Topical Questions 2021-09-14

2021-09-14

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Context
The reported rise in pet thefts has raised growing concern.
Our pets are valuable members of our families, and the government is not prepared to ignore the issue. The taskforce report was published this month with recommendations including a new offence of pet abduction. Does the Minister agree that this recognises that pets are more than mere property?
The Government are not prepared to ignore the issue and will look to introduce the new offence when parliamentary time allows.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Context
The prison officers' retirement age of 68 is considered unrealistic and has negatively impacted retention and recruitment.
Does the Secretary of State believe it is safe or appropriate for prison officers to deal with violent criminals up to their current retirement age? Does he agree that this completely unrealistic retirement age has negatively affected retention and recruitment?
The hon. Lady raises a critical point and we continue to look at this issue; there have been two attempts in recent years but no agreement was reached with POA.
Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment on resolving the retirement age issue
Continuing To Look At
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Context
Drug use in prisons lines pockets of organised criminals and puts staff at risk.
How long do Ministers expect it to be before British prisons become practically drug free?
We aspire to make our jails completely drug free and are making important progress with £100 million investment in gate security, counter-corruption, and rehabilitation.
Assessment & feedback
Specific timeline for a drug-free prison environment
Aspire To Important Progress
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Context
Schedule 22 has been blamed for wrongful prosecutions, with no promise to correct this injustice.
Following intervention, schedule 22 expired. Can the Lord Chancellor tell us what action is being taken to quash all illegal convictions?
This issue involves constitutional principles, with the Crown Prosecution Service being independent. The Law Officers are responsible for superintendence.
Assessment & feedback
Specific action to quash wrongful convictions
Constitutional Principle Independence Of Cps
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
David Davis Con
Goole and Pocklington
Context
Concerns raised about the SFO's submission to a court decision for extradition of Dr Mike Lynch.
Will the Justice Secretary review this issue, with a view to putting in place proper guidelines to prevent such behaviour in future?
Ongoing proceedings and appeals are subject to further action; Law Officers superintend the SFO, but issues raised will be discussed.
Assessment & feedback
Specific review or guidelines for SFO extradition standards
Ongoing Proceedings Will Talk About
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Context
Welsh Labour Government introduced new regulations to stop puppy and kitten sales.
Will the Minister undertake to bring forward similar regulations in England and Wales?
Law in England and Wales should be consistent; we will look carefully at this issue, gather evidence quickly and do everything possible.
Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to bring forward similar regulations
Look Carefully Gather Evidence
Response accuracy
Q7 Partial Answer
Context
A young man in the constituency died due to a county lines drug operation. The speaker seeks action against these operations.
Last weekend, a young man sadly lost his life in my constituency, and a county lines drug operation was peripherally involved. What are the Government doing to bring a stop to these county lines drug operations, which are ruining constituencies such as mine?
I am extremely sorry to hear about the event in my hon. Friend's constituency, and I am pleased that he has raised it on the Floor of the House. He will know that for the last two years we have made dismantling the county lines business model a key priority of our work between the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice. We reckon that we have managed to dismantle about a third of the county lines, but there is still significant work to do.
Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Sarah Champion Lab
Rotherham
Context
A constituent, Sam Haycock, drowned in a lake due to padlocked life belts preventing timely access. The Criminal Damage Act lacks specific penalties for damaging life-saving equipment.
Too many people die in open water because of a lack of life-saving equipment. In May this year my constituent 16-year-old Sam Haycock drowned in a nearby lake. His friends tried to save his life, but they were unable to access the life belt because it was padlocked and they could not get it unlocked in time. Does the Minister therefore agree that it is vital that appropriate and specific penalties are in place to save and protect the equipment that could have saved Sam's life?
The hon. Lady raises a case that shocks and concerns us all. I would be more than happy to talk to her directly about these issues. As she knows, the law of criminal damage is being reformed in other respects in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, but I want to make sure that we reflect the often devastating consequences of thoughtless and criminal acts of damage against vital pieces of life-saving equipment such as life belts.
Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Context
A constituent's case involving controlling and coercive behaviour has been delayed due to COVID and systemic failures. Delays cause distress in interactions with the ex-partner.
My constituent is involved in a case where controlling and coercive behaviour is alleged, and the case has been delayed due to both covid and a number of failures within the court process. The delays mean she continues to have to interact with her ex-partner on matters such as arranging contact with their children, causing her great distress in the process. What steps is the Department taking to ensure that victims of domestic abuse are able to have their cases heard in a timely manner?
I am extremely sorry to hear of the experience hon. Friend's constituent has undergone. I can confirm that this area is a priority in court recovery from covid. For example, domestic violence protection orders are being prioritised. In cases where there is particular vulnerability, the judiciary, in deciding which cases to list, give that careful consideration.
Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Context
The speaker inquires about facilitating safe passage for Afghan female judges facing potential executions.
I come back to female Afghan judges, where the key question is: what steps is the Department taking to allow them safe passage out of Afghanistan? What timeframe is it working to? When does it think will be too late, because the executions will have begun?
As I said to the House earlier, the Afghan relocations and assistance policy scheme covered the initial flights out. We have now extended and created a new scheme yesterday which will cover and make a priority those particular judges. The hon. Gentleman knows that the issues in the country are complex and that colleagues across Government are working out ways in which we can facilitate safe passage, but I assure him that everybody who fits that category will get the warmest of welcomes in this country.
Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q11 Partial Answer
Context
Prison officers have kept prisoners safe during the pandemic with low infection rates, but now need to facilitate access to education and work through vaccinations.
Prison officers and staff have done an amazing, excellent job of keeping prisoners safe during the pandemic, with much lower infection rates in jails than had been feared. That has mainly been achieved by keeping prisoners locked in their cells, but, obviously, we now need to move beyond that so that they can access education, work and other rehabilitation programmes. So will the Minister tell the House what progress has been made on rolling out vaccines in prisons, which would allow this vital work to resume?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend who is absolutely right to pay tribute and let me tell him why. At the beginning of this pandemic there was a prediction that 2,700 prisoners would die in English jails but the actual figure is under 130. Although every one of those is a tragedy, this is a powerful tribute to the work that those staff did. He makes an important point about vaccination. Every prisoner has been offered a vaccination although there are some decline rates which are higher in London of up to 50%. Every effort is being made to encourage prisoners to get vaccinated because we could then open up the regime.
Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q12 Direct Answer
Chi Onwurah Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Context
The question addresses the challenge faced by ex-offenders in securing housing post-release, highlighting a constituent 'Stuart' who was released after 30 years in prison with only eight weeks of accommodation. The issue is about providing temporary housing to prevent reoffending.
Work cuts reoffending rates in half. The Recruitment Junction in my constituency has a 50% success rate in getting ex-offenders into work—that is twice the national average. It tells me that the biggest challenge is on housing, such as for my constituent “Stuart”, who was released after 30 years in prison and was provided with just eight weeks' accommodation. If he does not find somewhere to live by tomorrow, he will be recalled into prison, at huge cost to himself and to the taxpayer. How is the Minister going to help Stuart to get somewhere to live by tomorrow?
The hon. Lady makes an important point, because if we want to cut crime, we have to reduce reoffending. That means we have to get people who come out of prison a job, they need to get a home and if they are on drugs, they need to get off drugs. This is absolutely what we are doing and in July we launched our £20 million scheme to provide temporary accommodation for prison leavers at risk of homelessness in five probation regions. We are also working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that we have work coaches in prison to get people jobs.
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Q13 Partial Answer
Context
The Family Solutions Group produced a report titled “What about me?” focusing on the impact of parental separation on children, estimating that around 280,000 children are affected annually. The question is raised in light of upcoming divorce legislation and strained family courts.
Last year, the expert Family Solutions Group produced a hard-hitting report called “What about me?”, which focuses on the 280,000 children each year who experience their parents separating. With the divorce Act fast approaching and family courts increasingly stretched, will my right hon. and learned Friend meet me to discuss ideas and some of the report's identified policy gaps on separating families?
My hon. Friend has considerable professional experience as a family lawyer of distinction, and I am more than happy to speak to her. It sounds as if that report complements the family harm report that was published earlier this year and the excellent work that is being done by senior judiciary in the family division to minimise the fight when it comes to the future of our children.
Assessment & feedback
My Hon. Friend Has Considerable Professional Experience As A Family Lawyer Of Distinction
Response accuracy
Q14 Partial Answer
Jeff Smith Lab
Manchester Withington
Context
The Law Commission is conducting a review of laws related to intimate-image abuse, which may recommend making it an offence for someone to photograph another person breastfeeding without their consent. The question seeks assurance that the report's recommendations will be promptly considered.
The Law Commission is currently conducting an important review of intimate-image abuse that will, I hope, recommend making it an offence for a person to take photographs of someone breastfeeding without their consent. When does the Secretary of State expect that report to be published? Perhaps more importantly, what assurance can he provide that the report's recommendations will be given timely, swift consideration and that action will be taken?
I am grateful to the hon. Member for raising the Law Commission report. I will write to him to clarify the date by which the commission will publish that clearly important piece of work. There is a shared will throughout the House to take action wherever it is appropriate, and the hon. Member can rest assured that the Government will not slack when it comes to the protection of women and other vulnerable people.
Assessment & feedback
There Is A Shared Will Throughout The House To Take Action Wherever It Is Appropriate
Response accuracy
Q15 Direct Answer
Context
The Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill aims to raise the retirement age of magistrates from 70 to 75. The question inquires about measures being taken to address a backlog of cases due to this pending legislation.
I know, Mr Speaker, that you will be exercised by the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill that is currently going through the other place, and particularly by clause 103, which will raise the retirement age of magistrates from 70 to 75, thus fulfilling the ambition behind the private Member's Bill that I introduced in the previous Session. While we wait for that legislation to go through, what other measures is my right hon. and learned Friend taking to get through the backlog of cases in courts, particularly through online cases?
My hon. Friend was himself a practitioner of many years' standing. I assure him that we are using every tool available—including remote hearings, bringing back judges who have recently retired and, indeed, harnessing the entire legal profession—to deal with the number of cases before the courts. The restriction on sitting days has been lifted and colleagues in Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service are working tirelessly to deal with the case load.
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Q16 Direct Answer
Context
A female former Afghan judge who escaped two assassination attempts by the Taliban is now a British citizen and has contacted Joanna Cherry to explain the dangers her colleagues face, particularly from criminals and terrorists released from prison.
May I return to the case of the female Afghan judges, which I raised yesterday with the Lord Chancellor's Home Office colleague, the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, the hon. Member for Louth and Horncastle (Victoria Atkins)? A female former Afghan judge who escaped two assassination attempts by the Taliban and is now a British citizen contacted me at the weekend to explain the very real and immediate danger that her colleagues face, particularly from dangerous criminals and terrorists who have been released from prison. I am bringing her into Parliament at 5 pm this evening to meet informally with the Justice Committee; will the Lord Chancellor, or perhaps one of his junior colleagues, come to that meeting and meet this lady to hear at first hand how desperate the situation really is?
I will of course make sure that my diary is adjusted so that I can do that. The hon. and learned Lady can rest assured that I am getting emails from her colleagues directly to my parliamentary account. These are harrowing tales of harrowing experiences, which is why I meant what I said in my answers earlier. I am very grateful to the hon. and learned Lady.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy