sentences.

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Q8 Judith Cummins Lab Bradford South
Justice & Courts
Context

Constituents were encouraged to pursue no win, no fee claims against defective cavity wall insulation providers by solicitors firm SSB Law. The firm went into administration leaving my constituents with legal costs.

Question

What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that the Solicitors Regulation Authority has the necessary powers to provide protection and compensation for my constituents?

Answer from Alex Chalk

I thank the hon. Lady for raising this important point on behalf of her constituents, and I will write to her.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or timeline not provided

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Q9 James Gray Con
Justice & Courts
Context

A constituent received a paltry sentence after being murdered in her home. The Wade review recognised the disparity between sentences for domestic and non-domestic murders.

Question

Will the Secretary of State now tell us when he is going to reply to the Wade review? I hope that he will take due account of it and will equal up the sentences so that people who are guilty of domestic murders pay the same penalty as those who kill someone in the street?

Answer from Gareth Bacon

In response to the Wade review, we have increased sentences by introducing statutory aggravating factors for murders that are preceded by controlling or coercive behaviour and other factors. The Government are carefully considering responses to the consultation and will publish their response in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline not provided

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Q10 Mohammad Yasin Lab Bedford
Justice & Courts
Context

Both Wandsworth Prison and HMP Bedford revealed issues of violence, overcrowding, self-harm, drug misuse and staff lacking experience. This is attributed to Government's funding cuts and policy failures.

Question

Does the Minister accept that it is his Government's funding cuts and policy failures that have delivered a broken justice system offering little hope for reform or protection?

Answer from Edward Argar

No, I do not accept the premise of the hon. Gentleman's question. We continue to put investment into both staff and the prison to make progress following that urgent notification.

Not addressed: Denial of funding cuts impact without addressing specifics

How: Denial

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Q11 Dehenna Davison
Children & Families
Context

A constituent disclosed serious concerns about poor communications from the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) and a family court-appointed children's guardian.

Question

How can the Minister ensure that my constituents will receive the support and advice they need in a timely fashion?

Answer from Alex Chalk

We are investing heavily in the family system to deal with precisely these issues. If something has gone wrong, perhaps she will be kind enough to come and see me so that we can discuss it further.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures not provided

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Q12 Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green
Justice & Courts
Context

2,796 prisoners with indeterminate sentences for public protection are languishing in prisons. Many have served longer than their original tariff.

Question

There are 2,796 IPP prisoners languishing in our prisons, many of whom have been over their original tariffs for years. The Ministry of Justice's action plan is not working. What will the Secretary of State do to fix this?

Answer from Alex Chalk

The number of IPP prisoners has significantly decreased from 6,000 in 2012 to around 1,200 now. Our action plan aims to reduce license periods for released IPP prisoners to three years instead of ten.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or timeline not provided

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Q13 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Justice & Courts
Context

The New Yorker published a lengthy article about the Lucy Letby case, but it was blocked from UK internet due to a court order.

Question

The New Yorker's article on the Lucy Letby case was blocked in the UK. Will the Lord Chancellor review this matter and report back?

Answer from Alex Chalk

Court orders must be obeyed, but one can apply to remove them. Regarding Lucy Letby's case, juries' verdicts must be respected; appeals should follow normal procedures.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific review or action not committed

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Q14 Sarah Dyke Lib Dem Glastonbury and Somerton
Justice & Courts
Context

Taunton Deane magistrates court had over 1,000 outstanding criminal cases in Q1 2023. The questioner's constituency has even more.

Question

There are significant backlogs of criminal cases in courts, affecting victims and undermining public confidence. What support will the Secretary of State provide to tackle this backlog?

Answer from Alex Chalk

We have increased capacity by opening Nightingale courts, adding judges, increasing legal aid funding, and supporting victims through various measures.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific timeline or resource allocation mentioned

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Q15 Bob Neill Con
Justice & Courts
Context

Concerns about the growing remand prisoner population causing disruption.

Question

The Lord Chancellor is aware of concerns about the growth in remand prisoners and innovative measures being taken. Will there be no financial cap on Crown court sitting days?

Answer from Alex Chalk

Before the pandemic, around 9,000 people were awaiting trial; now it is about 16,000. We are considering remote hearings of bail applications and ensuring lawyers can handle more cases.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitment on sitting days

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Q16 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Justice & Courts
Context

The chief inspector of prisons highlighted the poor conditions in Wandsworth Prison, noting high overcrowding.

Question

The Justice Secretary received a letter highlighting dreadful conditions in Wandsworth Prison. Will he take urgent steps to end overcrowding?

Answer from Alex Chalk

Wandsworth's full complement of officers is not delivering the regime it should, with a high remand population. We are investing heavily and deploying extra staff.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific steps for overcrowding

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Q17 Shailesh Vara Con
Justice & Courts Standards & Ethics
Context

An inquiry is underway regarding the Horizon scandal, involving sub-postmasters prosecuted despite contradictory evidence.

Question

An inquiry is being conducted for the Horizon scandal. What will the Department do to hold accountable those lawyers who prosecuted sub-postmasters with contrary evidence?

Answer from Alex Chalk

Prosecutors must disclose material capable of undermining the case for prosecution. If they failed, appropriate authorities should take robust and prompt action.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific measure committed

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Q18 Imran Hussain Lab Bradford East
NHS
Context

Over 10,000 victims of the SSB Law scandal are now estimated. An event is being held to listen to their stories.

Question

Since last raising this issue with Ministers, over 10,000 victims have been identified in the SSB Law scandal. Will he commit to real compensation and protection for these victims?

Answer from Alex Chalk

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his kind invitation but will consider it in due course.

Not addressed: Specific commitment to compensation and protection not provided

How: Inviting Consideration

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