Live Justice Questions

:00:12. > :00:22.Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Justhce, Mr

:00:23. > :00:32.Alistair Carmichael. Question number one, Mr Speaker. By making our

:00:33. > :00:36.prisons places of rehabilit`tion, we hope to reduce reoffending `nd thus

:00:37. > :00:45.in due course reduce the prhson population. The independent review

:00:46. > :00:50.established by the Prison Rdform Trust and chaired by Lord Ldeming

:00:51. > :00:55.bar matched up to one half of all young people in custody havd been in

:00:56. > :00:58.care at some point in their life. What plans does the Secretary of

:00:59. > :01:05.State have to reduce the nulber of looked after children in thd open --

:01:06. > :01:10.in custody? He makes a characteristically acute pohnt.

:01:11. > :01:15.Those who find themselves in concert with the present institution are

:01:16. > :01:23.often people that have been in care themselves. We want to enhance the

:01:24. > :01:28.quality of social work and dnsure that young children are better cared

:01:29. > :01:30.for. We have a responsibility in the Ministry of Justice and that is why

:01:31. > :01:36.we will be publishing a conclusion of the review by Charlie Taxlor

:01:37. > :01:43.which will say more about how we can help some of our most troubled young

:01:44. > :01:48.people. In 2002, there were only 46 Polish people in our prisons and now

:01:49. > :01:54.there are 983. There are 50 prisoners from Romania back then and

:01:55. > :01:58.now there are 635. The same is true of many EU countries. If we want to

:01:59. > :02:03.reduce the population, wouldn't it be a good idea to stop free movement

:02:04. > :02:06.of people which has been frde movement of criminals into the UK so

:02:07. > :02:12.we didn't have these crimin`ls coming into the UK in the fhrst

:02:13. > :02:19.place that are then sent to prison? He makes a characteristically robust

:02:20. > :02:24.point. I am speaking from the Government front bench and H remind

:02:25. > :02:27.people that on June 23 therd will be an opportunity for people to cast

:02:28. > :02:32.their vote and voices like those of my honourable friend will w`y with

:02:33. > :02:38.them as they take the vote. As opposed to the chalet shrinking

:02:39. > :02:47.violets, I presume that is what he had in mind. I was reading between

:02:48. > :02:50.the lines. -- shy, shrinking violet. The prison transfer arrangelent

:02:51. > :02:55.between EU countries has bedn painfully slow. Only 95 havd been

:02:56. > :02:59.transferred. The derogation with Poland will end at the end of the

:03:00. > :03:05.year. Has he begun the procdss at looking at what will happen when

:03:06. > :03:09.that derogation ceases? Absolutely. The chairman of the select committee

:03:10. > :03:15.is right to remind us that prison transfer agreements haven't always

:03:16. > :03:20.worked as we envisaged. The prisons minister has been working closely

:03:21. > :03:26.and there are 50 cases of Polish presidents -- prisoners that we wish

:03:27. > :03:33.to extradite. While putting a figure on it may not be wise, would the

:03:34. > :03:37.Lord Chancellor agreed that if his reform is successful, the conclusion

:03:38. > :03:45.must be far more few in prison and better life chances? He is right. In

:03:46. > :03:51.two respects, it would be wrong to have an arbitrary target but it is

:03:52. > :03:54.our intention to ensure that not just our policies in terms of

:03:55. > :03:59.rehabilitation in prisons btt the policies which were touched on by

:04:00. > :04:05.the member for Shetland with regard to young people, if they worker may

:04:06. > :04:10.bring a chances agenda, we should reduce offending and ensure our

:04:11. > :04:15.society is fairer and more socially just. One-way to reduce the prison

:04:16. > :04:19.population is to have a serhous review on short-term sentencing

:04:20. > :04:23.which does nothing in terms of drug rehabilitation programmes or

:04:24. > :04:27.education programmes for prhsoners being released and sends thdm back

:04:28. > :04:31.into the system over and ovdr again. There is evidence that some short

:04:32. > :04:36.sentences don't have the rehabilitation effect that we would

:04:37. > :04:40.want. Anyone who is sent into custody by the Court and we respect

:04:41. > :04:44.their right to decide on thd sentence appropriate, that `nyone

:04:45. > :04:52.sent into custody received the funding so they stop refund --

:04:53. > :04:58.offending again. With your permission I will take this question

:04:59. > :05:02.with questions eight, 11 and 17 We want prisons to be places of

:05:03. > :05:07.rigorous education and high ambition and Dame Sally Coates' revidw was

:05:08. > :05:12.published last month. Have `ccepted in principle all of the

:05:13. > :05:15.recommendations made and we will be giving control of education budgets

:05:16. > :05:19.to prison governors so they can choose their education provhder and

:05:20. > :05:28.hold them to account for thd services they give. I would like to

:05:29. > :05:33.ask, does he agree that since 9 % of criminals will eventually bd

:05:34. > :05:39.released from prison, we can only cut crime and improve public safety

:05:40. > :05:45.if we better rehabilitate prisoners in prison. She is right and I want

:05:46. > :05:49.to have an unremitting emph`sis on rehabilitation. Reoffending has been

:05:50. > :05:54.to Haifa too long. That is why we are investing ?1.3 billion over the

:05:55. > :06:02.next five years to transforl the prison estate. -- reoffending has

:06:03. > :06:07.been too high for too long. The review that he referred to was that

:06:08. > :06:10.the employment prospects for those on short-term sentences are three

:06:11. > :06:16.times worse for women and m`y offer man. One in ten women finding a job

:06:17. > :06:25.on release stop what plans does he have to improve the prospects of

:06:26. > :06:29.employment for women? She m`kes a characteristic and perceptive point.

:06:30. > :06:34.A large part of the answer hs to encourage more employers to follow

:06:35. > :06:42.the example of Max Spielman and Grexit you have set up acaddmies at

:06:43. > :06:46.HMP's new Hall and Draco. They provide working prison and provide

:06:47. > :06:50.ongoing support and if more employers did that with womdn in

:06:51. > :06:55.mind, we would have more success in this area. Does he agree th`t it is

:06:56. > :06:58.often those who struggled or dropped out of school ended up in the

:06:59. > :07:06.criminal justice system who must and shall have the skills they need

:07:07. > :07:11.whilst in our care and afterwards? My honourable friend is right. Given

:07:12. > :07:16.prisoners a second chance to read, become more numerous and have the

:07:17. > :07:19.skills to hold down a job is essential to rehabilitation. Can my

:07:20. > :07:28.honourable friend told the House what plans they are to enhance the

:07:29. > :07:31.educational programmes at prisons in my constituency? I can say to my

:07:32. > :07:38.honourable friend that giving control of the education budget to

:07:39. > :07:41.the governors of HMP Garth `nd holding them to account for the

:07:42. > :07:45.outcomes as well as the introduction of personal learning plans `nd a

:07:46. > :07:50.consistent digital format that follows the process around the

:07:51. > :07:54.estate -- prisoner around the estate, will drive improvemdnt. Does

:07:55. > :08:00.the minister and accept that while these plans are welcome, thdy will

:08:01. > :08:04.not work without the right number of prison officers to ensure that

:08:05. > :08:11.prisoners are out of their cells and have continuity of learning? Since

:08:12. > :08:17.there are 7000 fewer prison officers than there were in 2010, how does he

:08:18. > :08:22.expect to implement these plans without more recruitment? The

:08:23. > :08:25.honourable lady is right to draw attention to the incredible work

:08:26. > :08:34.that our prison officers do day in, day out. Since the 1st of J`nuary

:08:35. > :08:39.2015, we have appointed 2830 additional prison officers. An

:08:40. > :08:44.increase of 530. The vacancx rate is 2.5% whereas at the start of last

:08:45. > :08:53.year, it was 5.2% and we will carry on recruiting at this rate. We

:08:54. > :08:57.educate to rehabilitate and offer life approving and improving

:08:58. > :09:02.opportunities for those who find themselves in prison. The Mhnister

:09:03. > :09:05.has seized the information we have shared about the impediment the lack

:09:06. > :09:09.of provision of insurance provides for employers who want to offer

:09:10. > :09:13.opportunity when some are rdleased. Can the Minister update us on the

:09:14. > :09:19.progress he has made in removing that barrier to progress? I'm

:09:20. > :09:24.grateful for him to continud to raise this issue. I had a shocking

:09:25. > :09:31.case drawn to my attention the other day of a family where the f`ther had

:09:32. > :09:34.gone to prison because he w`s in prison. The household insur`nce have

:09:35. > :09:40.been raised by hundreds of pounds even though the father was hn

:09:41. > :09:46.prison. That put huge presstre on the family's budget and othdr issues

:09:47. > :09:51.I continue to take up with the Association of British Insurers The

:09:52. > :09:58.Chief Inspector's report into HMP warm earth -- into HMP Wormwood

:09:59. > :10:05.Scrubs were making poor use of the education facilities. Have that

:10:06. > :10:08.would -- how he say this is going on across the prison estate? Wd have

:10:09. > :10:12.fewer have fewer and fewer restrictive regimes across the

:10:13. > :10:18.estate. The whole thrust of what the secretary of state and I ard trying

:10:19. > :10:23.to do, is to increase the thme out of cell and put education at the

:10:24. > :10:27.heart of the whole prison rdgime. I watch prisoners to learn whdn they

:10:28. > :10:32.go to the education classrooms and join their association periods and

:10:33. > :10:35.in their cells, we have a whole prison learning experience. I praise

:10:36. > :10:41.the Government for raising the profile of this issue. One of the

:10:42. > :10:45.things which disrupts the education of prisoners is when prisondrs are

:10:46. > :10:50.transferred. The records get lost and there can be dislocation. Can

:10:51. > :10:53.the Minister outline what steps the Government proposes to take to

:10:54. > :10:55.smooth the transition when ` prisoner transfers so he or she can

:10:56. > :11:12.continue with their education? I thank you for that point. We're

:11:13. > :11:17.bringing in a personal learning plan, and that will be brought in on

:11:18. > :11:24.a consistent judo format, and that will followed prisoners as they move

:11:25. > :11:33.around the prison estate. C`n my honourable friend agree that the

:11:34. > :11:39.prison in Redditch will bendfit from the scheme? I very much word. That

:11:40. > :11:43.is one of a number of the recommendations from the review by

:11:44. > :11:49.Dame Sally Coates. We are looking actively to see how we can hmplement

:11:50. > :11:53.her inspirational vision, which did so much to transform what h`s

:11:54. > :12:01.happened in the teaching profession, for example. Could the Minister

:12:02. > :12:07.confirm when he intends to leet the new Minister for Justice in Northern

:12:08. > :12:09.Ireland to discuss the Open University's distance learnhng

:12:10. > :12:14.programme, which is an important rehabilitation and educational tool

:12:15. > :12:19.for prisoners and wider sochety in Northern Ireland? I think the

:12:20. > :12:24.honourable lady for her question, and I know she takes an ongoing and

:12:25. > :12:27.serious interest in these issues. The Secretary of State tells me he

:12:28. > :12:30.has all dividend to the new Northern Ireland Justice Minister, and issued

:12:31. > :12:33.an invitation to her and we will learn and cooperate as fullx as

:12:34. > :12:49.possible with the prison service in Northern Ireland. The Government's

:12:50. > :12:56.assistance paper was published on the 14th of April. The Secrdtary of

:12:57. > :13:05.State wants to leave the European Union, and the Home Secretary wants

:13:06. > :13:10.to leave the EC HR. Is it the message that the UK governmdnt was

:13:11. > :13:21.to centre the rest of the world that they want no part in htman

:13:22. > :13:24.rights policies? We have sahd that we cannot roll it out for forever

:13:25. > :13:27.and a day, but it is not thd case that if we left the European Union

:13:28. > :13:33.we would withdraw from other human rights treaties. Does the Mhnister

:13:34. > :13:38.agree that if we stay in thd European Union, the real risk is

:13:39. > :13:42.that rather than human rights policy being determined by this Hotse and

:13:43. > :13:47.adjudicated on by British courts, it will be decided by the Brussels

:13:48. > :13:50.bureaucrats and the European Court of justice, and before we know it

:13:51. > :13:56.prisoners will be given the right to vote. My honourable friend lakes his

:13:57. > :14:04.powerful point in an elegant way. I would just say that, for my part,

:14:05. > :14:06.and it is true across the House there is recognition that some of

:14:07. > :14:12.the laws that come out of the European Union, whatever side of the

:14:13. > :14:17.debate you have been on, ard damaging to Civil Liberties. Whether

:14:18. > :14:22.it is the right to be forgotten which has a muddling effect on free

:14:23. > :14:29.speech. There are areas of concern, whatever side you are on in the

:14:30. > :14:33.debate. Gender equality is recognised as a fundamental human

:14:34. > :14:38.right aye the European Union, and a report from the TUC has identified

:14:39. > :14:43.20 key areas in which Europdan union law has enhanced the rights of

:14:44. > :14:46.working women, often in the face of opposition from Tory governlents.

:14:47. > :14:48.How does the minister proposed to ensure that these hard-won

:14:49. > :14:56.employment rights are protected in the event of a Brexit? I th`nk the

:14:57. > :15:00.rubble and Leonard lady for her could be sure. The vast majority of

:15:01. > :15:05.equal pay and woman's rights and work those rights had been brought

:15:06. > :15:07.into place by this House, bty collected representatives

:15:08. > :15:11.accountable to the British people. I'm surprised if she believds that

:15:12. > :15:14.the human rights or the widdr rights of our citizens and her dechduous

:15:15. > :15:24.are better protected at the European Union level, rather than by members

:15:25. > :15:33.in this House. As the Minister knows, we did not get equal pay for

:15:34. > :15:43.equal work or maternity rights until we had European directives. It was

:15:44. > :15:47.said in 2011 that maternity leave should be abolished. Would the

:15:48. > :15:53.minister wish to add his vohce to that particular pungent voice and,

:15:54. > :16:01.if not, which employment rights with the abolish in the event of a

:16:02. > :16:04.Brexit? I don't support abolishing maternity rights. Under the last

:16:05. > :16:08.government, as a backbencher, when this point was raised, I was fully

:16:09. > :16:14.in favour of transferable p`rental leave. I think she is mistaken. What

:16:15. > :16:17.is most striking is the fact that the message sending to her

:16:18. > :16:21.constituents and the wider citizens of this country, they should have no

:16:22. > :16:27.faith in her ability to protect their rights. Mr Speaker, the

:16:28. > :16:32.convention was agreed in thd 19 0s, Britain joined the European Union in

:16:33. > :16:36.the 1970s, and the Human Rights Act was agreed in the 90s. Is it not

:16:37. > :16:42.important that we revisit all of this, because rights were not

:16:43. > :16:44.invented by pieces of paper, and Richard have a British Bill of

:16:45. > :16:49.Rights? My honourable friend is right, she makes an important point

:16:50. > :16:57.about the future of human rhghts laws in this country. The rdgime

:16:58. > :17:01.that we have is based around our member ship of the European

:17:02. > :17:04.convention, and it creates legal uncertainty is the Luxembourg court

:17:05. > :17:10.starts to interfere and cre`tes risks and wide uncertainty `bout

:17:11. > :17:15.which rules apply and how. The Minister may wish it was not the

:17:16. > :17:25.case but the youth has provhded -- but the European Union has provided

:17:26. > :17:28.benefits for working parents, with time to care for sick children. Does

:17:29. > :17:34.he agree with the billionaire stockbroker who is funding the

:17:35. > :17:37.Brexit campaign, who think we should leave the union because we will be

:17:38. > :17:44.insecure again and if securhty is fantastic. It is burned and

:17:45. > :17:46.lightning, but not budge cl`rity on the issue. The bottom line hs that

:17:47. > :17:51.the honourable gentleman has got little faith in his side on the

:17:52. > :17:57.Labour Party site, of fearsomely defending workers' right. Whatever

:17:58. > :18:03.side yuan in this House, yot should want to uphold the right of this

:18:04. > :18:07.House to make those finely balanced decision-making regulations, and

:18:08. > :18:10.make sure they are tailored to the precise needs of this country, not

:18:11. > :18:20.bureaucrats and other vested interests in Brussels. Four, sir.

:18:21. > :18:25.102 business had been transferred from England and Wales under the

:18:26. > :18:39.transfer agreement. -- 102 prisoners. 2967 were serving an

:18:40. > :18:42.immediate stop your sentencd. The transfer prisoners from Scotland in

:18:43. > :18:49.and Ireland is that a matter for the evolved authorities. I was dxcepting

:18:50. > :19:00.a low number, but the number the EU transfer prisoners is pathetic. With

:19:01. > :19:09.the number of nationalists being a high proportion, is it not `nother

:19:10. > :19:17.example of them promising the Earth but delivering the square root of

:19:18. > :19:20.naff all. The main mechanisl that we get foreign national offenddrs out

:19:21. > :19:30.of our jails, which we are very keen to do, is the early removal system,

:19:31. > :19:34.which transfers about 1800 ` year. The transfer agreement is in

:19:35. > :19:39.addition to the early policd scheme. It may be help for to him if I give

:19:40. > :19:47.him the figures. This transfer agreement was only incremented in

:19:48. > :19:53.2013. We got 19 out in 2014. 29 out in 2016, due date, with roughly

:19:54. > :20:00.similar numbers awaiting tr`nsfer. That is very helpful.

:20:01. > :20:04.I wonder if the Minister cotld tell us whether the identity of these

:20:05. > :20:08.prisoners who are returned to their countries of origin is registered

:20:09. > :20:11.with the Borders and immigr`tion agency so that when a temporary

:20:12. > :20:14.entry to the UK, they can bd identified. Even if they did, is it

:20:15. > :20:23.right that we could not prevent every entry unless we were to leave

:20:24. > :20:26.the European Union? If a prhsoner is deported, they are not allowed to

:20:27. > :20:38.return to the United Kingdol during the period of their sentencd.

:20:39. > :20:43.Is it not the case, as the former Chancellor and Justice Secrdtary the

:20:44. > :20:45.mother for Rushcliffe put it, that if we left the European Union, we

:20:46. > :20:50.would go back to a system of prisoner transfer where we had no

:20:51. > :20:53.ability to deport anybody to their country of origin, unless wd could

:20:54. > :21:00.persuade the Government of that country to accept them? Why would we

:21:01. > :21:06.risk losing that progress? The honourable lady is right, in

:21:07. > :21:12.that if this country leaves the European Union, we will losd the

:21:13. > :21:18.compulsory prisoner transfer agreement that we currently have.

:21:19. > :21:29.That will cause issues in tdrms of trying to return the current EU

:21:30. > :21:32.prisoners within our prisons. Does the Minister agree with me that

:21:33. > :21:36.rather than sniping from thd sidelines on these issues, we should

:21:37. > :21:39.be playing our full part in coordinated international sdcurity

:21:40. > :21:44.frameworks, like the prisondr transfer agreement, the European

:21:45. > :21:52.Arrest Warrant, the body th`t leaves judicial cooperation between member

:21:53. > :21:55.states, and the Schengen information programme. It helps protect us

:21:56. > :22:03.against crime, terrorism and threats to our security. Yet more rdasons to

:22:04. > :22:07.vote to remain on the 23rd of June. I don't know what the sourcd of

:22:08. > :22:12.merriment is amongst the troika on the backbench, the honourable

:22:13. > :22:18.members for Christchurch, Shipley and Bury North, but I don't know

:22:19. > :22:26.whether some powder has been applied to them, but back to you, Mhnister.

:22:27. > :22:29.Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government was to see as many

:22:30. > :22:34.compulsory prisoner transfer agreement as possible because it is

:22:35. > :22:38.hard work trying to transfer all for national is, of whatever

:22:39. > :22:44.nationality, out of prisons in England and Wales. All comptlsory

:22:45. > :22:51.transfer arrangements are useful, and we currently have them with all

:22:52. > :22:59.members of the European Union, except for Ireland and...

:23:00. > :23:04.The governors of these prisoners will have freedom to run thdir

:23:05. > :23:06.presence, and find better w`ys to read the ability prisoners. -- their

:23:07. > :23:19.prisons. How can we better transfer prisoners

:23:20. > :23:22.to implement and housing? One of the things we can do is ensure that

:23:23. > :23:29.prisons, whether reform prisons or others, have close and effective

:23:30. > :23:32.working relationships in communities, which were instituted

:23:33. > :23:42.by my predecessor, which ensure that all prisoners receive support on

:23:43. > :23:46.release. Given the Justice Secretary has already announced the shx reform

:23:47. > :23:49.prisons that are to be reform prisons, and given that he has not

:23:50. > :23:53.yet and as the white paper or published the prisoner formdd Bill,

:23:54. > :23:58.could you tell the House whdn he will do the latter because `t the

:23:59. > :24:03.moment he is before the horse. - he's putting the cart beford the

:24:04. > :24:06.horse. It is a board we givd risen is as much freedom as possible, and

:24:07. > :24:11.they should be in place now in order to explore some of the additional

:24:12. > :24:14.freedoms operationally without the need for legislation. We have to

:24:15. > :24:19.publish a white paper in thd autumn, and hope you publish legisl`tion

:24:20. > :24:23.alongside it. Would my bright honourable friend confirmed that the

:24:24. > :24:29.additional funding allocated to reduce violence in prisons will be

:24:30. > :24:34.given to governors to make sure to spend on a scheme that will have a

:24:35. > :24:40.real impact? It absolutely well The effective team managing the scheme

:24:41. > :24:44.have found an additional ?10 million in order to help mitigate the

:24:45. > :24:51.effects of prisoner violencd and to reduce violence overall. Th`t will

:24:52. > :24:58.go directly to the front line. Reforms should be to stop pregnant

:24:59. > :25:01.women giving birth in prison. Could we look at a pilot study so the

:25:02. > :25:09.women don't have to give birth in front of a unnamed guards? The

:25:10. > :25:14.honourable lady makes an absolutely vital point. We are looking overall

:25:15. > :25:20.at how the male offenders are treated. One thing we do nedd to do,

:25:21. > :25:24.and in this is not of the universal view, but we have good think hard

:25:25. > :25:30.about how we reduce the milk population in prison and trdat them

:25:31. > :25:33.more sensitively. Would my bride honourable friend

:25:34. > :25:39.agree that reform prisons are an important part of a broader package

:25:40. > :25:45.of reform of penal, come and justice policy so that not only do we make

:25:46. > :25:50.better use of the prisons btt make sure that we can reduce the total

:25:51. > :25:52.numbers going there by findhng effective and successful me`ns of

:25:53. > :25:57.dealing with offending in the committee?

:25:58. > :26:06.He he is absolutely right. Hn the same way as the creation of the

:26:07. > :26:14.trust, academy schools were not just the aspect of the reform of

:26:15. > :26:19.education. It is part of a broader change to the criminal justhce

:26:20. > :26:25.system and he is right to s`y that part of that is diverted and people

:26:26. > :26:28.away from custody when you get. Will the Secretary of State when

:26:29. > :26:34.developing the reform prisons take into account the experience Feltham

:26:35. > :26:38.Young offenders unit which has become the first autism accredited

:26:39. > :26:52.prison in this country? I ldd a group of cross-party all-party - I

:26:53. > :26:58.led a group on this and helped in looking at this. Which reform prison

:26:59. > :27:02.will work towards accreditation for autism and will eventually be able

:27:03. > :27:09.to achieve that accreditation before they come into operation? Mx right

:27:10. > :27:12.honourable friend has been ` fantastic campaign of indivhduals

:27:13. > :27:17.living with autism and I will ensure that reform prisons and othdrs learn

:27:18. > :27:22.from Feltham. A disproportionate number of people are in custody and

:27:23. > :27:24.are living with a variety of mental health and other problems including

:27:25. > :27:42.many of them being on the attistic spectrum. There are clear rtles in

:27:43. > :27:51.place with regards to civil servants covered by the current guiddlines. I

:27:52. > :27:57.am grateful for that reply but in March the Mail on Sunday uncovered

:27:58. > :28:01.evidence of format EMRO J chvil servants boasting of their links to

:28:02. > :28:06.Government while working for private firms in order to secure

:28:07. > :28:13.multi-million pound contracts both here in Britain and abroad. --

:28:14. > :28:17.former Ministry of Justice. Will the Minister commit to the Housd to

:28:18. > :28:26.publish in for any findings of that review? There was an investhgation

:28:27. > :28:30.following those reports. No impropriety was found. I am happy

:28:31. > :28:36.for the honourable gentleman to meet with officials. If I can publish, I

:28:37. > :28:46.will. If I can't, I will explain why. Meetings will take place. From

:28:47. > :28:53.later this month, Her Majesty's prison and young -- Her Majdsty s HM

:28:54. > :28:57.Prison and Young Offenders Institution of Glen Parva whll use

:28:58. > :29:04.the existing 's estate as effectively as possible. -- existing

:29:05. > :29:09.estate. I thank my right honourable friend for that answer. Can he tell

:29:10. > :29:12.me what their staff ratios currently offer young adults in Glen Parva and

:29:13. > :29:19.what they will be expected to be once addled prisoners come hnto the

:29:20. > :29:27.prison? If it doesn't have the answer, would he give me th`t answer

:29:28. > :29:31.by letter by the end of next week? I am sorry to disappoint but H don't

:29:32. > :29:36.have that information with le so if he will a skews me, I will write to

:29:37. > :29:45.him with that information. ,- he will excuse me. One of the parts of

:29:46. > :29:49.my job that most inspires md is meeting with businesses and trade

:29:50. > :29:53.bodies to talk about the benefits of employing offenders on rele`se.

:29:54. > :29:56.Following the Prime Minister's announcement of change to

:29:57. > :30:00.recruitment practices for the civil service, I'm keen to encour`ge other

:30:01. > :30:10.employers to ban the box whdn recruiting also. This fits ,- this

:30:11. > :30:15.fits alongside our review. H thank the Minister for his answer. The

:30:16. > :30:19.first Hampshire community company women's Centre opened in 2002 and

:30:20. > :30:23.part of their work helps wolen offenders into employment. Will he

:30:24. > :30:29.congratulate them for their work and also support the continued

:30:30. > :30:35.employment of female workers in the area? I am pleased to do ex`ctly

:30:36. > :30:40.that. For that excellent centre to succeed, we need far more elployers

:30:41. > :30:45.to step up to the plate and make a commitment to training and hiring

:30:46. > :30:50.ex-offenders. Is the Ministdr aware that there have been some excellent

:30:51. > :30:56.examples of major companies taking on prisoners, training them while

:30:57. > :31:01.they are still in prison? You have the wonderful programme in Redding

:31:02. > :31:08.Jail and other partnerships that we are encouraging at the moment? I can

:31:09. > :31:13.tell the honourable gentlem`n that I know he takes a serious intdrest in

:31:14. > :31:18.these issues. I am going rotnd the country talking to employers, often

:31:19. > :31:22.taking them into prisons. I am keen on the academy model where dmployers

:31:23. > :31:27.come into prisons, train thdm there and the prisoners go out on day

:31:28. > :31:30.release to work its billions in that business and as they leave the

:31:31. > :31:34.prison gate, they do so with a contract of employment and can go

:31:35. > :31:39.into work and it helps secure their accommodation and get their lives

:31:40. > :31:42.back on an even keel. One of the problems faced by ex-offenddrs is

:31:43. > :31:46.not having a secure home to go to once they are released from prison

:31:47. > :31:50.and therefore they can't get a job. What further steps can my honourable

:31:51. > :31:55.friend take to ensure they believe in prison are going to leavd to a

:31:56. > :32:01.secure home where they can then seek proper employment? He is right to

:32:02. > :32:05.draw the link between an -- accommodation and employment. If

:32:06. > :32:13.more prisoners were to leavd prison being able to pay a deposit, a first

:32:14. > :32:19.month's rent, that would help. If we can get more offers of employment to

:32:20. > :32:27.prisoners, they will find it easier to get accommodation. Betwedn now

:32:28. > :32:31.and 2020, the European Union is investing over 9 billion in the UK

:32:32. > :32:39.on skills, training and support for those at risk of social exclusion.

:32:40. > :32:42.One example is here in London at the Brixton prison bad boys bakdry

:32:43. > :32:46.project which trains inmates to become beggars and find work when

:32:47. > :32:51.they are released. Since thd Justice Secretary believes in giving inmates

:32:52. > :32:55.a second chance and has talked about the importance of such scheles,

:32:56. > :33:04.would he not use his loaf and encourage people to vote to remain

:33:05. > :33:08.on June 23? I can say that H am a huge fan of schemes like thd bad

:33:09. > :33:13.boys bakery which I have visited in Brixton. I can still remembdr the

:33:14. > :33:19.smell of the delicious lemon cake wafting out when I went to visit.

:33:20. > :33:23.More seriously, when we see the purpose of prisoners when they are

:33:24. > :33:27.given a real opportunity to do working presence that offers the

:33:28. > :33:32.prospects of a job on release, they do engage that is exactly what we

:33:33. > :33:43.need to see a lot more of. Bad boy bakers felt privileged to bd visited

:33:44. > :33:47.by the honourable gentleman. We will bring forward our proposals for a

:33:48. > :33:51.British Bill of Rights to rdplace the Human Rights Act. We have made

:33:52. > :33:54.progress on the develop of our plans with input from academics and many

:33:55. > :33:59.others right across the UK. Our proposals will be given in due

:34:00. > :34:05.course and we will consult fully on them. He says the plans will be

:34:06. > :34:13.published in due course but plans to repeal the Human Rights Act were

:34:14. > :34:18.considered in 2010 and 2015 and in the Queen's Speech in 2015 `nd 016.

:34:19. > :34:22.Could the minister explain why his department has so far failed to

:34:23. > :34:30.publish any proposals or begin a consultation on these plans? She is

:34:31. > :34:34.eager to get involved in a debate on human rights have been disthnguished

:34:35. > :34:38.people on her high -- side of the House by the way through to the

:34:39. > :34:42.current Shadow Justice Secrdtary who talked about the defects in the

:34:43. > :34:50.Human Rights Act. We intend to act on them and look forward to debating

:34:51. > :34:56.this in due course. Improving safety is a top priority and the governing

:34:57. > :35:02.-- the governor at HM Prison Lewes has put safety issues in pl`ce with

:35:03. > :35:05.additional training to support vulnerable prisoners. A task force

:35:06. > :35:09.has been created to support and challenge establishments with a high

:35:10. > :35:12.rate of violence and an addhtional ?10 million has been allocated to

:35:13. > :35:20.those prisoners facing the greatest safety challenges. I am surd the

:35:21. > :35:24.Minister has seen the Indepdndent report which highlights significant

:35:25. > :35:28.security issues not just for inmates but for prison officers as well

:35:29. > :35:34.Will he give an assurance that he will look at the findings in that

:35:35. > :35:39.report but also the recommendations? I can give absolutely that

:35:40. > :35:44.assurance. I believe she is visiting the prison shortly and we whll learn

:35:45. > :35:51.from every report there is currently stuck there is a probation ombudsman

:35:52. > :35:56.repeat on a recent incident and we will learn from that and continue to

:35:57. > :36:03.make improvements in this ilportant area. It is not just HM Prison Lewes

:36:04. > :36:10.that has a problem with violence. Franklin prison has a prison and one

:36:11. > :36:14.woman says she is dreading this time she gets a phone call to sax her son

:36:15. > :36:21.has been murdered. What can be done for these prisoners who fear their

:36:22. > :36:29.lives and for the anguish c`used to the families? The Secretary of State

:36:30. > :36:34.has said very clearly that reducing violence in our prisons is ` top

:36:35. > :36:37.operational priority. He has allocated an additional ?10 million

:36:38. > :36:45.and a lot of the violence is caused by these terrible new psychoactive

:36:46. > :36:49.substances coming into prisons. We have now made them illegal thanks to

:36:50. > :36:53.the work of my right honour`ble friend through these psycho`ctive

:36:54. > :36:58.substances act. That is a hdlp. Shortly we are rolling out world's

:36:59. > :37:12.leading testing and that will also make a difference. There is a link

:37:13. > :37:16.between violence and drugs. With permission I would like to take

:37:17. > :37:20.question 30 and 15 together. The review will report in due course and

:37:21. > :37:24.will assess how effective the introduction of employment Tribunal

:37:25. > :37:32.fees has been in achievement of the original objectives. We still await

:37:33. > :37:37.the official report but it hs obvious that tribunal fees have a

:37:38. > :37:46.jet that have affected the number of cases and especially by womdn. In

:37:47. > :37:50.2013 now 80,398. 2015, just 642 . Will the Minister elaborate on these

:37:51. > :38:00.figures and also elaborate on the mass cases bought by men. Wdre they

:38:01. > :38:08.from the private sector, whhte paper, blue collar or white collared

:38:09. > :38:11.workers? I think I should s`y it is only fair and reasonable th`t those

:38:12. > :38:14.using tribunal is make some contribution to the cost whdre they

:38:15. > :38:22.are able to. It is not right that the whole bill which is arotnd 71

:38:23. > :38:26.million a year should be taken up by the tax payers. There is a system of

:38:27. > :38:31.free remissions for protecthng vulnerable workers and we h`ve taken

:38:32. > :38:34.steps to raise awareness of that scheme and have encouraged voluntary

:38:35. > :38:37.reconciliation which is a good way to get disputes settled awax from

:38:38. > :38:44.the costly environment in a court room. I received assurances from the

:38:45. > :38:48.Government that the post-implementation of tribtnal fees

:38:49. > :38:52.will be published last year. We now find ourselves six months bdyond

:38:53. > :38:57.that deadline and we are sthll waiting. Evidence suggests that

:38:58. > :39:01.tribunal fees act as a barrher to justice and of compounding pregnancy

:39:02. > :39:06.and maternity discrimination. While we wait for this Government to get a

:39:07. > :39:09.move on, women are discriminated daily. When will the Ministdr

:39:10. > :39:15.finally published the post-implementation of revidw and

:39:16. > :39:20.scrap tribunal fees completdly? She makes powerful points. We are going

:39:21. > :39:25.to publish this shortly. It is right to point out that we are sedking to

:39:26. > :39:34.divert people away from costly and acrimonious tribunal hearings. Fees

:39:35. > :39:38.are part of that. Although reconciliation isn't compulsory

:39:39. > :39:43.coming 75% of cases, parties agree to participate in it and thd

:39:44. > :39:46.satisfaction levels are high. With the Minister agree that employment

:39:47. > :39:52.tribunal fees have played an important part in reducing the

:39:53. > :39:56.threat of litigation that h`ngs over businesses particularly small

:39:57. > :40:03.businesses? These fees play an important part in the resurgence of

:40:04. > :40:08.our economy and job creation. He has a lot of experience of this and he

:40:09. > :40:15.is right to look at the jewdl impact this has an impact on small

:40:16. > :40:20.businesses. At the same timd this isn't a binary gain. Early

:40:21. > :40:24.conciliation is used by over 80 000 litigants in the first year and over

:40:25. > :40:30.80% of those participating reporter back they were satisfied with the

:40:31. > :40:33.outcome. I have met many constituents who say they whll not

:40:34. > :40:40.pursue their cases to the tribunal because of the introduction of fees.

:40:41. > :40:43.Doesn't it show that this acts as a deterrent? The honourable gdntleman

:40:44. > :40:47.makes an important point but you have also got a factor in the

:40:48. > :40:51.proportion of those that have been diverted into conciliation `nd often

:40:52. > :40:55.for resolving disputes, a DS is going to be the best outcomd in

:40:56. > :40:57.terms of resolving the disptte and the claimants who would othdrwise

:40:58. > :41:13.struggle to pay the cost. Questionable 14, Mr Speaker. As I

:41:14. > :41:20.have said, we are looking to report on this, and layered howl stccessful

:41:21. > :41:32.it has been with all of these objectives. Does this mean the

:41:33. > :41:40.Government has plans to repdal the Human Rights Act, has that been

:41:41. > :41:42.shelved? We absolutely resolute about revising the Human Rights Act

:41:43. > :41:48.with the British Bill of Rights We are working on those were bozos and

:41:49. > :41:51.she will not have do wait long to engage the substance rather than the

:41:52. > :41:59.scare stories in the media. Number 16.

:42:00. > :42:02.Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Government is concerned abott the

:42:03. > :42:11.number and cost of whiplash claims, in particular the impact on

:42:12. > :42:16.insurance claims. The consultation will be accompanied by a further

:42:17. > :42:26.impact assessment. How does the Minister responded to

:42:27. > :42:32.my constituents you have -- who have concerns, that they will be unjust

:42:33. > :42:35.and will not provide the robber compensation for those injured

:42:36. > :42:41.through negligence? The Govdrnment's propose reforms will ensure that the

:42:42. > :42:46.current cost of ?2 billion `nnually for whiplash claims should be

:42:47. > :42:49.reduced to ?1 billion for the insurance industry. It will also

:42:50. > :42:57.ensure that the average person's insurance premium should go down by

:42:58. > :43:01.up to ?50. In the UK, 80% of road traffic

:43:02. > :43:13.accidents generate the whiplash claim. In France, 3% of road traffic

:43:14. > :43:17.accidents do that. Insurancd premiums in the UK are 52% higher,

:43:18. > :43:25.meaning that many young people cannot afford insurance. I'l go full

:43:26. > :43:29.to my honourable friend for making that point. He is right, it is

:43:30. > :43:34.important to benefit all other constituents that we deal whth this,

:43:35. > :43:37.and the way to deal with it is with the reforms that we are proposing,

:43:38. > :43:39.for which there will be a consultation in the not too distant

:43:40. > :43:50.future. That will ensure th`t premiums do go down.

:43:51. > :43:59.I thank the rubble friend. -- my honourable friend. I

:44:00. > :44:02.understand they have plans to approach the stalking guidelines

:44:03. > :44:17.next year. The Justice Minister has re`d our

:44:18. > :44:21.paper on the stalking laws. Mr Speaker, what does my rubbld friend

:44:22. > :44:25.think can be done to assess the case for extending the maximum sdntence

:44:26. > :44:29.for a few very dangerous st`lkers who severely damage the livds of

:44:30. > :44:32.their victims? I thank my honourable friend. He made his point in a

:44:33. > :44:42.lyrical way this morning. Hd knows we are looking at a range of issues,

:44:43. > :44:53.to make sure we best protect the public. We had to bring it serious

:44:54. > :45:01.consideration. Topical questions, Tom Elliott. Number one, Mr Speaker.

:45:02. > :45:06.There were a number of disthnguished figures who were recognised in Her

:45:07. > :45:10.Majesty's birthday honours list at the weekend. One I took ple`sure in

:45:11. > :45:18.seeing recognise, L Wright Palmer, who is an ex-offender and now works

:45:19. > :45:25.helping young people avoid crime and make constructive use of thdir

:45:26. > :45:29.lives. -- Elroy Palmer. His testimony and experience and his

:45:30. > :45:34.example show what can be achieved if an individual in custody decides to

:45:35. > :45:40.change their lives. His lifd has changed for the better, Hadley has

:45:41. > :45:50.changed -- and he has changdd other's lives for that well.

:45:51. > :46:00.Could the minister in for md if there is any requirement of Her

:46:01. > :46:07.Majesty's government under human rights if there is a further inquest

:46:08. > :46:16.request by a family member of the deceased?

:46:17. > :46:20.Can I thank hymn for his qudstion. This was an issue that was of

:46:21. > :46:23.concern for him and many people in Northern Ireland. There must be an

:46:24. > :46:27.inquest where there may havd been state involvement in the de`th of

:46:28. > :46:34.any individual. In such casds, the coroner not only investigatds the

:46:35. > :46:40.wire when, but also the of the death. There may be an enquhry

:46:41. > :46:47.instead of an inquest if thd coroner's investigation cannot

:46:48. > :46:53.ascertain all of these mattdrs. Roughly 20% of prisoners have spent

:46:54. > :46:59.some time in care, and beathng some young care leavers in my

:47:00. > :47:02.constituency, prison is seen as an attractive proposition becatse it

:47:03. > :47:05.provides a roof over the he`d and a warm meal every day. What c`n we do

:47:06. > :47:11.to make sure they have bettdr options than prison? I thank my

:47:12. > :47:20.honourable friend for raising this important issue. I can tell her that

:47:21. > :47:24.some of the recommendations will touch on the criminal justice

:47:25. > :47:29.system. I can tell my honourable friend that the care and supervision

:47:30. > :47:34.of young offenders in custody is not good enough, and that is whx the

:47:35. > :47:38.Government has asked Charlid Taylor, a former Chief Executive of the

:47:39. > :47:43.National college teaching and leadership to lead a review of the

:47:44. > :47:48.whole youth justice system, and that final report will be out shortly. So

:47:49. > :47:52.far today, we have asked thd Secretary of State about thd risk

:47:53. > :47:57.Brexit poses to human rights, workers' rights, to the transfer

:47:58. > :48:04.directive and even to his Prison Reform Trust. We have had no answer

:48:05. > :48:15.from him on any of that. For those who want to protect your rights and

:48:16. > :48:22.-- human rights, etc, should vote to remain.

:48:23. > :48:28.It is not a view universallx shared by Labour voters. I respect the way

:48:29. > :48:31.he put his case. Speaking on behalf of the Government, and the

:48:32. > :48:35.Governor's position is clear on this matter. Some of us as ministers have

:48:36. > :48:40.been given leave to depart from that position for is that I have done so

:48:41. > :48:45.outside of this House, but H don't intent to dwell on the issud now.

:48:46. > :48:48.Let me have one more try, bdcause the Justice Secretary is right to

:48:49. > :48:55.recognise that human rights and MM shivered EU you are linked, -- our

:48:56. > :49:00.membership of the EU are linked but we think that is a good thing. It

:49:01. > :49:07.strengthens democracy and the role of Lott. His recipe for ble`k

:49:08. > :49:16.isolationism has him much into the drum of Nigel Farage, Donald Trump

:49:17. > :49:21.and so on. I understand why the honourable gentleman makes the case

:49:22. > :49:24.in the way he does, and he does with weight force and fluency as he often

:49:25. > :49:29.does. One thing I would say is that, whatever the decision of thd British

:49:30. > :49:33.people, I have confidence in them to insure that workers' rights and

:49:34. > :49:39.human rights, friendly corporation and the principles of decency and

:49:40. > :49:42.fair treatment for all be preserved, come what may. I have ultim`te

:49:43. > :49:49.confidence in the British pdople and in debt collector -- in thehr

:49:50. > :49:54.elected representative is to protect decent values. I would not suggest

:49:55. > :50:05.that anyone, whether advocating to remain or leave, as anything other

:50:06. > :50:14.-- once anything other than to protect UN rights.

:50:15. > :50:18.-- human rights. What services will be avail`ble for

:50:19. > :50:22.people with mental health problem is in the justice system?

:50:23. > :50:27.This is a serious point. He may know that mental health provision within

:50:28. > :50:35.prisons is provided by NHS Dngland, and local health boards in Wales. It

:50:36. > :50:40.is based on locally assessed need. We are keen to give governors

:50:41. > :50:43.increased freedoms and flexhbilities to respond to the needs of their

:50:44. > :50:51.populations, and we are acthvely talking to ministers in the

:50:52. > :50:55.Department of Health on this issue. Could the prisons minister simply

:50:56. > :50:59.confirm for me that despite his patients of recruitment, thdre are

:51:00. > :51:05.still 7000 fewer prison offhcers in post today than there were hn May

:51:06. > :51:12.2010? As a former distinguished prison

:51:13. > :51:18.minister himself, I do not deny what he is saying. Since the 1st of

:51:19. > :51:24.January 2015, we have appointed 2830 new prison officers, a net hncrease

:51:25. > :51:31.of 530. That is since the start of last year. I would also point out

:51:32. > :51:42.that in the average prison population in 2010... It has

:51:43. > :51:50.remained reasonably stable over the last six years.

:51:51. > :51:56.Hampshire's new lease and Crime Commissioner has put restor`tive

:51:57. > :52:04.justice at the heart of this policy were to ensure that the concern

:52:05. > :52:10.crime are not ignored. This is the first opportunity I've had to

:52:11. > :52:15.congratulate Michael on his election. I was conscious

:52:16. > :52:23.restorative justice was part of the campaign. It is an important part of

:52:24. > :52:26.the support for victims, but we have to make sure that they want to be

:52:27. > :52:46.part of that and it is not forced on them. Has the Minister got `ny plans

:52:47. > :52:51.to fund eligibility in employment tribunal 's?

:52:52. > :52:57.The review will be published shortly, and it is a fact that a lot

:52:58. > :53:01.of people who would have prdviously gone to implement tribunal 's are

:53:02. > :53:07.now going to be considered the siege, and we will certainlx be

:53:08. > :53:14.making sure that they are covered in the review.

:53:15. > :53:20.At justice questions in March, I raised concerns about the sxstematic

:53:21. > :53:23.failure of the SRA in regards to a case in my constituency. In Mike

:53:24. > :53:28.Spears in dealing with this case, it is clear that self-governing as are

:53:29. > :53:38.a needs reforming to improvd accountability and confidence. We

:53:39. > :53:41.need to work together to ensured the art funded properly and

:53:42. > :53:47.independently. The solicitors regulatory atthority

:53:48. > :53:53.is an independent body, and if she wishes to have a meeting, I am happy

:53:54. > :53:59.to do so. I wonder if the Secretary of State

:54:00. > :54:04.would be good enough to tell us in the wake of the atrocity in Orlando,

:54:05. > :54:08.what steps he is taking to lonitor and address homophobic hate crime

:54:09. > :54:13.against lesbian and gay people in this country?

:54:14. > :54:19.I think the honourable jet `nd for his question. Everyone in this House

:54:20. > :54:29.will have been utterly disgtsted by the atrocity perpetrated in Orlando.

:54:30. > :54:32.The hate in that killer's hdart was the prejudice, a homophobic

:54:33. > :54:37.prejudice which everyone in this House would want to denouncd. For

:54:38. > :54:41.that reason, I think he is right to say that we need to be vigilant I

:54:42. > :54:48.will pay tribute to everyond who attended the vigil last night to

:54:49. > :54:51.show our solidarity with thd victims, and I will pay to be to the

:54:52. > :55:00.Home Secretary, who has been leading work to insure that we can

:55:01. > :55:12.anticipate threats to the LGBT unity here, and we need to keep pdople

:55:13. > :55:20.say. It is a key part that people should be allowed to live and love

:55:21. > :55:24.as they choose. As a house, we stand resolutely behind the vital

:55:25. > :55:30.importance of recognising and celebrating difference in otr

:55:31. > :55:33.society. Earlier this month, my right

:55:34. > :55:36.honourable friend, the Lord Chancellor, expressed his

:55:37. > :55:40.frustration at the inabilitx of that country to be able to prevent the

:55:41. > :55:44.entry of foreign national criminals and even terror suspects into our

:55:45. > :55:48.country. Can my right honourable friend tell the House how things

:55:49. > :55:56.will change when we leave the European Union? I pick my honourable

:55:57. > :56:01.friend. It is well-known th`t the present tests for denial of entry in

:56:02. > :56:03.the EU is the must prove a genuine threat, that has created thd

:56:04. > :56:15.faculties over the years. Last week the Public Accounts

:56:16. > :56:19.Committee published a report and one of our conclusions was the criminal

:56:20. > :56:24.justice system is not good dnough at supporting victims and witndsses.

:56:25. > :56:29.Only 55% of victims would s`y they would go through the process again.

:56:30. > :56:39.Does the Secretary of State agree with our conclusion? Yes, I do. It

:56:40. > :56:46.has been the habit when gredted by the Public Accounts Committde, to

:56:47. > :56:51.attempt to suggest this is `n exercise in... Well, there have been

:56:52. > :56:55.criticisms in the past. This report is a welcome wake-up call. Ly

:56:56. > :57:00.honourable friend will bring forward a green paper in how we can better

:57:01. > :57:09.help victims and witnesses but there is so much that we need to do to

:57:10. > :57:13.improve the system. Having `lso attended the APPG for autisl's visit

:57:14. > :57:17.and have been inspired by what the governor and his team are doing can

:57:18. > :57:22.I ask that prison's Minister if you cannot cut the bill to improve the

:57:23. > :57:30.life chances of the 5% of the prison population you're estimated to

:57:31. > :57:34.suffer with autism? He has shown a serious interest in this issue and I

:57:35. > :57:38.was pleased he was able to go there yesterday. I am not sure whdther we

:57:39. > :57:43.need to legislate. We need to spread the good practice across thd prison

:57:44. > :57:51.system and I hope the reforl prison governors will be in the le`d in

:57:52. > :57:57.doing that. On the 19th of @pril, the secretary said there is a

:57:58. > :58:04.restraint to do the things he was elected to do. Providing it can only

:58:05. > :58:17.be a good thing, what did hd have in mind? My view is any ministdr in

:58:18. > :58:21.this house should be accountable to the people of this country further

:58:22. > :58:26.decisions that they make and when we have a situation where the Duropean

:58:27. > :58:29.Court of Justice can rule in a way in which there is no recourse or

:58:30. > :58:35.appeal, then our democracy hs undermined by that. Our democracy is

:58:36. > :58:40.pressure -- pressures and the European system is no friend of

:58:41. > :58:46.that. Next week the Parliamdntary Assembly of the Council of Durope

:58:47. > :58:51.will point a British judge to replace the judge on his retirement.

:58:52. > :59:03.Is that now an appropriate loment for us to recognise and thank him

:59:04. > :59:07.for the work he has taken ott? He makes a very important point. The

:59:08. > :59:12.European Convention on Human Rights was offered in large part bx a

:59:13. > :59:16.British lawyer, a former Lord Chancellor. The rights cont`ined in

:59:17. > :59:21.that convention, whatever one thinks of the operations of the cotrt, the

:59:22. > :59:26.rights contained very precious rights. Can I thank Judge M`honey

:59:27. > :59:33.for his expanding work and know there are some lawyers who stand

:59:34. > :59:35.ready to replace him and I `m sure the Council of Europe will give

:59:36. > :59:44.careful thought to insuring we have the right candidate in placd to

:59:45. > :59:51.emulate his work. Constituents including the families of D`vid

:59:52. > :59:55.steel and Mr and Mrs Metcalfe were dismayed that there will be an

:59:56. > :59:59.announcement on criminal drhving but that turned out not be the case

:00:00. > :00:03.When he give an assurance that the review will happen quickly `nd we

:00:04. > :00:10.will get changes to give better to victims of criminal driving? I know

:00:11. > :00:15.the honourable gentleman takes a close interest. Everything we do on

:00:16. > :00:19.sentencing is in need to drhve down reoffending. We will be looking at a

:00:20. > :00:24.range of proposals with those twin objectives in mind. We are looking

:00:25. > :00:31.at proposals around the potdntial for prisoners to earn their release

:00:32. > :00:36.from custody and looking at driving offences and we welcome any ideas

:00:37. > :00:41.along the way. The former Jtstice Secretary was warned legal `id cuts

:00:42. > :00:45.to domestic violence victims were and I quote grossly unfair `nd

:00:46. > :00:50.harsh. That is why the Court of Appeal shut them down. In rdsponse,

:00:51. > :00:54.the Government decided to do a survey with the very limited time

:00:55. > :00:57.frame for people to fill it in. Does the Government think that w`s a

:00:58. > :01:06.reasonable way to take this situation seriously? Wouldn't it be

:01:07. > :01:10.better to have a full and transparent consultation? I say very

:01:11. > :01:14.gently she is completely misinformed and wrong. Following that court

:01:15. > :01:18.judgment, what that Governmdnt had -- did was to increase the time

:01:19. > :01:23.period from two years to five years and we have allowed financi`l abuse

:01:24. > :01:26.to be taken into account. Wd are having those immediate changes to

:01:27. > :01:30.the system and are engaging with the relevant stakeholders so we can

:01:31. > :01:40.bring in a better system whhch will be satisfactory to all concdrned.

:01:41. > :01:45.The Home Office has refused to disclose data on sexual violence

:01:46. > :01:49.towards detainees at yours would immigration centre because the

:01:50. > :01:53.information could damage thd commercial interests of the

:01:54. > :01:57.companies that run the facility Can he give assurances that the Ministry

:01:58. > :02:04.of Justice policy will not put profit before people in prisons like

:02:05. > :02:08.this? The honourable lady is concerned about the fate of

:02:09. > :02:12.detainees but the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office work

:02:13. > :02:16.closely together to ensure that detainees are well looked after and

:02:17. > :02:19.it is my understanding that the reporting in the press may have

:02:20. > :02:24.inadvertently led to the honourable lady raising an issue which is not

:02:25. > :02:31.strictly the case. I know I will be working with the Home Officd to

:02:32. > :02:41.properly address the concerns. Urgent question, Mr Andy Burnham. To

:02:42. > :02:44.ask the Home Secretary to m`ke a statement on the incidence of

:02:45. > :02:54.violence in Marseille over the weekend involving England f`ns at

:02:55. > :02:58.the Euro 2016 football tournament. As I told the House yesterd`y, the

:02:59. > :03:02.trouble that occurred in Marseille involving England supporters was

:03:03. > :03:05.deeply disturbing. I made it clear that coordinated groups of Russian

:03:06. > :03:10.supporters were responsible for instigating a good deal of the worst

:03:11. > :03:14.of islands. You wafer within the last hour has announced that Russia

:03:15. > :03:16.is subject to a suspended disqualification from the

:03:17. > :03:20.tournament. This Government's priority is to work with thd French

:03:21. > :03:24.authorities to ensure the events of the weekend are not repeated. This

:03:25. > :03:27.morning I updated Cabinet colleagues on the full range of measurds that

:03:28. > :03:31.we are taking head of the m`tch between England and Wales on

:03:32. > :03:33.Thursday. It had already