:00:00. > :00:13.Good morning and welcome. We have live coverage from the Commons now,
:00:14. > :00:18.the main business today is the detailed debate on the Enterprise
:00:19. > :00:21.Bill which aims at reducing ?10 billion of regulation from
:00:22. > :00:24.businesses. The debate will also cover plans for privatising the
:00:25. > :00:31.green investment bank. Later today there is a backbench motion marking
:00:32. > :00:35.international Women's Day. Don't forget to join me for a round-up at
:00:36. > :00:41.11pm. But first it is justice questions.
:00:42. > :00:48.With permission, Mr Speaker, I will take questions one, four and nine
:00:49. > :00:53.together. The Justice Secretary and Home Secretary have regular meetings
:00:54. > :00:55.where they discuss progress in removing foreign national offenders
:00:56. > :01:01.from UK prisons and it remains a top priority for both departments. In
:01:02. > :01:07.London we welcome people who come here to be students, tourists or add
:01:08. > :01:12.to the economy but not those people who commit crime. What more can my
:01:13. > :01:16.honourable friend do to ensure that with 40% of crime in London being
:01:17. > :01:19.committed by foreign nationals, those that are responsible or
:01:20. > :01:25.deported at the end of their sentences and not allowed back? The
:01:26. > :01:33.number of foreign national offenders in the prison publishing is down by
:01:34. > :01:36.1240 between June, 2010 and December, 2015. But he is right that
:01:37. > :01:41.we strive to do better and further action is being taken. We have
:01:42. > :01:46.introduced a new clause in the policing and crime bill that
:01:47. > :01:51.requires defendants to state their nationality, that is an important
:01:52. > :02:02.tool backed up and it will help us and remove even more FNOs. Does my
:02:03. > :02:07.honourable friend agree that it is totally unacceptable for the British
:02:08. > :02:12.taxpayer to be paying for foreign criminals. We have a range of
:02:13. > :02:16.existing measures, the early release scheme allows for the removal of
:02:17. > :02:22.foreign national offenders early. We remove around 1800 prisoners per
:02:23. > :02:26.year under that scheme. There are also prisoner transfer agreement
:02:27. > :02:39.said overall 29,000 FNOs have been removed between 2010 and 2015. What
:02:40. > :02:45.efforts are made to ensure that those EU National foreign offenders
:02:46. > :02:50.who are returns to their countries are banned from returning to the
:02:51. > :02:53.United Kingdom or is that sort of sensible precaution not possible
:02:54. > :03:01.while we are a member of the European Union? He makes what I say
:03:02. > :03:05.is regrettable but powerful by. We try to exercise the powers that we
:03:06. > :03:16.have as strenuously and vigorously as is possible. My constituent was
:03:17. > :03:21.stabbed by a criminal who was given an indefinite order and in my view
:03:22. > :03:25.he should be deported. If I write to the Minister will he look to this
:03:26. > :03:31.case to see that justice is done for my constituent? Those kinds of cases
:03:32. > :03:35.are very serious and dramatic and I am very sympathetic. Please do feel
:03:36. > :03:39.free to write to me. What I would say to members on this side of the
:03:40. > :03:43.house, this is an area where on the substance we can elicit as much
:03:44. > :03:52.support across the house as possible. He will know that 25% of
:03:53. > :03:55.the foreign national offenders in our prisons come from three
:03:56. > :04:01.countries, Ireland, Poland and Romania. What is the reluctance of
:04:02. > :04:08.other EU countries to take back their own citizens who have been
:04:09. > :04:12.committing crimes in our country? We try through our prisoner transfer
:04:13. > :04:15.agreement and residual national powers to exercise those powers as
:04:16. > :04:19.robustness possible to remove as many people as possible. He will
:04:20. > :04:23.know that as a result of the free movement rules but also as a result
:04:24. > :04:28.of the Human Rights Act which is in fairness separate but albeit
:04:29. > :04:31.related, that there are restrictions. As I said, when it
:04:32. > :04:37.comes to looking at human rights reform I hope sensible people with
:04:38. > :04:43.experience will look very carefully at the substance and not just take
:04:44. > :04:49.the purely political stance. When the government signed a compulsory
:04:50. > :04:52.transfer agreement with Albania, then prisons minister said he
:04:53. > :04:57.thought this would be the first of many. How many have they been since
:04:58. > :05:04.then and how is the arrangement going? I can say that we have over
:05:05. > :05:10.100 bilateral prison or transfer agreements. And if he wishes I can
:05:11. > :05:15.write to him in nation to the particular numbers with Albania in
:05:16. > :05:20.June course. Would the Minister -- in due course. Would the Minister
:05:21. > :05:23.agree that the deportation of FNOs is in some cases inhibited by the
:05:24. > :05:29.operation of the Human Rights Act and if so could the Minister of
:05:30. > :05:32.State house with plans to repeal it? My honourable friend is absolutely
:05:33. > :05:37.right and one of the specific issues we want to look at is the scope to
:05:38. > :05:40.which our bill of rights can facilitate the removal of serious
:05:41. > :05:45.offenders, particularly when they have relied on their rather elastic,
:05:46. > :05:50.Opec, ever expanding rights under Article eight, which has been made
:05:51. > :05:58.even more difficult because of the Human Rights Act. -- opaque. There
:05:59. > :06:03.are many convicted criminals in our prisons who after committing crimes
:06:04. > :06:06.in the UK fled the UK and then returned here to face justice next
:06:07. > :06:10.to the European arrest warrant. Can the Justice Secretary went to the
:06:11. > :06:14.house how the interests of victims of crime can be protected if we
:06:15. > :06:19.leave European Union and as a result the scope of the European arrest
:06:20. > :06:22.warrant that you mark I think she is slightly confused about the
:06:23. > :06:27.difference between an expedition and deportation. As a result of European
:06:28. > :06:31.law it has become harder and harder to deport foreign national offenders
:06:32. > :06:34.but easier and easier to have fast track extradition of innocent
:06:35. > :06:35.British citizens. I think that balance is something that should be
:06:36. > :06:50.addressed. Number two, Mr Speaker. Justice
:06:51. > :06:57.Secretary Mr Michael Gove. Thank you very much and can I through you
:06:58. > :07:01.apologise to the house, half of my Minister of State who is unavoidably
:07:02. > :07:04.detained in Bristol on the poor mental business. We work closely
:07:05. > :07:09.with interest to make sure young people serving custodial sentences
:07:10. > :07:12.have access to comprehensive mental health provision. And Charlie Taylor
:07:13. > :07:18.is looking at ways to improve the provision of mental health care for
:07:19. > :07:23.children and young people. I thank my right honourable friend but will
:07:24. > :07:27.he consider making mental health and substance misuse treatment one in
:07:28. > :07:31.the new prison league tables he is looking to take forward? My
:07:32. > :07:39.honourable friend makes a characteristically acute point. Up
:07:40. > :07:43.to 70% of prisoners are according to academic research likely to have had
:07:44. > :07:47.a mental health problem, often related to drink or drug abuse.
:07:48. > :07:50.Before doing everything possible to assure that appropriate therapy and
:07:51. > :07:58.rehabilitation activity is available to those prisoners is in all our
:07:59. > :08:03.interests. What steps is the Secretary of State taking to ensure
:08:04. > :08:07.young people in custody are given adequate safe time outside to
:08:08. > :08:14.protect and safeguard their mental health? The honourable lady makes a
:08:15. > :08:21.very good point and one of the tasks I have set Charlie Taylor is to make
:08:22. > :08:24.sure that the purposeful activity, education, and also sporting
:08:25. > :08:28.activity and time outside, are part of the regime that all young
:08:29. > :08:35.offenders who happen to be in custody are capable of enjoying.
:08:36. > :08:39.What assessment has been made of the impact on prison on mental health
:08:40. > :08:43.and rehabilitation by making sure prisoners serve their sentences as
:08:44. > :08:48.close as possible to family homes? It is a important to ensure that
:08:49. > :08:53.families have access to prisoners, sometimes that is of course
:08:54. > :08:57.facilitated by the prison or the secure training centre being close
:08:58. > :09:00.to the families. There are other ways even if families are
:09:01. > :09:05.geographically distant that we can work to insure they have effective
:09:06. > :09:11.access to their loved ones. Mr Speaker, six weeks ago when the last
:09:12. > :09:21.justice questions I asked how many fines chief arrest -- G4S had
:09:22. > :09:25.received and I have yet to receive a letter from the honourable member
:09:26. > :09:30.and still nothing. It beggars belief this information is not immediately
:09:31. > :09:35.available to ministers on a contract of this size. There is a question
:09:36. > :09:38.about what internal row is going on in the Department about the delay of
:09:39. > :09:43.this information? I can only apologise through you, she has been
:09:44. > :09:47.persistent and it is an important issue and I'm truly sorry she has
:09:48. > :09:53.received an answer. She will of course be aware that G4S have said
:09:54. > :09:57.they want event so is from the illustration of secure training
:09:58. > :10:00.centres for young people. But it is important that there is full
:10:01. > :10:04.accountability for how public money is spent and how these organisations
:10:05. > :10:13.have operated and I will make sure reply comes to her as soon as
:10:14. > :10:18.possible. Mr Speaker, we know that many of the young people in secure
:10:19. > :10:21.training centres have serious mental health problems and their four
:10:22. > :10:28.require specialist support. This is certainly the case in Medway. We
:10:29. > :10:33.understand that G4S have decided to end their contract at Medway and at
:10:34. > :10:37.another training centre. However I was surprised to learn that they are
:10:38. > :10:43.able to sell the contract to other private companies. There is an
:10:44. > :10:47.acknowledgement that G4S have an appalling record and is in the fact
:10:48. > :10:52.the government is allowing the De Silva contract rewarding their
:10:53. > :10:56.failure? Absolutely not. It is responsibly do to ensure their
:10:57. > :11:01.children in secure training centres are kept in circumstances which are
:11:02. > :11:04.decent and supportive and enable them to have an opportunity to
:11:05. > :11:08.reintegrate into society and it is as a result of youth Justice board
:11:09. > :11:11.monitoring that I set up and have put in place and as a result of the
:11:12. > :11:16.wider work that Charlie Taylor has taken forward that we are monitoring
:11:17. > :11:21.very carefully the health and welfare of children in all of our
:11:22. > :11:26.secure training centres. And it will be the case that my department will
:11:27. > :11:28.have the ability to scrutinise any other organisation takes over the
:11:29. > :11:31.running of the secure training centres in order to ensure that
:11:32. > :11:40.children are kept safe. Question three. The honourable gentleman will
:11:41. > :11:42.be aware that on 19 February the Prime Minister said outgoing
:11:43. > :11:47.government position on remaining in the European Union.
:11:48. > :11:53.The former head of the Association of Chief Police Officers says that
:11:54. > :11:58.leaving the EU would increase the risk of terrorism and would mean
:11:59. > :12:03.Britain would become a safe haven for criminals. I am sure the
:12:04. > :12:07.Minister agrees but perhaps he can explain to the house why the Justice
:12:08. > :12:11.Secretary is so keen to ignore this advice from such a well-respected
:12:12. > :12:16.authority and to take such a risk with public safety?
:12:17. > :12:23.May I make it clear to the honourable gentleman, the governor's
:12:24. > :12:28.decision as we would be better off in the European Union, better off
:12:29. > :12:33.and secure. And the deal the Prime Minister struck when he came back
:12:34. > :12:37.from Brussels achieve those objectives. England and Wales have
:12:38. > :12:43.by far the largest law firms in Europe and provide by far the
:12:44. > :12:46.largest legal services market in Europe, 1.5% of GDP. Does my right
:12:47. > :12:52.honourable friend not agree with most commercial law firms and the
:12:53. > :12:58.Law Society that up to 1.7 billion of annual output could be lost
:12:59. > :13:02.through Brexit. We have one of the best legal sectors in the world, we
:13:03. > :13:04.are thriving both within the European Union and outside the
:13:05. > :13:09.European Union. Whatever the decision on the 23rd of June, I am
:13:10. > :13:16.confident our legal sector will continue to thrive. Mr Andrew
:13:17. > :13:21.Gwynne. Given an assessment in terms of the impact of legal services will
:13:22. > :13:25.have been made by his department, civil servants, does he think it is
:13:26. > :13:31.fair, right and proper that his colleague the Justice Secretary is
:13:32. > :13:35.denied from seeing that paperwork? As I said earlier on, the governor's
:13:36. > :13:40.position is very clear. The position is we would be better off in the
:13:41. > :13:45.European Union. In terms of any potential disagreements, may I just
:13:46. > :13:49.gently say to the members upset, it is somewhat rich they should be
:13:50. > :13:53.engaging in conversation they are given the unity they have in their
:13:54. > :13:58.own party. I'm prepared to put a substantial bet with any member of
:13:59. > :14:07.the opposite side that tomorrow, in 24-hour is when we have PMQ 's, the
:14:08. > :14:11.Right Dushmantha Chameera right honourable gentleman the primary
:14:12. > :14:19.store receive will be greater. Can I invite my right honourable friend to
:14:20. > :14:23.say how he would spend the money we would save by leaving the European
:14:24. > :14:27.Union and confirmed there would be a big saving in translation services,
:14:28. > :14:33.which are currently being expended on foreign national offenders? The
:14:34. > :14:37.honourable gentleman makes his point as robustly as he always does. May I
:14:38. > :14:40.just say, the Government position is we would be better in the European
:14:41. > :14:47.Union and Patsy might wish to reflect on the 3 million odd jobs we
:14:48. > :14:53.secured and which are linked to our entry in the European Union.
:14:54. > :14:58.It must have been tricky for you to answer this question. According to
:14:59. > :15:02.the Spectator the Secretary of State has three ministers in and three for
:15:03. > :15:11.out, a perfect mimic of the Conservative Party. We were promised
:15:12. > :15:15.a British human rights Bill last year, a consultation on the European
:15:16. > :15:19.Human Rights Act and then a sovereignty Bill last year. Are we
:15:20. > :15:26.going to get anything before the Secretary of State moves on at --
:15:27. > :15:30.the end of June, whatever it sooner? He will know as a seasoned
:15:31. > :15:39.politician that timetables are dealt with in the usual way, with the
:15:40. > :15:44.usual channels. Michael Tomlinson. Mr Speaker, with your permission I
:15:45. > :15:49.will answer this with questions 12, 13 and 18. Before I do I hope you
:15:50. > :15:53.will allow me to express on behalf of the whole house the disgust at
:15:54. > :15:57.the attempted murder of a prison officer in Belfast on Friday. I'm
:15:58. > :16:01.sure prison officers throughout the United Kingdom will join us in
:16:02. > :16:04.wishing him a full recovery from his injuries.
:16:05. > :16:10.Mr Speaker, I meet regularly with businesses and trade bodies about
:16:11. > :16:19.what happens to offenders on release. I am keen to encourage all
:16:20. > :16:24.employers to ban the pox when recruiting. I would like to
:16:25. > :16:30.associate myself with the minister's remarks. With the reoffending rates
:16:31. > :16:34.of those who leave prison and secure employment, the evidence shows that
:16:35. > :16:39.less than half reoffend, compared to those who don't secure employment.
:16:40. > :16:43.Will the Minister support projects such As the excellent footprints
:16:44. > :16:46.project in Dorset which supports and mentors with its team of volunteers,
:16:47. > :16:53.and will he ensure these projects have a clear and transparent process
:16:54. > :16:58.of referrals from the new CRCs? I warmly commend the important work
:16:59. > :17:03.that Footprints are doing in Dorset. I want to see greater use of the
:17:04. > :17:08.voluntary sector and an increased focus on offender employment. The
:17:09. > :17:15.points I made to CRC leaders only last week.
:17:16. > :17:18.Mr Speaker, I also associate myself, as a member of the Northern Ireland
:17:19. > :17:23.select committee, with those comments he made as well. Can I ask
:17:24. > :17:29.how we can ensure that prisoners to become institutionalised? By seeing
:17:30. > :17:34.prisons as a safe haven, as opposed to rebuilding their lives once they
:17:35. > :17:38.have been released? My honourable friend raises a very
:17:39. > :17:42.important point. We need to support prisoners to take responsibility for
:17:43. > :17:47.their lives and that very much includes supporting them in pursuing
:17:48. > :17:52.legal work to support their families. I believe the Prime
:17:53. > :17:54.Minister's announcement that we will now measure employment outcomes for
:17:55. > :17:59.prisoners will drive further progress in that area. Mr McIntosh.
:18:00. > :18:06.Would my right honourable friend join me in giving praise for the
:18:07. > :18:11.work helping ex-offenders, homeless people, those with substance
:18:12. > :18:20.dependencies and vulnerable young people to get training and
:18:21. > :18:23.employment in the sector? I do welcome the work of good well
:18:24. > :18:28.solutions. But the truth is, we don't just have labour shortages in
:18:29. > :18:32.the logistics area but in construction, engineering, catering
:18:33. > :18:39.and many other areas, which is why I am very ambitious to increase
:18:40. > :18:43.offender employment. The key to rehabilitation is employment and the
:18:44. > :18:46.key to employment is training. Could my right honourable friend the
:18:47. > :18:49.Minister say what the department is doing to encourage all employers to
:18:50. > :18:56.take some interesting training inside prisons, to help offenders?
:18:57. > :19:04.Yet again my honourable friend makes a very important point indeed. The
:19:05. > :19:08.model I like best is that of Halfords and academies which offer
:19:09. > :19:13.demanding work and training in prison with the job and ongoing
:19:14. > :19:22.support in release -- on release. It works, I call it the gold standard,
:19:23. > :19:28.and Clinks graduates are working at some of London's best hotels. Can my
:19:29. > :19:31.behalf on this half of the House associate myself with the remarks
:19:32. > :19:35.the Minister has made about the prison officer who was so severely
:19:36. > :19:40.wounded in Northern Ireland. However, while we hear from the
:19:41. > :19:44.Minister a commitment to education and employment for prisoners, surely
:19:45. > :19:50.he is also aware that the shortage of prison officers is leading to
:19:51. > :19:54.many prisoners being locked in their cells for long periods and unable to
:19:55. > :19:58.access education and training opportunities. Will he commission a
:19:59. > :20:05.report from within the department on the impact of staffing shortages on
:20:06. > :20:10.prisoner education implement less money best way of ensuring some one
:20:11. > :20:13.doesn't reoffend is to get them in a job?
:20:14. > :20:19.The honourable lady makes a valid point. The good news is I can tell
:20:20. > :20:23.her last year we appointed 2250 prison officers. That is a net
:20:24. > :20:33.increase of 440. We are going to carry on recruiting the prison
:20:34. > :20:39.officers we need. Employment is the single biggest
:20:40. > :20:42.factor that prevents reoffending. I remind the House of the excellent
:20:43. > :20:45.changes made under the Coalition Government in 2012. Could the
:20:46. > :20:49.Minister update the House what crusty Park mental work there is
:20:50. > :20:53.question that this is an issue that has to start within the prison
:20:54. > :21:01.system but also to continue afterwards. -- crossed departmental.
:21:02. > :21:08.There is a very good work across the parties. I have had the most
:21:09. > :21:11.outstanding help from the implement Minister, who has been extremely
:21:12. > :21:17.supportive. We have had lots of practical help from DWP, the
:21:18. > :21:24.construction industry training organisations, sending a bus in so
:21:25. > :21:29.prisoners can complete their CSS cards, so they can use that when
:21:30. > :21:35.they get out on release. Ms Abrahams. Following on from my
:21:36. > :21:40.honourable friend's question, what is the Minister's assessment of the
:21:41. > :21:46.impact of overcrowding on the impact of education for offenders? What I
:21:47. > :21:51.can say to the honourable lady is we are building a prison state purpose.
:21:52. > :21:56.The Chancellor has given us ?1.3 billion to build nine new prisons.
:21:57. > :22:03.We are opening two Newhouse blocks, and about to open a prison next
:22:04. > :22:06.year. We are building a fit for purpose prison estate. Doctor
:22:07. > :22:17.Cameron. With your permission I would like to
:22:18. > :22:20.answer this question along with number ten. I have been very clear I
:22:21. > :22:24.would like to see far less women ending up in prison. We are
:22:25. > :22:27.committed to improving the treatment of female offenders and to put in
:22:28. > :22:31.place the interventions needed at each stage to help them turn their
:22:32. > :22:40.lives away from crime. Doctor Cameron. Can I initially associate
:22:41. > :22:43.myself with the Minister's earlier comments. The Cabinet Secretary for
:22:44. > :22:47.Justice in Scotland has made sure the Scottish Government's commitment
:22:48. > :22:53.to tackle the number of women imprisoned by strengthening current
:22:54. > :23:00.presumption against short sentences, continued investment in community
:23:01. > :23:07.centres and investing 1.5 million annually in projects for women. Will
:23:08. > :23:15.the Minister join in thanking them for these efforts? Absolutely. We
:23:16. > :23:19.are very keen to learn from any experiences in Scotland or elsewhere
:23:20. > :23:23.in the world, where they are having success at averting women away from
:23:24. > :23:28.prison. Here in England and Wales we have awarded ?200,000 of grant
:23:29. > :23:31.funding the pilot more sequenced interventions, with the right
:23:32. > :23:40.multi-agency approach, which should see fewer women ending up in prison
:23:41. > :23:44.for short periods. Mr Day. The Scottish Government's approach to
:23:45. > :23:49.justice has seen offenders serving shorter sentences of three months
:23:50. > :23:54.left plummet since 2008, whilst reconviction rates are at a 16 year
:23:55. > :23:59.low. Will the justice minister look at the of the Scottish Government as
:24:00. > :24:02.a new approach to reduce the numbers of women in prison? I thank the
:24:03. > :24:08.honourable gentleman for his question. Nearly 45% of women
:24:09. > :24:14.released in 2010 reoffended within 12 months. That is why he is right,
:24:15. > :24:17.the need to maintain family ties, education and rehabilitation of
:24:18. > :24:22.women whilst they are in our care, which will have a good impact on
:24:23. > :24:26.their life outside prison. That is why our transforming ribbon at Asian
:24:27. > :24:29.changes are showing unprecedented levels of support for offenders who
:24:30. > :24:37.have been released after short sentences. -- rehabilitation.
:24:38. > :24:42.Research by the Prison Reform Trust shows female prisoners are more
:24:43. > :24:46.likely to be sentenced a custodial sentence, even when they don't have
:24:47. > :24:50.a previous conviction or caution. What intervention is being used at
:24:51. > :24:56.the sentencing stage, to keep those women out of prison?
:24:57. > :24:59.Mr Speaker, sentencing is a matter entirely for the courts. They will
:25:00. > :25:04.take into account the full circumstances, not just the offence
:25:05. > :25:08.but also of the offender. As the Prime Minister set out in a speech
:25:09. > :25:12.earlier in this year, we are looking at how things like tagging,
:25:13. > :25:15.problem-solving courts and alternative resettlement units can
:25:16. > :25:20.help us deal appropriately with female offenders, especially when
:25:21. > :25:29.children are involved. The Scottish Government has moved to relocate
:25:30. > :25:37.female prisoners to change how Scotland deals with them. Will the
:25:38. > :25:43.Minister join me in welcoming this progressive step towards weird
:25:44. > :25:46.alliteration for female offenders? The honourable gentleman makes a
:25:47. > :25:52.very valid point, which is why we have set about shutting Holloway, an
:25:53. > :25:56.estate where the brilliant work undertaken by some exceptional
:25:57. > :26:00.people is going on, despite the constraints of the building they are
:26:01. > :26:03.in rather than because of it. Hopefully by offering a better
:26:04. > :26:12.environment we will be able to improve outcomes. In 2015 the Prison
:26:13. > :26:16.Reform Trust published research suggesting 32% of women prisoners,
:26:17. > :26:23.compared to only 24% of males, are borderline learning disabled. Does
:26:24. > :26:26.the Minister agree support in community centres, such as advocated
:26:27. > :26:27.in Scotland, would be more appropriate than prison for such
:26:28. > :26:37.women? So many of the women in the Empress
:26:38. > :26:40.and represent a failure of society to address the causes of their
:26:41. > :26:44.behaviour or any other issues which is why the health system approach we
:26:45. > :26:49.are piloting in England and Wales will enable us to intervene earlier
:26:50. > :26:59.to put in place the right interventions and support to enable
:27:00. > :27:06.us to do that. The case of Sarah Read highlights the issues around
:27:07. > :27:10.women accounting for a quarter of self harming incidents but
:27:11. > :27:17.comprising over 5% of the prison population, will the Minister Bill
:27:18. > :27:22.to tell us what action she is taking? We know women in our prisons
:27:23. > :27:25.are more likely to self harm and also more likely to suffer from
:27:26. > :27:30.mental health problems and have addictions and to have experienced
:27:31. > :27:36.things like domestic violence and sexual abuse. That is why we are not
:27:37. > :27:41.only trying to look at the other two people from prison to put in place
:27:42. > :27:44.interventions to divert their behaviour as early as possible and
:27:45. > :27:49.to support them but actually why we have interventions within the
:27:50. > :27:55.prisons as well to support those women. Does the Minister agree that
:27:56. > :27:59.going in and out of prison has a damaging effect not just on women
:28:00. > :28:04.themselves but also families and communities, and will she welcomed
:28:05. > :28:07.the Scottish Government efforts to transform and improve services for
:28:08. > :28:14.women and efforts to break the cycle of reoffending with targeted support
:28:15. > :28:17.to address underlying issues such as alcohol, drugs, mental health or
:28:18. > :28:25.domestic abuse trauma? And will she tell us what pacific actions her
:28:26. > :28:29.department are taking? -- specific. The honourable lady makes some
:28:30. > :28:33.excellent points, the system we are piloting is all about trying to
:28:34. > :28:39.divert women away from prison and putting the right interventions
:28:40. > :28:43.early on in their offending behaviour but we also doing work
:28:44. > :28:51.looking at drug and alcohol problems much earlier in people's experience
:28:52. > :28:54.of the criminal justice system. The Howard league for penal reform in
:28:55. > :28:58.Scotland has said the emphasis must be on preventing women from being
:28:59. > :29:02.caught up in the criminal justice system in the first place by divert
:29:03. > :29:07.in them at the point of arrest and prosecution wherever possible and
:29:08. > :29:11.introducing -- reducing the use of Vermont and short-term sentences.
:29:12. > :29:14.They also said there are lessons to Berlin from the success of such work
:29:15. > :29:22.with young offenders in Scotland and the reduction in the number of young
:29:23. > :29:27.offenders. Does the Minister agree that the success in which using the
:29:28. > :29:33.number of young people in custody in Scotland could be replicated across
:29:34. > :29:38.the UK for women in custody? It is something I would certainly be very
:29:39. > :29:43.keen to take another look at, certainly since we know sentencing
:29:44. > :29:48.is a matter for the court that work is ongoing to improve the
:29:49. > :29:53.information services received and this is something we would very much
:29:54. > :30:00.like to look more at. Question seven. Providing appropriate
:30:01. > :30:04.treatment at the right time is vital to improving outcomes for people
:30:05. > :30:08.with mental health problems and the NHS of course do a superb job in
:30:09. > :30:13.providing services for prisoners but we want to give governors are much
:30:14. > :30:20.bigger role in helping to secure the treatment. I am grateful for that
:30:21. > :30:25.answer. Drones can be great fun, I have been promised one for my
:30:26. > :30:34.birthday. But as my right honourable friend says this is a serious
:30:35. > :30:38.subject and substance abuse is even more serious, is he aware of reports
:30:39. > :30:45.that drones are being used to smuggle things into prison and what
:30:46. > :30:54.can we do to stop it? Can I first of all say that the fact it is my
:30:55. > :30:57.honourable friend's birthday in June means I'm looking forward to two
:30:58. > :31:01.significant anniversaries in that month to celebrate. On the
:31:02. > :31:07.substantive point he actually makes a very important intervention.
:31:08. > :31:12.Because even though incidents are still mercifully rare there is a
:31:13. > :31:16.real danger that drones can be used to smuggle contraband into prisons.
:31:17. > :31:20.Mobile phones can be used in a mineral activity, drugs which can be
:31:21. > :31:25.used in prison in the most unfortunate ways. -- in the middle
:31:26. > :31:31.activity. That is why it is now illegal to use the drone to drop
:31:32. > :31:37.contraband. The Prime Minister last month announced that governors would
:31:38. > :31:42.have far more autonomy to start tackling these issues in prison
:31:43. > :31:47.based on academy schools. The lesson of academy schools is that if you
:31:48. > :31:51.have more autonomy it has to be matched by stronger local
:31:52. > :31:54.governance. Can he assure us that governors who do have more
:31:55. > :32:06.independence will have a stronger local governance arrangement to
:32:07. > :32:12.match? The honourable gentleman is a -- makes a characteristically acute
:32:13. > :32:19.point. We are exploring ways in the first six reformed prisons which
:32:20. > :32:23.will model in some respects freedom depends what have we will make sure
:32:24. > :32:27.that the local committees appropriately involved and that
:32:28. > :32:29.accountability measures ensure that areas like mental health and
:32:30. > :32:39.substance abuse are tackled effectively. We are
:32:40. > :32:48.following the release of report Lord Harrison last year into
:32:49. > :32:52.self-inflicted deaths in custody, can I ask if his department will be
:32:53. > :32:58.looking at implementing any of the recommendations? We very much
:32:59. > :33:01.welcome the report and we agreed with 62 of the 108 recommendations
:33:02. > :33:05.and a further 12 are being considered. I think it is
:33:06. > :33:11.appropriate we all recognise there has been an unwelcome increase in
:33:12. > :33:14.the incidence of self harm and deaths in custody. We need to do
:33:15. > :33:18.everything we can to tackle it and we also need to ensure that the
:33:19. > :33:21.mental health problems and substance abuse problems often associated with
:33:22. > :33:28.self harm and debt in custody are tackled even before people enter
:33:29. > :33:33.into custody. Number eight, sir. I have asked as the house will note
:33:34. > :33:37.Dame Sally Coates to bring forward the publication of a report into how
:33:38. > :33:40.we can improve education in prison and critical to the direction of
:33:41. > :33:44.travel that Dame Sally is recommending is more control for
:33:45. > :33:51.governors to decide the type of curriculum that prisoners should
:33:52. > :33:54.enjoy while they are in custody. Does my right honourable friend
:33:55. > :34:01.agree that too much emphasis is placed on quantity rather than
:34:02. > :34:07.quantity in education in prisons? I could not agree more, it is often a
:34:08. > :34:15.case that inmates are cycled through a series of low-level qualifications
:34:16. > :34:19.none of which that are able to actually secure any additional
:34:20. > :34:27.games. I was very interested when I visited Colchester on Friday to see
:34:28. > :34:30.how our services have a prison which succeeds in helping individual
:34:31. > :34:33.prisoners to acquire more qualifications en route to either
:34:34. > :34:36.being integrated into the services or entering civilian life and I
:34:37. > :34:45.think that model could be applied in the civilian sector. Question number
:34:46. > :34:49.11. Mr Speaker, my officials are engaging with the local authority
:34:50. > :34:53.and will evaluate the suitability of any proposed venue. The majority of
:34:54. > :34:59.the work however will transfer to Newton Abbot, seven miles away. In
:35:00. > :35:01.addition video link facilities are available for any victims or
:35:02. > :35:08.witnesses who are unable to attend court where cases are listed in
:35:09. > :35:11.Plymouth. I thank the Minister for his answer, as he will be aware
:35:12. > :35:15.there is disappointment that justice may no longer be local out of the
:35:16. > :35:19.closure of our Magistrates' Court. Can he look again at options for
:35:20. > :35:23.holding some criminal cases at the town Hall or County Court building
:35:24. > :35:27.in Torquay? My honourable friend will be aware that we have had a
:35:28. > :35:31.very lengthy and thorough consultation with over 2000
:35:32. > :35:35.responses. We have had to make some difficult decisions and I'm afraid
:35:36. > :35:41.in the case of Torquay Magistrates' Court the court is in a poor
:35:42. > :35:44.condition with in a inadequate facilities and the majority of work
:35:45. > :35:48.will be transferred to Newton Abbot, seven miles away. We are however
:35:49. > :35:51.evaluating options to continue to provide access to services locally.
:35:52. > :35:54.Officials in the region have written to the Council inviting dialogue on
:35:55. > :36:07.alternative emissions for provision of services. Question 14. Mr
:36:08. > :36:11.Speaker. My apologies, Mr Speaker. We are committed to running safe and
:36:12. > :36:17.decent prisons and taking action to improve this. We are trialling the
:36:18. > :36:21.use of cameras and the psychoactive substances act introduces new
:36:22. > :36:25.offences but we recognise that our prisons need reform and restore much
:36:26. > :36:32.more to insure prisons are places of decency, hope and rehabilitation. I
:36:33. > :36:35.have a large prison in my constituency and prison officers
:36:36. > :36:41.tell me of the increased threat of violence. The latest figures showing
:36:42. > :36:45.that incidences of assault are up 40%. What does the minister plane,
:36:46. > :36:54.what does he want me to tell risen offices in my area? About his plans
:36:55. > :36:57.to include academy status? Mr Speaker, the honourable gentleman
:36:58. > :37:01.can tell his prison officers that all violence within prison is a
:37:02. > :37:06.crime. We strive to eradicate it and it is wholly unacceptable. We take
:37:07. > :37:11.it very seriously. As I told his honourable friend the moment ago we
:37:12. > :37:18.appointed 2250 extra prison officers last year, net increase of 440. And
:37:19. > :37:23.we will carry on recruiting. Really importantly we are now testing for
:37:24. > :37:26.new psychoactive substances throughout every prison from next
:37:27. > :37:32.month and I believe that will make a significant difference to the
:37:33. > :37:41.important issues he raises. Number 15, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker the
:37:42. > :37:45.government's oh gram of reform aims to deliver faster and fairer justice
:37:46. > :37:48.for all said since. By speeding up decision-making, giving parties the
:37:49. > :37:52.ability to submit and consider information online and considering
:37:53. > :37:57.issues far more proportionately. We have committed to invest in the
:37:58. > :38:00.technology which will underpin this. The introduction of employment
:38:01. > :38:04.Tribunal fees has caused a number of new cases to plummet. Sextus
:38:05. > :38:10.rumination cases are bound by 80% and equal pay is as by 84%. Will the
:38:11. > :38:16.recently announced review published an impact assessment on the adoption
:38:17. > :38:18.of these fees and whether it is disproportionately affecting the
:38:19. > :38:25.number of women bringing cases to tribunal? The honourable lady raises
:38:26. > :38:27.some important points and as far as the employment tribunal was
:38:28. > :38:30.concerned I would say that she should consider the alternative
:38:31. > :38:33.facilities that are available, for example the early conciliation
:38:34. > :38:38.service has reported that within the first 12 months there were 83,000
:38:39. > :38:43.people using their services and the vast majority of them have been
:38:44. > :38:51.happy with the service received. 3600 barristers including one third
:38:52. > :38:54.of all QCs contribute voluntarily to the bar pro bono unit. As a
:38:55. > :38:59.barrister I was one of those statistics. Does the Minister
:39:00. > :39:06.welcome the significant budget Bician the bar pro bono unit is
:39:07. > :39:12.providing to free access to justice? -- significant contribution. I most
:39:13. > :39:18.certainly did commend not only my friends contributions but also the
:39:19. > :39:21.contributions of the bar and the legal profession generally. Pro bono
:39:22. > :39:24.is something that does benefit a lot of people and IP to say that the
:39:25. > :39:27.engagement we are having with the legal sector is rueful and they are
:39:28. > :39:32.considering other ways of helping the community. The fruitful. Today
:39:33. > :39:37.is international Women's Day and it gives us the old unity to reflect on
:39:38. > :39:41.the fat that financial abuse is not just a crime in itself but also can
:39:42. > :39:44.be a way of controlling victims and prevent them from leaving abusive
:39:45. > :39:48.Russian ships. Following the recent decision on legal aid in cases of
:39:49. > :39:53.domestic violence, how is the mystery of justice intending to make
:39:54. > :39:57.access to justice a reality to victims of financial abuse? The
:39:58. > :40:00.honourable lady referring to a recent case and she will be aware
:40:01. > :40:04.that the court did confirm that the Lord Chancellor does have the power
:40:05. > :40:07.to set domestic violence evidence requirements. As for the other
:40:08. > :40:12.issues, we are considering the outcome of the case and will make a
:40:13. > :40:19.decision as to the way forward clear in due course. In his latest annual
:40:20. > :40:23.report, the Lord Chief Justice makes what I think is an astonishing
:40:24. > :40:27.admission. "Our System of justice has become unaffordable to most
:40:28. > :40:34.others quote. Does the Minister accept that is a wholly unacceptable
:40:35. > :40:38.state of affairs? May I just say that we will treat closely with the
:40:39. > :40:40.senior judiciary and as far as access to justice is concerned he
:40:41. > :40:46.knows only too well that despite the reductions we made to the legal aid
:40:47. > :40:56.budget, ?1.6 billion and the present it remains one of the most generous
:40:57. > :41:01.legal aid budgets in the world. Number 16, Mr Speaker. The
:41:02. > :41:06.government is committed to ending all forms of gender-based violence
:41:07. > :41:10.which has actually no place in our society. The justice ministers
:41:11. > :41:13.attend an interministerial group which is chaired by the Home
:41:14. > :41:16.Secretary and drives forward work on this and today the government is
:41:17. > :41:19.publishing their ending violence against women and girls strategy
:41:20. > :41:25.which lets out a whole package of support for victims. Mr Speaker,
:41:26. > :41:29.many women who experience pilots are forced to flee to refuge condition
:41:30. > :41:36.of with Jordan. Is the minister aware of the -- express files. Will
:41:37. > :41:45.the Minister urgently discuss concerns about cuts with her
:41:46. > :41:49.colleagues in the DWP? There are now more places in this country than
:41:50. > :41:52.ever before under this government. We have criminalised forced marriage
:41:53. > :41:57.and revenge pawn, we have strengthened the law on domestic
:41:58. > :42:01.violence and e-mail genital you to listen. -- female genital
:42:02. > :42:07.mutilation. We are going to build on this by doing more to deter and
:42:08. > :42:08.rehabilitate perpetrators while continuing to improve the process
:42:09. > :42:25.for Number 19.
:42:26. > :42:30.We keep our estate office under review to make sure it delivers
:42:31. > :42:36.business transformation, operate effectively and offers best value
:42:37. > :42:40.for the taxpayer. By closing court buildings we would raise ?40 million
:42:41. > :42:47.to reinvest in the justice system and have saved hard-working
:42:48. > :42:51.taxpayers ?27 million a year. The Ministry of Justice kindly agreed
:42:52. > :42:57.year ago to dispose of unused car park in Gloucester to provide more
:42:58. > :43:01.parking and access to railway. I was assured this would be resolved
:43:02. > :43:05.before the end of the financial year, however we are nearly there
:43:06. > :43:12.and still no resolution yet. Does he therefore agree with me that the
:43:13. > :43:16.time has come to lock the courts and tribunal service real estate
:43:17. > :43:19.representatives into a room with the Gloucester City Council and great
:43:20. > :43:25.Western row ways and leave them there until they beach in agreement?
:43:26. > :43:31.Mr Speaker, that maybe a little drastic in terms of negotiating for
:43:32. > :43:34.some eye officials are in gauging in conversations with Gloucester City
:43:35. > :43:39.Council, at an advanced stage. He will not expect me to make
:43:40. > :43:42.commercial comments at the dispatch box but I hope a final decision will
:43:43. > :43:45.be arrived at very shortly. My honourable friend and I are due to
:43:46. > :43:52.meet shortly when we will be discussing this matter further. Miss
:43:53. > :43:57.Smith. Can the Minister provide an update on his plans for the
:43:58. > :44:03.Victorian prison estate and any information regarding HMRC Norwich?
:44:04. > :44:05.I'm keep my honourable friend should have the most up-to-date response
:44:06. > :44:17.why will write to her regarding that. Question 21.
:44:18. > :44:22.The Ministry of Justice are working to increase public awareness of the
:44:23. > :44:26.law and important initiatives in the criminal justice and civil law
:44:27. > :44:30.system. We do that by disseminating information to the media, using our
:44:31. > :44:36.website and digital channels and on bespoke campaigns. Can I welcome the
:44:37. > :44:39.efforts made not just by the minister but my right honourable
:44:40. > :44:46.friend. I encourage him to do more, in broadening education. Having set
:44:47. > :44:51.up a new Parliamentary group on it I would urge him to work with us, in
:44:52. > :44:56.providing this education not just schools and adult services, but also
:44:57. > :44:59.perhaps to the prisons, although it may not reduce the inmate population
:45:00. > :45:06.it may reduce the future conviction rate. He is absolutely right and I
:45:07. > :45:10.condemn him -- commend him on his efforts and initiatives. We have the
:45:11. > :45:13.victims information service which provides information about the
:45:14. > :45:18.criminal justice system, what a victim can expect. But he is right,
:45:19. > :45:26.we need to strive to bring a law and its operation closer to its
:45:27. > :45:33.citizens. Jeff Smith. Number one, sir.
:45:34. > :45:36.As a number of members have pointed out, today is International Women's
:45:37. > :45:40.Day. It is therefore appropriate we should think of those brave and
:45:41. > :45:44.idealistic women who serve in our prisons and who do so much to keep
:45:45. > :45:50.us safe and to improve the lives of the individuals who find themselves
:45:51. > :45:53.in custody. It is appropriate that today we are publishing the
:45:54. > :46:00.conclusions of the prison service pay review body. I'm delighted to be
:46:01. > :46:02.able to inform the House we will be accepting the recommendations and
:46:03. > :46:10.that will include a non-consolidated pay rise for those who work in our
:46:11. > :46:13.prisons. Thank you Mr Speaker. The director of Amnesty UK has said the
:46:14. > :46:17.UK is setting a dangerous precedent to the world on human rights. There
:46:18. > :46:21.is no doubt the downgrading of human rights by this government is a gift
:46:22. > :46:26.to dictators of the world over and fatally undermines our ability to
:46:27. > :46:31.call on other countries to uphold rights and laws. In light of that
:46:32. > :46:36.advice, isn't it time to drop plans to drop the Human Rights Act? It is
:46:37. > :46:40.the response of any of our critics to weigh in with that kind of
:46:41. > :46:50.scaremongering, before having seen the substantive proposals. Pilot
:46:51. > :46:54.studies into critical time interventions the severely mentally
:46:55. > :47:00.ill released patients, prisoners, have shown promising results in
:47:01. > :47:04.giving care to people leaving prison with severe mental illness. And has
:47:05. > :47:07.helped cut reoffending rates. Will the Minister meet with me and the
:47:08. > :47:10.team who have put this important work together, to look at the
:47:11. > :47:16.potential bowling out of a national scheme?
:47:17. > :47:19.As a former distinguished health Minister I would like to meet with
:47:20. > :47:24.my friend to discuss this important area with him. He may know whilst
:47:25. > :47:30.mental health provision on release is provided, we work with our
:47:31. > :47:34.colleagues to make sure offenders access appropriate services,
:47:35. > :47:43.liaising with prison and mental health services. Mr Slaughter. My
:47:44. > :47:48.honourable friend referred to the short and very clear recent judgment
:47:49. > :47:52.of the Court of Appeal that said the evidence criteria for assessing
:47:53. > :47:58.legal aid by domestic violence victims of unlawful in two respects.
:47:59. > :48:02.This is what the Government has been told since the law was passed. The
:48:03. > :48:06.Secretary of State has had enough time to consider this matter. On
:48:07. > :48:11.International Women's Day, will lead tell us what he will do in light of
:48:12. > :48:15.the core's ruling? The honourable gentleman raises a very good point.
:48:16. > :48:19.We want to make sure we get it right. He is right to say criticism
:48:20. > :48:22.was made of the provisions we put in place and the court decision is
:48:23. > :48:28.clear. We want to make sure in the future we have an approach that
:48:29. > :48:32.ensures those victims of abuse receive the support they require. It
:48:33. > :48:38.is not just financial abuse but the two year rule. If you're going to go
:48:39. > :48:43.further than that ruling it is well and good, but 40% of victims fail to
:48:44. > :48:49.meet the evidence criteria, they then must get into debt by playing a
:48:50. > :48:53.solicitor, represent themselves, or for the majority have no access to
:48:54. > :48:59.justice and continue to suffer. This is unacceptable, is it not? The
:49:00. > :49:03.honourable gentleman is absolutely right that victims of domestic
:49:04. > :49:07.violence need support that we can give them, that is why I am
:49:08. > :49:10.reflecting carefully on the judgment and will come forward in due course
:49:11. > :49:14.with proposals which I hope will meet with the support and approval
:49:15. > :49:21.of many people in the House as possible. Mr Smith. Many prisoners
:49:22. > :49:25.in our system are suffering from mental health and substance misuse
:49:26. > :49:30.problems. Further to the question from my honourable friend, the
:49:31. > :49:35.member for Suffolk Central and North Ipswich, what support can be further
:49:36. > :49:43.given in prison, to support people with mental health issues and
:49:44. > :49:46.substance misuse? I welcome the continued focus on this important
:49:47. > :49:50.issue from my right honourable friend. As the Prime Minister said
:49:51. > :49:54.in his speech on the 8th of February, we believe inhumane
:49:55. > :49:57.treatment and care. Our work in prisons, we will give prison
:49:58. > :50:02.governors more say in this area and move towards full pro commissioning
:50:03. > :50:06.for governors with NHS England meaning prison readers can have more
:50:07. > :50:16.of a say in defining what what kind of services prisoners need.
:50:17. > :50:24.The member for Bristol West... Would they consider giving a report to the
:50:25. > :50:28.House on the Peterborough prison experiment, where the social impact
:50:29. > :50:38.bond involved voluntary sector and private sector to reduce the
:50:39. > :50:43.problems in prisons? First of all can I take up the very kind offer.
:50:44. > :50:47.We are delighted to see the member for Bristol West back in her place
:50:48. > :50:55.and fully recovered, I hope. We look forward to you having a prominent
:50:56. > :50:59.part in debates on future. Can also say the social impact bond which ran
:51:00. > :51:03.in Peterborough helped inform some of the changes we made through
:51:04. > :51:08.transforming rehabilitation. I visited the prison, run by a private
:51:09. > :51:11.company, and provides a significantly improved level of
:51:12. > :51:16.care, compared to the mean level of care that many other custodial
:51:17. > :51:23.establishments offer. So I think the spirit lives on, both in
:51:24. > :51:26.transforming rehabilitation and the way Peterborough operates, but I'm
:51:27. > :51:32.open to other ideas about how social investment can help improve the
:51:33. > :51:42.justice system. Mr Tony Conte was convicted last November of fixing
:51:43. > :51:44.the live borate. Given the US established the International
:51:45. > :51:48.prisoners transfer programme in 1997 to make it easier for foreigners who
:51:49. > :51:53.were convicted to return to their country of origin, which my
:51:54. > :51:57.honourable friend, my right honourable friend consider such a
:51:58. > :52:01.transfer for my constituent? I have listened carefully to what my
:52:02. > :52:05.honourable friend says. I can tell him we will give very careful
:52:06. > :52:08.consideration to any transfer application from his constituent
:52:09. > :52:14.which is referred to us by the US authorities. It surely cannot only
:52:15. > :52:19.be members on the side of the House who are dismayed, to quote the Lord
:52:20. > :52:22.Chief Justice, our system of justice has become unaffordable to most. As
:52:23. > :52:26.the Secretary of State discussed this dreadful situation with the
:52:27. > :52:34.Lord Chief Justice and is there a plan to do something about it?
:52:35. > :52:37.I have discussed this issue with the Lord Chief Justice and other senior
:52:38. > :52:41.members of the judiciary. It is complex. One of the key things that
:52:42. > :52:46.is problematic is the level of costs in the justice system. We do need to
:52:47. > :52:50.bring reform, in particular to the civil justice system. That is why
:52:51. > :52:55.the report by Michael breaks, which lays out the reforms, is a powerful
:52:56. > :53:02.way forward. But there is much that remains to be done. The governor has
:53:03. > :53:06.given strong support to the idea of creation of a new legal status of
:53:07. > :53:11.Guardian, to help with the property and affairs of the 3000 people that
:53:12. > :53:14.go missing every year in the UK. Could the Secretary of State confirm
:53:15. > :53:19.when this might be brought into effect?
:53:20. > :53:24.I know my right honourable friend has a person in his constituency who
:53:25. > :53:26.went through this ordeal. We are committed to helping families deal
:53:27. > :53:30.with the administrative problems they face, over and above the
:53:31. > :53:34.heartache involved. We are working on creating a new legal status of
:53:35. > :53:37.Guardian of the property and affairs of the missing person and will
:53:38. > :53:44.introduce measures to the House as soon as Parliamentary time permits.
:53:45. > :53:48.Thank you, Mr Speaker. An International Women's Day it is
:53:49. > :53:52.truly shocking that one in four women will experience gender-based
:53:53. > :53:56.violence. On the 4th of February the minister stated that primary
:53:57. > :53:59.legislation was required to ratify the Istanbul convention, to try and
:54:00. > :54:06.tackle this disgrace. When will that be brought forward?
:54:07. > :54:10.She's absolutely right. The last government signed the convention in
:54:11. > :54:15.2012. We have already implemented almost all of the provisions of it.
:54:16. > :54:18.The purpose would be to encourage and promote it abroad. There is a
:54:19. > :54:23.specific issue, as I suspect she may know, around article 40 four. We are
:54:24. > :54:32.looking carefully at how that might be addressed. I apologise for my
:54:33. > :54:37.absence earlier. In the recent case -- in a recent case the court upheld
:54:38. > :54:42.the appeal first and actuator that events foreign national offenders
:54:43. > :54:47.extending their stay in the UK whilst appeals were pending. What
:54:48. > :54:52.assessment has my right honourable friend made of the judgment of Lord
:54:53. > :54:55.Justice Richards, urging the need for more clarity in the guidance
:54:56. > :55:00.given to caseworkers, so the policy can be better applied?
:55:01. > :55:04.My honourable friend brings considerable experience from her
:55:05. > :55:07.time as a barrister. I would say on this particular decision we welcome
:55:08. > :55:14.the decision. It is a very important area of policy. I can reassure her
:55:15. > :55:19.that the relevant guidance for caseworkers was updated following
:55:20. > :55:22.the decision back in October. Thank you Mr Speaker. Today is
:55:23. > :55:27.International Women's Day, as other members have noted. A recent survey
:55:28. > :55:34.of women's aid regarding survivors of domestic abuse attending court
:55:35. > :55:37.over child contact showed a third of them were cross-examined by their
:55:38. > :55:40.abuser. Does the Secretary of State agree this is completely
:55:41. > :55:46.unacceptable and what action is he taking to address it?
:55:47. > :55:49.Protecting women and children from violence is of course a key priority
:55:50. > :55:54.for this government. We will be working with others in the family
:55:55. > :55:56.justice system to discuss and address the report's conclusions,
:55:57. > :56:00.including in relation to the measures already in place to protect
:56:01. > :56:06.women and children from harm and their effective implementation.
:56:07. > :56:10.Thank you Mr Speaker. The Secretary of State knows my real concerns in
:56:11. > :56:13.relation to the access ability of certain high-powered laser pens
:56:14. > :56:17.which have been used to target civilian and military aircraft, cars
:56:18. > :56:21.and trains. I have called for them to be made a prohibitive item. As a
:56:22. > :56:25.Secretary of State's department looked at my request before we have
:56:26. > :56:29.a major tragedy occur in our country? My honourable friend has
:56:30. > :56:33.campaigned consistently and effectively on this issue. We are
:56:34. > :56:38.reviewing what steps we and other departments can take to mitigate
:56:39. > :56:41.this danger. Thank you Mr Speaker. Last Thursday this house voted for
:56:42. > :56:44.the Government to set up an all-party commission looking into
:56:45. > :56:47.gangs and serious youth violence. Can I ask the minister if his
:56:48. > :56:52.department will contribute to that commission?
:56:53. > :57:00.the problem of gangs was the subject of discussion between myself and so
:57:01. > :57:09.on Howe only last week. -- Sir Bernard Hogan Howe. The Secretary of
:57:10. > :57:15.State knows how much I welcome the Prime Minister 's big speech last
:57:16. > :57:22.month on prison reform but would he agree that a lot of the consequence
:57:23. > :57:25.of rehabilitation that really works is fewer victims of crime but
:57:26. > :57:31.ultimately fewer people locked up with huge savings? I applaud my
:57:32. > :57:36.honourable friend for the work he did when he was on the justice
:57:37. > :57:39.select committee in pioneering the case for a transformed approach
:57:40. > :57:44.toward justice and here is absolutely right. If we get prison
:57:45. > :57:49.reform right then crime will fall, individuals will be safer and of
:57:50. > :58:00.course the numbers of inmates in our prisons will fall. On the basic
:58:01. > :58:06.point of clarification, can G4S sell the government contracts it has in
:58:07. > :58:15.place with the STCs to the highest bidder without any government veto
:58:16. > :58:18.or involvement? It really is concerning. Can I first of all take
:58:19. > :58:22.the opportunity to thank the honourable gentleman for his
:58:23. > :58:27.diligence in asking questions on behalf of his constituents and also
:58:28. > :58:29.his historic work for Mineworkers in distress. I know that over the
:58:30. > :58:32.course of the last couple of days there have been reports in the press
:58:33. > :58:36.and one of the things I wanted to say in this house is that the
:58:37. > :58:40.honourable judgment is an exceptionally dedicated work for
:58:41. > :58:43.people who have fallen on hard times and the vulnerable. As someone from
:58:44. > :58:47.another party I wanted to decide how much I admire him for that work. In
:58:48. > :58:51.his question was in that tradition and it is absolutely not the case
:58:52. > :58:55.that G4S can simply sell the contract of the highest bidder. We
:58:56. > :59:05.have the right to insure that any transfer is done appropriately and I
:59:06. > :59:08.will make sure he is briefed on the progress. I trust the honourable
:59:09. > :59:18.gentleman will have the tribute framed in his constituency office.
:59:19. > :59:26.He should savour it. In 2014 my constituent was that victim of an
:59:27. > :59:29.acid attack. I would be great for the Secretary of State can confirm
:59:30. > :59:34.that the government will be bringing forward a strategy to address the
:59:35. > :59:38.increase in acid attacks, in particular the need for tougher
:59:39. > :59:47.sentencing. She has to live with this type for the rest of her life.
:59:48. > :59:50.I thank my honourable friend and cases of this kind are absolutely
:59:51. > :59:57.foreign. We would certainly be willing to hear from him about the
:59:58. > :00:04.specifics -- absolutely abhorrent. Whether there is a case for
:00:05. > :00:07.additional sentencing powers. 78,000 disabled people every year were able
:00:08. > :00:13.to challenge social security decisions, with 80% success rate
:00:14. > :00:19.before the legally restrictions weren't just. How can withdraw all
:00:20. > :00:24.of legal aid to disabled people who are twice as likely to live in
:00:25. > :00:31.poverty be fair? It is important that the honourable lady appreciates
:00:32. > :00:35.that we have not withdrawn or abolished legal aid. It exists for
:00:36. > :00:38.the most honourable and we do have certain criteria but we are also in
:00:39. > :00:48.terms of decisions that are coming to the courts in the first place,
:00:49. > :00:48.the officials who take those decisions in the
:00:49. > :00:49.looking at the decisions of the court 's obeyed and not have to come
:00:50. > :01:00.to the court by way of appeal in the first instance. In 2009 Walter Scott
:01:01. > :01:05.and Ross, the solicitors firm in my constituency, was closed down due to
:01:06. > :01:10.financial irregularities. Since then the SRA has systematically failed in
:01:11. > :01:15.his duty at the former clients of the phone which has led to at least
:01:16. > :01:19.one bankruptcy. Will my right honourable friend agreed to
:01:20. > :01:24.investigate this case and we can at last secure some closure for my
:01:25. > :01:28.constituents? She will know that the regulation of the legal provision is
:01:29. > :01:31.independent of government and it would be wrong and improper for a
:01:32. > :01:36.minister to try to intervene in the individual cases but there is an
:01:37. > :01:39.ombudsman 's arrest that allows review of complaints against the SRA
:01:40. > :01:49.and I would only encourage you to look at whether that is a possible
:01:50. > :01:53.T. Point of order. Mr Speaker, last Thursday we had an excellent debate
:01:54. > :02:00.on Welsh affairs in this house. But unfortunately the Secretary of State
:02:01. > :02:04.for Wales was absent. The Parliamentary undersecretary said,
:02:05. > :02:05."I can advise