Live Justice Questions House of Commons

Good morning and welcome to live coverage of the Commons. Alistair

Carmichael will be asking an urgent question concerning the UK's

membership of the European Convention on Human Rights. The main

business in the Chamber is continued debate on the Government's Policing

and Crime Bill. It allows Police and Crime Commissioner is to take over

responsibility for Fire And Rescue Services in England and Wales. Join

me for a round-up of the day in both Houses of Parliament at 11 o'clock

tonight. First, questions to the Secretary of State for Justice,

Michael Gove and his ministers. First question today from Jeff Smith

concerns that provision within the criminal justice system for people

with mental health issues. Order, order. Questions to the

Secretary of State for Justice. With your permission I would like to

group this question with numbers ten and 14. Mental health is taken

seriously across the criminal justice system. Mental health

services are commissioned by NHS England and local health boards in

Wales and are based on locally assessed need. We are working with

health partners to improve services in both custody and in the

community. Liaison and diversion services are important to ensure

ensuring people with mental health issues get the help they need and

the expansion of the programme is welcome. Half the country isn't

covered and there has been a long way for the business cake to -- case

to get to 100%. Can she confirm when all areas expect to have liaison and

diversion services in place? We have developed liaison and diversion

services in agreement with other departments. Through this system

clinicians access and referred those that have mental health needs to the

treatment they need. This happens at the earliest possible contact with

the criminal justice system. It is working very well. It is a joint

Government programme which is why I would like to see it rolled out at

its earliest convenience. We will keep the honourable gentleman

updated. The mental health charity, Mind, they have said there is impact

on their ability to access justice. The refusal to conduct a full review

into the effects of their harsh legal aid cuts and the damaging

effect they are having on the most vulnerable. He will know we are

spending ?1.6 billion which is one of the most generous legal aid

systems in the world. It is right that vulnerable people should be

supported through the criminal justice system and at every point of

access into the justice system. That is why the judiciary are trained to

be able to assist them and the changes to the court system will

support this. There has been an increased number of survivors of

domestic abuse who forced to represent themselves in the family

courts as litigants in person. A survey found 25% of the woman had

been directly questioned by their perpetrator in court. The mental

distress caused to a woman being cross-examined by their perpetrator

who may have beaten and raped them is undoubtedly causing mental

distress. What is the minister doing to improve access to legal aid for

victims of domestic abuse as the current system is clearly not

working? She is right to raise this issue. The Government is committed

to supporting all vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, especially

those that have been subject to a domestic abuse and give them the

best evidence and to see the offenders are brought to justice. We

have put measures in place that gave them the ability to give evidence

via a screen across the court roared -- call room, via a video link or a

location away from the core building. Following the Court of

Appeal's judgment, we are taking immediate action to change our

arrangements and we are now more than doubling the original

time-limit of evidence from two to five years for domestic violence and

also looking into financial abuse as well. Could the Minister outline how

the Government's prison reform plans by giving or greater autonomy to

prison governors will be able to tailor mental health help for the

benefit of all prisoners? We are moving towards full co-commissioning

of mental health services for governors and NHS in England. Prism

readers can have more say in defining the kind of services that

prisoners need and how the available budget is used. This will begin in

reform cousins and it successor will apply nation wide from 2017.

Rehabilitation and treatment will be at its very core. The criminal

justice systems, Kay enough, whether you have mental health issues or

not. Will the Minister ensure that for victims of crime who have mental

health issues, they are given the help they need to submit victim

impact statements to the court in the proper way? This is fundamental

supporting people through their individual circumstances and stop we

are looking at this in the Justice department at the moment. Judges are

trained to support vulnerable witnesses and victims at every

stage. The issue between mental health and addiction is, can the

Minister shall be when these matters are dealt with at court about

referrals to effective treatment? There was evidence that there were

some local authorities that did have drug treatment for youth offenders

but other authorities did not have the provision. Can we ensure there

is uniform provision for these people? This is a crucial point.

We're working to bring together my temple -- mental health and drug and

alcohol treatments at every stage alongside police, courts, prisons

and probation. This includes making sure appropriate treatments are

available if they are made as part of sentences with mandated health

interventions. Charities like the Langley house trust of a specialist

mental health support to businesses when they -- people when they have

left prison. They have acquired a property on Milton Street. We do

support Michael for them to meet with the town council this evening

to reassure the local community fears and make sure that commuters

can work together? I would very much like to look at the circumstances

the honourable lady has suggested. Our transforming rehabilitation

changes have put in the support that sometimes people whom have short

circuses have never had before. They may be some sport that the company

can give on matters well. The jury has given their verdict at the

inquest into the death of 96 fans at the Hillsborough disaster and today

is a hugely important day for all those who seek to protect and

promote justice and in particular our thoughts are with those families

who have fought for almost 30 years to establish the truth of what

happened on that day. The number of suicides in prison between 2013 and

2015 was 53% higher than over the previous two years. It amounted to

one person tragically taking their life every four days. 40% of those

who died had been identified at risk under the assessment, care and

custody and teamwork process. Can the Minister explain why so many

vulnerable prisoners are not being identified in the first place when

they are, why so many are not getting the help that they need? The

honourable lady is right to draw attention to the Hillsborough

report. Every self-inflicted death in prison is an absolute tragedy and

we are committing to reduce the self-inflicted deaths in prison.

There has been no more than there was last year but every single one

of those is a tragedy. We will overhaul how mental health was

treated in prison is giving governors are much greater say over

what services their prisoners need and how the available budget is

used. It was Labour's inexplicable refusal to introduce waiting times

as the same time they reduced physical health care which has set

back the cause of mental health Assembly years. In some cases saw

people being sentenced to prison in order to access the support that

they couldn't get in the community. I'm disappointed the Secretary of

State is insisting at the heart of his missed a real team. I heart -- I

hope the right honourable gentleman isn't looking uncharacteristically

in the shadows. We wouldn't want that. I will answer questions two

and six together. We want prisons to be places of hard work and high

ambition which is why we will give governors more autonomy and hold

them to account by publishing employment outcomes for prisoners so

that we can compare results between prisons. We know how beneficial and

employment is for the rehabilitation of young adult offenders in

particular. Can my honourable friend buys the House on specific plans

that he has two increase employment in this cohort? I know how seriously

my honourable friend takes this issue and she is right to do so. The

area I would point her two for young offenders is construction where

there are huge opportunities. The National Grid young offenders scheme

has a 10-year reoffending rate of less than 7%. I was with Balfour

Beatty in a prison in North Yorkshire and they are employing

young ex-offenders. I can tell how is that we have two non-security

construction academies comprising dry lining, scaffolding and tumbling

and I am assured that these last two activities have been risk assessed.

What it was the representative the honourable gentleman is of this

Government. Is the Minister aware of outstanding

pathfinder project in North Wales in my constituency that offers holistic

support to women offenders in line with recommendations in the Corston

report. Witty journey in urging the Government tit insurer provision for

rehabilitation of women offenders, to avoid the cost of thing Caceres

and from relatively minor offences? I'm very grateful to my honourable

friend for drunk the house's attention to this rehabilitation

centre. The Government is committed to supporting vulnerable women to

turning their lives around. Can I remind the Minister and

secretary of state that one of the real problems we face - and it is

wild autism week this week- is that when prisoners go into prison they

aren't assessed properly. Could we have a system where autism is

important, many people who go to prison are on the autism scale?

I'm absolutely delighted to have this issue raised. I can tell the

honourable gentleman I'm extremely proud the UK has the first autism

prosody of risen -- autism positive prison. I want to see more prisons

going and he is right to raise the issue.

The Minister has two laudable objectives- work in prison and

reducing offending outside prison. But could he tell me how he intends

to do that when staffing is under such severe pressure due to the

number of officers? And when did he intend to produce the guidance to

governors on reoffending in their own prisons.

I can tell the right Honourable gentleman that we are carrying on

recruiting prison officers at full throttle. Last year we recruited 50

2000. I am optimistic about the employment agenda, as more and more

employers... Will provide governors with all the guidance they need.

Will the Minister support employers coming into prisons to offer

training so that offenders can be better placed to find a job when

they believe risen, more likely to stay out of prison in future?

My honourable friend is absolutely right. I can tell him that more and

more unemployment road shows around the

country, I mentioned Balfour Beatty, they were in Durham prison last week

where prisoners were offered jobs. I recently met a Glasgow lady who

started up her own enterprise introducing reusable sandwich

wrappers. The manufacturing was done by inmates at, neck prison, a skill

which helps their rehabilitation. -- Kilmarnock prison. What provision is

being made to introduce such schemes?

Self-employment and enterprise are as important as employment. Loans

can be drawn down and the challenge Day in Durham was also about the

self-employment rate. I do hope the Minister can insure

the house that prisoners were given their tunnelling skills after prison

and not as a means of departure. Have they possibly looked at some

form of apprenticeship programme within the prisons to give

vocational skills to those who need them?

I'm very keen to develop the Avenue my honourable friend takes me down.

We could certainly look at a traineeship within prisons, which is

a first step to apprenticeship. I am meeting with officials shortly to

take the sport. With the Minister hold discussions

with Justice ministers in devolved legislations so that best practice,

particularly in prisoners in my constituency can do that productive

work which leads to lowering reoffending rates?

I will seek to learn from that best practice. Perhaps the honourable

gentleman could write to me with details of that, I will certainly

look at it. Another day, and another critical

report is published by the Chief Inspector of prisons. This time from

Lewes prison. Inspectors at Willis found prisoners routinely kept in

the cells for 23 hours per day. This follows the report at one with

scrubs, which is described as continuing to fall short of expected

standards. At time of their inspection, there is little cause

for optimism -- Wormwood Scrubs. Reoffending rates are at an all-time

high. The Justice Secretary has been in his job for a year now, and we

have heard a lot of talk about reform. Isn't it time for him to

stop talking and start doing something?

The Government recognises that we have a long way to go to improve our

prisons, which is why the secretary of state has laid out a full reform

programme. I went to Wormwood Scrubs last week, and I can tell heard

there were a number of jobs fair is in the prisons, which lead to jobs.

There is a good governor there, and we can look forward to improvements.

I have seen the report on Lewes prison, there are some positives

there, not least the relationship between the prison and communicate

reevaluation. reevaluation.

Speaker, as you can see I have a talented team of ministers. They are

the equivalent of the Oxlade-Chamberlain, the latter, the

total of this Parliament, so I am very pleased to be on the subs bench

for this time. Dame Sally Coates has been leading a review of education

in prisons. A report made clear that prisoners should be able to choose

the service that they give. With my right honourable friend

agree that it is imperative that the conditions of the review...

I agree with my honourable friend. Leaks may note that as well as being

a distant which Member of Parliament, he has also written for

the prisons newspaper on the need to improve education. He has experience

in music and education, equipping him to make the point. Education

should not be about just gathering skills, but also opening minds to

art and culture and new horizons. We have heard that better education

slows the revolving door between crime and incarceration. Could my

friend there for update the house on the announcement made by the Prime

Minister for a teach Ivan first style scheme in prisons?

One of my former colleagues is leading work along with a formidable

social entrepreneur who had worked with teach first to establish a new

charity. The runway more details about both government funding and

how we propose to recruit a generation of talented graduates to

work on our prisons. I understand the average age of

reading among prisoners is just 11. What plans does my right honourable

friend have to ensure that people, when they beat prison, can read and

write and be off drugs? The honourable friend strikes at the

heart of the principal problems prisoners face. It is very often

that prisoners had had a poor educational experience, one of the

reasons why they are drawn into criminal activity. We need to screen

every prisoner when the arrive in custody so we can ascertain the

skills they have, and judge risen is on the skills that the ad. As for

the problem of substance abuse, that is a huge problem that we return to.

Stead's annual report highlighted that learning skills and work within

the present state of some of the worst available in the sector.

What's more is the secretary of state doing to ensure that this

vital part of the rehabilitation of prisoners is brought up to scratch

as it should be? The chief inspector has been

brilliant, and he is absolutely right. There is some outstanding

examples, but sadly too few. One of the problems has been that a small

group or providers have been responsible for providing education

in prison, large and inflexible contracts have meant they haven't

been as responsive to individual needs as they should have been. One

thing that one change is the amount that we spent on education, that has

been ring fenced. I would like to check if there are

any formal links between the prison service itself and the further

education colleges to develop those apprenticeship schemes we heard

about earlier? I'm very anxious to expand

apprenticeships within prison. I been working with the

apprenticeships minister to do just that. One of the challenges we have

is that the current further education providers within prison-

the do have excellent examples of best practice, it is not the case in

every case. Can the Minister assure the house

that progress in prisons will form one of the metrics of the new league

tables for prisons? My honourable friend is right to say

that if we give people greater autonomy, they have to be held to

account. It is absolutely vital that they are held to account for

educational performance and the value they add.

The Secretary of State's personal commitment to this is clear from

this excellent article in Inside Time. Will he accept that one of the

biggest obstacles is the fact that listeners in the current state are

locked up for great length of time, and it is difficult to achieve this.

Any assurers that new properties will be integral to the review?

It is simply not good enough that prisoners are in the cells to 23

hours at a time. Time out or sell as a key indicator of how effective a

prison is run. Not the only one, but it is very important. I honourable

friend is absolutely right to point out that when we think of new prison

design we should concentrate on time outside a cell. I visited a prison

outside of Berlin where prisoners spend much more time outside the

cells than in this country. We can learn a lot from the Germans in this

case. The Government remains concerned

about the number and cost of whiplash claims, in particular the

risk of an meritorious claims that push up premiums for customers. We

will consult in due course and an impact assessment will be released.

The still seems to be no independent confirmation of this fraudulent

claim epidemic as the reason to raise claims. What independent

evidence has the Minister had for fraud culture? And would it not been

more effective to legislate to stop the ambulance chasing claims

companies making unsolicited calls rather than deny justice to those

who have been injured through no fault of their own?

We should certainly address both particular angles. The Chancellor

has already announced proposals for the right to claim damages for very

minor claims and to increase small claims limit to ?5,000, which is

important, because that will help us cut the cost of resolving cases.

Critically, it will save the insurance industry ?1 billion

annually, and they are committed to passing the savings to customers.

Does the Minister share my concern that car insurance premiums are ?93

per year higher than they need to be, thanks to fraudulent claims, and

the claims are orders of magnitude higher than Europe. Will these

measures go way to combating this practice?

The key thing for us as we move forward to the consultation is that

all the evidence is to make sure that is proper access to justice.

But also to make sure we cut the cost to consumers for insurance

premiums. If these reforms are so positive,

why does the Minister think it is that the president of the Law

Society is gravely concerned that they undermined the rights of

ordinary citizens to obtain compensation for negligence?

I think the losses IT protects the pressure at all interests of their

members. -- Law Society protects the professional interests. We need to

take into account everything rather than just what the lawyers think.

take into account everything rather than just what the lawyers think.

Given the court has the power to strike out fraudulent claims, why

should the majority be penalised because of the potential criminal

behaviour of the few? Reforms are precisely aimed at weeding out

frivolous or trivial claims, making sure we preserve access to justice

for the important claims but at the same time making sure the whole rest

of people paying their insurance premiums year in, year out, aren't

being penalised by people taking the system for a ride. The Government is

committed to making sure we have robust and consistent punishment for

those who are killed or seriously injured on our roads. We will

consult on further personas oils and we intend to do so later on this

year. I ask on behalf of one of my constituents are 21-year-old man

Alex Jeffrey was killed by a dangerous driver, the sentence was

only four years and three months. It will end up being less than that.

Will we reach a time when death by dangerous diving sentences are the

same for murder? A car can be the same as a weapon in the same hands.

I am aware of the tragic case and our deepest sympathies go to his

family. Since 2010, the custody rate for causing death by dangerous

riding -- driving has written -- has risen to 61%. We will look again at

this area and she is right that there should be consistency with the

sentencing for homicide offences. They review -- the review into

sentencing was decided in 2014. Can the Minister gave us a clear date

and will he say that we will look at ending the charge of careless death

driving which simply denies families justice? We will consult this year

and look at the full range of driving offences. It is important to

make sure there is proper accountability but also consistency

between the offences and the bespoke offences and sentences we have in

this area with a wider sentencing around homicide offences. One of the

key drivers of deaths on the road and all dangerous driving offences

is alcohol. Given the enormous success of the powers in Croydon

with 93% compliance and evidence from the US, will the Minister

consider alcohol orders as a mandate of a punishment for those convicted

of driving offences where alcohol is involved? He raises a very

interesting area. It is something we will be willing to look at in the

course of our consultation. I can assure the honourable lady that

progress has been made to upgrade technology in the courts and

tribunal state. I am happy to confirm to her that the vast

majority of our criminal courts are now equipped to work digitally and

we are reducing reliance on paper bundles. New digital services like

shared drives and Wi-Fi are enabling professional uses the judiciary and

court staff to work digitally. I am grateful for that response. But the

Magistrates' Court and the family and County Court in Halifax Juve

closure. It revealed that the overall investment plans have not

changed or been updated following the announcement that 86 courts to

close. Can the Minister tell me what plans them right to update the

digitalisation programme to make sure it is accessible in other areas

out of court? I know she takes this issue seriously and in my very

regular meetings with senior management of the Tribunal service,

this is an issue raised at the top of the agenda. There is a loss that

is happening and not all of it gets into the public domain. Reducing

reliance on criminal courts, we have the digital case system which now

holds over 94,000 pages of information that would otherwise

have been printed in Treblinka. Also there is the new National automated

rotor system for magistrates which is now live for many thousands of

magistrates. I welcome the development of upgrading technology

in the traditional court setting. Even in civil claims which now takes

claims online. Will the Secretary of State the intimate permitting the

more radical proposals of this sizzle -- civil Justice Council to

include an online resolution for online claims? I want to say to her

that we are keen to make sure that we have the most updated and modern

court system in the world fit for the 21st-century and we are ruling

nothing out. Warning on focusing technology and not on the users,

what is being done to help training? We need to recognise the real world

which is technically logically advanced and we are working closely

with the users and the lawyers and all those involved in the legal

process. I'm happy to confirm that at the moment they buy in that we

are getting the lawyers the public are very optimistic. The Ministry of

Justice has been in contact with G4S and we are monitoring the progress

of the potential sale to ensure it does not jeopardise the delivery of

care at their secure training centres. I am sure the Minister

agrees that a breach of care at Medway secure centre demonstrates

the risks involved. When a state duty of care is entrusted to a

private organisation, can he confirm how he intends to ensure that any

transfer rate of the contracts in question will ensure a duty of care

more robustly and alternatively be what assessment has made of

transferring contracts back to the public sector? The Ministry of

Justice continues to retain its rights over determining any transfer

of the contracts from G4S. Also the Secretary of State appointed an

independent improvement board at Medway, whose recommendations we

will consider and no doubt will be of value for the future. Finally,

the Charlie Taylor review is looking at the whole area of youth justice

to put education at its heart in a safe and nurturing environment where

we make real educational progress. Next week, we will see a new

contract holder for the secure training centre. The contract has

been awarded to an American company. After the appalling record of G4S,

how can the Minister justify a contract being awarded to a company

that has one of its American prisons and age digital oversight due to a

quote, cruel and unusual punishments being administered by its staff? How

can this be justified? There is some dispute over the American history

and I will write to him on that point. What I will say is we are

agnostic on probation. We want the best possible provision and within

Wales, he will know that G4S provides an extremely high quality

prisons such as down at Bridgend and I would remind him that this

contract with G4S ran under three successive Labour governments. The

Government is determined to deliver a swifter and more certain justice

system that is more accessible to the public. We are investing ?700

million in our tribunal 's and our reforms will digitise the justice

system to speed up processes and provide services online. Remove

unnecessary hearings, paper forms and duplication, cut costs by

litigants and make justice more acceptable. Our reforms will remove

hearings from the court room that don't need to be there in the first

place. They will ensure we only make full use of judges, court rooms and

legal teams were really necessary and support people in resolving

their disputes by means of more informal and less costly remedies.

The UK Government is proposing fee increases of up to ?80 for a full

hearing in asylum and immigration Tribunal 's. Applicants seeking to

challenge decisions at the right to enter or remain in the UK and will

struggle to afford this, despite the Home Office getting the decision

wrong. Does the Minister agree that access to justice should never

depend on an individual's ability to pay? It is important we have a court

system and tribunal system that pays for itself or goes towards paying

for itself. In many cases we do have a remission system as people can

apply for that as is appropriate under the circumstances. Citizens

Advice Bureau play an important role in helping people to access justice

and to understand the legal system. Will the Minister congratulate them

on their work and encourage more people to use them? The Citizens

Advice Bureau service provides invaluable advice to the population

and I wholeheartedly congratulate them and I suspect I speak for the

whole house in commending them for all the wonderful work they do. The

Supreme Court have found that the Justice Secretary has backed it

without moral authority and in an illegal vacuum. Will he ensure there

will be access justice for those without the resident's test? The is

disappointed with the findings of the Supreme Court as regards to this

test. Given that in the last Government will listen to

Parliament, we listen to the public and we did make exceptions to the

resident's test. There are millions of people outside in the country who

take the view that it is right that there should be some sort of

connection with Britain for people who seek to have legal aid funds

paid for by the British public. Claudia Lawrence from York was last

seen on the 18th of March 2000 and nine. She is still missing. As are

around 2500 people in the UK. In the midst of their group cut -- grieve,

families have to battle with the financial affairs and they need

access to justice but there is a simple solution. Guardianship on

behalf of the missing person. The Government promises were over a year

ago. Will this be in this year's Queen 's speech? That is a good

example of shoehorning. She has shoehorned in a later question into

this. Ingenious. The honourable lady raised as it raises a very good

point. We have a huge amount of sympathy across the political divide

for the individual she speaks to. -- speaks for. It would be impossible

to pre-empt what will be in the Queen's speech. In order to avoid

discriminating people with disc desert -- disabilities, and he

assured me that the Personal Independence Payments will not be

used in calculation to determine whether someone is entitled to help

with employment tribunal fees? Much is considered. Many people are

involved and it would be inappropriate for me to make a

discretion -- to make a decision right now as she has asked me to do.

I listened carefully to the Minister's and is a previously but I

still find it very difficult to understand that at the same time

this Conservative Government voted not to take in 3000 refugee

children, the Ministry of Justice is proposing to write -- increase

tribunal fees. How will vulnerable people challenge what is quite often

errors from the Home Office? Can the Minister tell me where is the

justice in this? I simply say that the last series -- there are

exemptions for vulnerable people. We need to recognise the court system

is there and it has to be paid for. It is perfectly reasonable for the

British taxpayer to expect those who use our core system to make a

contribution towards their running. Before the process of legal aid

reform began in 2010, how legal aid system cost the taxpayer over ?2

billion each year. During the period 2014/15, the legal aid spent was

?1.64 billion. We remain the only country in the world which pays

foreign nationals to sue our own soldiers. Last week the Supreme

Court told us that the Government does not have the power to curtail

legal aid in this area. The only way forward is primary legislation.

Could the Minister tell us how he intends to make progress now? I

would prefer my honourable friend to some of the comments I made earlier

on. He makes a good point as regards to the resident's test. Whilst I

have enormous sympathy with what he has said, as do many other people

and millions of people in the country outside, we await the

written judgment of the court and will reflect upon it.

Each Minister practising has to have a client account. In some

jurisdictions and North America, the money is held in client account are

devoted to legal aid. But to look at that for England and Wales?

We already have one of the most generous legal aid budgets in the

world. As far as what solicitor firms do on interest on client

accounts, he will appreciate that the regulation of the legal sector

is separate from Government. A family have been refused legal aid

and cannot take action against the Republican bomber believed to be

behind the Hyde Park bomb who is...? The honourable gentleman will

appreciate that all decisions made as regards whether legal aid is paid

or not is done independently of Government ministers. It is the

legal aid agency that takes these decisions and takes on individual

cases and individual facts. I can't specifically comment on a particular

case here in the House. We look forward to bringing home a

proposal for a British bill of Rights shortly.

The Minister will recall telling me on the 13th of June that the United

Kingdom has a long respect for human rights that predates the act. As a

claims, our plans do not involve's leaving the convention, that is not

objective. Is that still Government policy?

The Right Honourable gentleman was correct last month when he said the

Human Rights Act is not the last word on human rights. I look forward

to debating these proposals. On the Human Rights Act, we cannot withdraw

forever, but we do not plan to withdraw. If with withdrawal from

the ECA char while remaining as EU member, it will be open

invitation... We are confident we can replace the Human Rights Act

with a bill of rights and reform our relationship with the stars were

caught. That is what we intend to do.

-- Strasbourg court. A condition for new members to join

the European Union is to be a signatory to the European Convention

of human rights. So in order to put into practice the very welcome

announcement by the Home Secretary the intention to leave the Human

Rights Act... I have set at the Government's

position very clearly, and our current plans do not involve

withdrawing from the convention. The ministers says that he and the

Government want to stay in the EC H R, but we know he wants to leave the

European Union. The Home Secretary told as yesterday that she wants to

leave the ECHR, but she wants to remain in the European Union. Should

we understand that this Government is as divided on the question of

ECHR membership as it is on the question of EU membership?

No. We'd been asking for a long time on

this side of the House when the Government are going to bring

forward their consultation on the repeal of the Human Rights Act? Does

he understand that the Home Secretary's statement yesterday have

caused particular concern in Scotland, because in Scotland the

European Convention of human rights is embedded in the devolution

settlement, as it is in the other devolved administrations. Does he

appreciate that ECHR could never be withdrawn from without the consent

of the Scottish Parliament? And there is no question of that consent

ever been given. I thank the honourable lady for a

comments I reassure her concerns by reiterating the Government's

position. Topical questions.

With your permission, Mr Speaker, can associate my self with the

remarks made earlier. Today we have had the decision made by the jury is

sitting in the decision of the 96 tragic deaths at Hillsborough. It

has been a terrible tragedy and has taken a long time for those families

to arrive at justice. Today is a significant day, and I want to place

on record my thanks to the coroner and the jury for their work.

Victims of domestic violence need a modern, family court system that

provides special safety measures which are well considered when

facing directly the perpetrators of these horrific crimes. Can the

Minister assured me that the department is doing everything

possible to make sure that we have a modern family court system which

protects vulnerable individuals at this time?

The Government's absolutely committed to supporting all

vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, especially those

suffering from domestic abuse, so they can get the best possible

evidence. That is why we happen measures in place including the

ability to give evidence while being screened, via video link or from a

location away from the court building altogether. Changes to

courts will only help this. In a year of seeing little and doing

less on their flagship manifesto policy of repealing the Human Rights

Act, the one thing that has been made clear it is the Lord

Chancellor's position on the European Convention on human rights.

He said, our plans do not involve leaving the convention. So who is

right on this? What is today's policy? Who's in charge of justice

policy, it does not appear to be heaven.

I thank the honourable gentleman for his enquiry as to my welfare. The

policies as stated earlier. We have the leaders of the Tory

Brexit campaign saying they will stay in ECHR, and the Home Secretary

saying in her support for Remain we should leave the conventional

together. Isn't that a shambles? Was in the former Attorney General right

to say the Lord Chancellor pot's single issue obsession with Brexit

means he is no longer seeing the wood for the trees, and relying on

arguments that are unfounded? I am at one with my right honourable

friend. Both of us believe we should remain within the ECHR. Both was

also recognised that the far greater threat to liberty is the European

Court of Justice, which he has described as an institution that is

predatory. If you are a share. -- a view only share.

There has been news of taxi drivers refusing carriage to guide dog

owners. What is the position of this issue?

It is an offence on 168 of the equalities act to refuse to take an

assistance dog in a taxi or private hire vehicle. Penalty is up to a

maximum of ?1000. As for sentencing is concerned, that is a matter for

the judiciary. Last week, the Justice Select

Committee were in Strasbourg at the European Court of Human Rights, with

the judges raised the UK for... The Lord Chancellor now wants to tear

this can act up, and the Home Secretary wants to lead the

convention altogether. The question has been asked earlier, but can we

have some clarity on this? On the outside it looks as though the party

opposite has a blind spot on anything to do with the word

European or human rights? You can implement the European

Convention in UK law, and trust this been to apply it. It is to do with

the Labour Party that set up the Supreme Court.

Can the Minister confirm that when the Government brings forward the

timeline for the British Bill of Rights, it will restore common sense

to the human rights debate? That is precisely one of the issues

we want to address. Last week the joint committee on

human rights was also in Strasbourg, we heard testimony from

representative customers to we're countries that are not enjoy the

stability of human rights and justice that we enjoy in this

country. There were clear that the UK provides leadership in a troubled

world. What kind of message do ministers think they are now sending

out by providing such confusion over Britain's commitment to the ECHR.

The UK has led the world and human rights before of the act and will

continue to do so. Too many prisoners enter prisons

without qualifications and leave them without qualifications. Would

my right honourable friend agree it is vital to get recognised

qualifications in our prisons to allow a second career once they

leave jail? That is correct, it is important

should be progression. We want to make sure they can go on to pursue

apprenticeships. According to a report by citizens

advice, nine out of ten people who've gone through the family

courts under the new rules that heavily restrict access to legal

aid, suffer strain in their mental and physical health, working lives

and finances. This is surely unacceptable. What is the most going

to do to put it right? -- minister going to do? As said

earlier today, much has been done for people who need legal aid. In

the family court particular, our judges are being trained and are

aware of the difficulties that victims before them have. They are

trained to help and assist them. The Government itself has provided much

money and support for this. It is important to remember that when

people talk about the delayed, this is taxpayer's money. We have money

that we spend, one of the largest legal aid budgets and the world.

What steps is the Government taking to identify and remove creatures who

are radicalising prison inmates? -- preachers?

Shortly after being appointed, I spoke to a prison governor with

experience to look at the questions of radicalisation within our

prisons. He cemented a report to me recently, we should be acting on it

shortly. -- presented a report. Earlier division was highlighted in

the Gulf benches on membership of ECHR and the EU. They are sending

the message that is single stand-alone Bill of Rights would not

be fit for a 21st-century government. Is it not important that

to remain part of the European Union and the ECHR?

The position has been set out clearly, and when we look at the

Bill of Rights, we will consult all devolved administrations.

Teenagers have been tragically stamped on the streets of London.

Does the honourable friend agree with me that it is vital we elect a

mayor who will take action on knife crime?

Under a Conservative Mayor of London, tough action has been taken

against crime. That is why it is vital that the Conservative

candidate secures election on May the 5th.

Is the secretary in a position to inform the House when he expects a

review of education in prisons, conducted by Dame Sally Coates to be

published? After me the fifth, when I hope I

Conservative candidate is returned as Mayor of London, and when I hope

Ruth Davidson takes over as Leader of the Opposition in the Scots

parliament. The trouble reason to celebrate.

A constituents of mine was sixthly abused by their father over many

years, he is now in prison. -- sexually abused. Because abuse

stopped before 1979, the victim was not compensated. Can this be looked

at? I had been informed of the case, and

I would like to meet his constituent of possible. The difficulty of the

case is that when the 1964 act was amended, it was not made

retrospective. I understand what is going through, but it's difficult

situation as to where you draw a through compensation. It has not in

the past, and probable not be in the future, retrospective.

What use is made of ex-prisoners who underwent mental health treatment in

our prisons so that they can feed back into a mental health service

and perhaps support current prisoners?

Ex-prisoners of very useful in drug services and we will explore what

further role they can play. The honourable member is to begrudge

elated on her marathon. She is looking in remarkably good neck.

Perhaps my colleagues would like to join me next year as I try and smash

my seven hours and 17 minutes. Last month I visited a prison in

Nottingham which serves a primary prisoners for many offenders in

Derby. An ongoing inquest into a Derby man who died in his cell

revealed traces of legal highs were found in his body. What assurances

can he give me that the department is doing all it can to tackle the

levels of legal highs in our system? It is a tragic case my honourable

friend raises and I can tell her it will shortly be a criminal offence

to possess legal highs in prison and in addition we are starting a

testing regime. Those two measures will help us get on top of this evil

trade in our prisons. Understanding the impact of crimes of victims

should be central to education and prisons. What steps is the Minister

taking to develop that agenda, particularly among those business

that have committed the most Sirius is -- serious crimes? It is crucial.

That will be part of the victim's law proposals we come up with in

this Parliament. I welcome the commitment to early publication on

the report on counter radicalisation policies within prisons. There is

the significance of this issue. The Justice Select Committee is bowing

out an enquiry into prison safety as part of that. Will he and his team

update us on that report? I will be delighted to do that. The chairman's

question is an opportunity to confirm. There is some information

that could not be mentioned as it relates to certain issues. I will

talk to them both about the problems that have been identified and the

steps that we need to take. I know how much the Select Committee want

to ensure appropriate steps are taken and I look forward to

appearing in front of them as soon as possible. A National probation

service report has been published into the murder of my constituents's

sister. Dale Boynton was murdered by an offender released on my stance

following a conviction of previous violent crime. There are a number of

failings by the National probation service. When he reviewed the report

into his tragic death and ensure that he is satisfied that the MPS is

doing all they can to ensure the public is properly protected? I'm

sure the whole house will want to express their sympathy is following

this incident. While the review makes clear that this man bears

responsibility for her death, the probation service could have done

more. They will make that we will make sure they learn the lessons

from this tragedy so future operations can be improved. Having

represented many innocent drivers caught up in fraudulent impact

claims, I see there are people exploiting the low thresholds and

legal loopholes. I welcome the rays in the small claims threshold. We

confirm whether there are plans to explore reform of the evidential

requirements to further make it difficult for such claims to

succeed? We will have a proper consultation in due course and I

would imagine that is the kind of issue we can consider at length.

Urgent question. Mr Alistair Carmichael. To ask for the home

Department if she will make a statement on the UK's membership of

the European Convention on Human Rights? I am answering this urgent

question today on behalf of the Home Secretary but my right honourable

friend will be making a statement to this house on the Hillsborough