:00:10. > :00:14.Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice. Mr
:00:15. > :00:27.Dominic Raab. Number one. First of all, I would like to pay
:00:28. > :00:31.tribute to the work done by my honourable friend on human rights
:00:32. > :00:36.reform as a minister in this department. He is a great champion
:00:37. > :00:40.of liberty. This Government is committed to scrapping the Human
:00:41. > :00:46.Rights Act and introducing a British Bill of Rights. Dominic Raab. Thank
:00:47. > :00:50.you, Mr Speaker. At the outset, it is an honour to be the first
:00:51. > :00:54.honourable member to welcome the new Justice Secretary and the new front
:00:55. > :01:01.bench team to their posts. I wish them every success. Can I,
:01:02. > :01:03.personally, from experience, assure her that being a lawyer is of very
:01:04. > :01:08.limited value in her departments, no offence to the Minister of State!
:01:09. > :01:12.Britain's decision to leave the EU will remove the jurisdiction of the
:01:13. > :01:17.Luxembourg court, probably the biggest obstacle to delivering a
:01:18. > :01:20.Bill of Rights. Can I welcome her in continuing with this reform and ask
:01:21. > :01:24.the government to provide consultation as soon as possible?
:01:25. > :01:29.I thank my honourable friend for his question. This is an important
:01:30. > :01:33.reform, we need to get it right. We will be introducing proposals in due
:01:34. > :01:39.course, we will deliver on this manifesto commitment.
:01:40. > :01:45.Which convention rights does the Justice Secretary propose to leave
:01:46. > :01:49.out of the Bill of Rights? I thank the honourable gentleman for
:01:50. > :01:52.his question. I remember with fondness our time together on the
:01:53. > :01:58.Justice select committee, where he had many good thoughts to put
:01:59. > :02:04.forward at that time. We will be putting out our proposals in due
:02:05. > :02:09.course that will discuss this issue in detail. One of the important
:02:10. > :02:13.points is that we want to see the ultimate arbiter of those rights be
:02:14. > :02:18.the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.
:02:19. > :02:22.Charlie Elphicke. Does the Secretary of State agree with me that one of
:02:23. > :02:27.the problems with the current setup is the code includes many
:02:28. > :02:31.reservations and qualifications which the European Court does not
:02:32. > :02:35.embrace, and a British Bill of Rights could ensure that there is
:02:36. > :02:39.proper balance and the interest of justice can be served? My honourable
:02:40. > :02:44.friend makes a very good point, that is absolutely the reason that we
:02:45. > :02:50.want to pursue a British Bill of Rights that'll put that in place.
:02:51. > :02:54.Alistair Carmichael. If we are to have the Supreme Court as the
:02:55. > :02:59.ultimate arbiter, does this mean that if the Lord Chancellor wants to
:03:00. > :03:01.withdraw from the European Convention?
:03:02. > :03:08.The Prime Minister has been very clear that leaving the easy HR is
:03:09. > :03:13.not something that we will pursue. Julian Brazier. Could I too welcome
:03:14. > :03:16.my right honourable friend to her post, and her determination to
:03:17. > :03:21.proceed with a British Bill of Rights? Could I urge her to remember
:03:22. > :03:27.that the cornerstone of the rule of law in this country has always been
:03:28. > :03:34.the sovereignty of Parliament, could I urge her not to listen to those
:03:35. > :03:40.who argue that somehow or other getting rid of an act which came 40
:03:41. > :03:43.years after we had signed up to the European Convention on human rights
:03:44. > :03:49.somehow or other undermines our position within the treaty?
:03:50. > :03:53.He is absolutely right, human rights were not invented in 1998 with the
:03:54. > :03:57.Human Rights Act. We have a strong record of the country of human
:03:58. > :04:01.rights dating back to Magna Carta. The British Bill of Rights is going
:04:02. > :04:07.to be the next step in enshrining those rights in our laws.
:04:08. > :04:11.May I welcome the Secretary of State to her new role and say that well,
:04:12. > :04:15.of course it is not a prerequisite for her role to be a lawyer, she
:04:16. > :04:20.will no doubt wish to listen carefully to any legal advice she
:04:21. > :04:24.receives in order... Relation to any proposals to reform the law. There
:04:25. > :04:28.was almost universal opposition to the repeal of the Human Rights Act
:04:29. > :04:33.in Scotland, reflected in the Scottish parliament and across
:04:34. > :04:37.Scottish Civic Society. On the 11th of August I wrote to the Government
:04:38. > :04:42.of Britain seeking clarification on the plans of the so-called reform to
:04:43. > :04:46.the Human Rights Act. I have yet to receive a substantive response. At
:04:47. > :04:49.what stage in her plans with the Secretary of State seek to consult
:04:50. > :04:53.with the Scottish Government, and can she confirmed that she will
:04:54. > :04:58.listen to and respect the answer? I thank her for her question. I have
:04:59. > :05:09.already had a number of legal meetings on this issue and I am sure
:05:10. > :05:12.I will enjoy working with the legal profession in this role. The Prime
:05:13. > :05:15.Minister has already had a very good meeting with the First Minister of
:05:16. > :05:16.Scotland, I will be meeting the Scottish justice minister shortly to
:05:17. > :05:20.discuss a number of issues. Order, I apologise, I had not
:05:21. > :05:23.realised that the honourable and Leonard lady wanted a second bite of
:05:24. > :05:29.herself. LAUGHTER
:05:30. > :05:34.I was rather hoping to have the second bite of Her Majesty's
:05:35. > :05:38.Government. I thank the Secretary of State for
:05:39. > :05:41.her early response. If she has been having legal meetings about the
:05:42. > :05:45.Human Rights Act she would have been advised that human rights are not a
:05:46. > :05:47.reserved matter, therefore the Scottish Parliament must be
:05:48. > :05:52.consulted regarding any legislation with regard to human rights. During
:05:53. > :05:57.the independence rep around, Scotland was told it was an equal
:05:58. > :06:00.partner in this union. Did she appreciate that to repeal the Human
:06:01. > :06:04.Rights Act across the UK would fly in the face of that promise and
:06:05. > :06:08.exacerbate the democratic deficit that already exists in Scotland,
:06:09. > :06:13.where a Tory Government we did not vote for is planning to take us out
:06:14. > :06:16.of the European Union against our will?
:06:17. > :06:20.I thank her for her question. I would point out that this was in the
:06:21. > :06:24.Conservative Party manifesto, we secured a majority at the general
:06:25. > :06:35.election. As I said, I will be in touch with the Scottish justice
:06:36. > :06:37.minister and look forward to talking to him on the subject.
:06:38. > :06:40.Richard Bergen. Thank you again, Mr Speaker. I would like to welcome the
:06:41. > :06:45.Secretary of State to her new role. It is good to see a Leeds person at
:06:46. > :06:49.both dispatch boxes. Like me, I understand that she comes from good
:06:50. > :06:55.left-wing Leeds stock, I look forward to our exchanges.
:06:56. > :07:01.In her swearing-in ceremony, the Justice Secretary quoted with
:07:02. > :07:05.approval the late Lord Bingham. On the Human Rights Act, Lord Bingham
:07:06. > :07:10.asked in 2009, which of these rights, I asked, would you wish to
:07:11. > :07:13.discard? And went on to say there may be those who would like to live
:07:14. > :07:18.in a country where these rights are not protected, but I am not of their
:07:19. > :07:21.number. To get the Secretary of State another chance, because she
:07:22. > :07:25.failed to answer the question from my honourable friend the member for
:07:26. > :07:34.Kingston-upon-Hull earlier, which of these rights did she wish to
:07:35. > :07:36.discard? I also welcome the honourable
:07:37. > :07:39.gentleman to the dispatch box, it is great to have somebody who is also
:07:40. > :07:41.from Leeds facing me. And to highlight the error of my ways after
:07:42. > :07:47.growing up in a left-wing household in that great city.
:07:48. > :07:55.LAUGHTER All I can say is I believe that
:07:56. > :07:58.everyone is capable of reform, even those, Mr Speaker, on the benches
:07:59. > :08:03.opposite. I have not given up hope yet on the
:08:04. > :08:10.Shadow Secretary of State for Health adjusters. The whole purpose of the
:08:11. > :08:15.Bill of Rights is to enhance human rights in this country. We have
:08:16. > :08:19.leading human rights since Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights published
:08:20. > :08:26.in Wales in 1689, and we will continue to lead the world in human
:08:27. > :08:31.rights. Thank you very much to the Secretary
:08:32. > :08:37.of State for that response. But we were very clear that we will replace
:08:38. > :08:40.the Human Rights Act, which is not working for British people, with a
:08:41. > :08:46.British Bill of Rights. It gives the ultimate power to citizens in this
:08:47. > :08:49.country. These were the words of the Secretary of State on the today
:08:50. > :08:54.programme in May 20 15. Given that and the answer she has just given,
:08:55. > :08:59.can she explain to the house why she wants to rob the people of Britain
:09:00. > :09:05.of their rights, and will she admits that talk of a so-called bill of
:09:06. > :09:12.rights is simply posturing and making concessions to the hard right
:09:13. > :09:15.of the Conservative Party? Human rights were not invented in
:09:16. > :09:21.1998 with the Human Rights Act. There are major issues with the
:09:22. > :09:23.Human Rights Act. We need to move forward, had a British Bill of
:09:24. > :09:29.Rights that enshrines our ancient liberties.
:09:30. > :09:33.We do no need to make progress, as there are lots of questions, and
:09:34. > :09:41.progress has been slow so far. Can we be speeded up by Mr John Mann?
:09:42. > :09:46.Hate crime is abhorrent and has no place in society, the Government
:09:47. > :09:50.published its plan to tackle hate crime, Action Against Hate, in July
:09:51. > :09:53.20 16. The Government believes that the enforcement of criminal
:09:54. > :09:56.legislation has an important role in tackling online hate, Willie
:09:57. > :10:00.deterrence and prevention which needs a broader response and
:10:01. > :10:04.effective management from the Internet industry.
:10:05. > :10:07.Last time I asked the Secretary of State question she invited me to
:10:08. > :10:11.join her on a delegation to China. May reciprocate and invite the front
:10:12. > :10:15.bench to come to Bassetlaw today in bench to come to Bassetlaw today in
:10:16. > :10:22.the Jubilee room, hosted by myself and the member for Newark. True
:10:23. > :10:28.Vision, the Internet reporting organisation based in her officers,
:10:29. > :10:32.is the pride and joy of her department and the envy of every
:10:33. > :10:36.other Government in the world. Is she going to allow it to disappear
:10:37. > :10:39.into some other government departments, or will she keep it in
:10:40. > :10:43.her department? I thank him for his
:10:44. > :10:46.characteristically delivered question. The Secretary of State, I
:10:47. > :10:50.gather, recently wrote to him on this matter. The cross government
:10:51. > :10:53.hate crime programme is highly regarded by this government, and
:10:54. > :10:56.internationally. I am committed to ensuring that this important work
:10:57. > :10:59.continues. I would like to welcome my
:11:00. > :11:04.honourable friend. The government was right to make posting revenge
:11:05. > :11:09.porn online crime. Figures released today show that have been 200
:11:10. > :11:13.prosecutions, yet more than 1000 reported cases of revenge
:11:14. > :11:18.pornography reported to the police. Does the Minister agree with me that
:11:19. > :11:22.as with other sex-related crimes, perhaps anonymity for victims needs
:11:23. > :11:26.to be carefully considered in these cases?
:11:27. > :11:31.I thank my honourable friend for this question and the work she and
:11:32. > :11:34.the select committee do in this area, it is a terrible abuse of
:11:35. > :11:40.trust which can leave victims feeling the bated and degraded. By
:11:41. > :11:45.making it a specific offence can offence we've sent clear message
:11:46. > :11:47.this will not be tolerated, with regard to anonymity I'm interested
:11:48. > :11:53.in what she's saying she would write me on that issue I will consider it.
:11:54. > :11:56.Can look on the Minister to his post and ask if he has seen the comments
:11:57. > :12:02.the Director of Public Prosecutions this morning that social media is
:12:03. > :12:07.one of the driving forces behind the record high in recorded crimes,
:12:08. > :12:10.violent crimes against women and girls, and welcomed what he said
:12:11. > :12:15.about needing a broader response to these issues. Can he tell me what he
:12:16. > :12:19.plans to do to safeguard the many specialist services that exist to
:12:20. > :12:23.support women who are suffering online harassment and abuse, many of
:12:24. > :12:30.which are suffering from funding cuts? As I already stated, this
:12:31. > :12:34.crime is deplorable. I suspect it has always happened and social media
:12:35. > :12:40.has facilitated it and we are now detecting a greater level of crime
:12:41. > :12:44.of this kind. I am determined to maintain services that support women
:12:45. > :12:51.and men who are subjected to this crime and will continue to keep a
:12:52. > :12:55.close eye on that. What action is the Government taking to combat
:12:56. > :13:02.online anti-Semitic hate crime emanating from extremist groups on
:13:03. > :13:10.campus? Like revenge pawn, these are all pulling crimes, more easily
:13:11. > :13:17.committed by the internet and use of anonymity with specifically regards
:13:18. > :13:20.to anti-Semitism, thanks to the fantastic work for the member for
:13:21. > :13:25.Bassetlaw and his all-party group, the Government has made significant
:13:26. > :13:34.advances and I will consider her comments, particularly on campus. In
:13:35. > :13:41.the last year, assaults have risen by 31% and those on staff in our
:13:42. > :13:44.prisons have risen by 40%. This is totally an acceptable and I'm
:13:45. > :13:48.determined to tackle it. Reforming prisons will only be possible if
:13:49. > :13:57.they are made safer places for staff and offenders alike. The section of
:13:58. > :14:00.state makes clear prisons safety but continues to deteriorate and is a
:14:01. > :14:04.major problem got putting prisoners and staff at risk but the major
:14:05. > :14:08.issue that must be tackled is the retention of staff. Can she set out
:14:09. > :14:13.what she will do to make this a priority and how she will succeed
:14:14. > :14:18.her predecessors have failed? I agree with the honourable lady that
:14:19. > :14:21.retention of staff is a very important issue. I've been to a
:14:22. > :14:29.number of prisons and seen how brave, fearless and hard our prison
:14:30. > :14:32.officers are, they are a vital in turning around offenders and getting
:14:33. > :14:35.them the education and skills they need to succeed outside and I'm
:14:36. > :14:43.determined to support them and work with them. Over the coming months I
:14:44. > :14:48.will lay out more detailed plans. May I warmly welcome the secretary
:14:49. > :14:56.of state and her team to their posts, lawyers are sometimes have
:14:57. > :15:00.their uses. -- do sometimes. Her predecessor made prison reformer
:15:01. > :15:03.centrepiece of the agenda, he rightly described the deterioration
:15:04. > :15:09.in safety and prisons as terrible. The figures have now got worse, he
:15:10. > :15:13.committed to an action plan to tackle violence in our prisons. Will
:15:14. > :15:17.she reaffirm that? Can she tell us what specific steps will be taken to
:15:18. > :15:20.deal with what is a ticking time bomb that we have in our criminal
:15:21. > :15:27.justice system? Because nothing else works if that isn't right. Can I
:15:28. > :15:32.first say how pleased I've been to be able to meet the chairman of the
:15:33. > :15:36.select committee, I take the advice of all my lord, but particularly the
:15:37. > :15:40.chairman of these like committee extremely seriously, this is a
:15:41. > :15:44.critical issue that faces our prisons. We cannot have reforming
:15:45. > :15:50.our prisons if we don't have safe prisons for people to work in. These
:15:51. > :15:55.things go hand-in-hand and I'm committed to an agenda of making our
:15:56. > :16:00.prisons safe and places of reform, I will lay out my plan is very shortly
:16:01. > :16:06.on this issue and I look forward to discussing it more with the select
:16:07. > :16:09.committee tomorrow. Will the Secretary of State look again at
:16:10. > :16:13.statements that were made by her department recently around numbers
:16:14. > :16:17.of prison officers, her department claims the number has increased, it
:16:18. > :16:21.hasn't and when the will should look again because I believe not taken
:16:22. > :16:25.into account staff being regretted or the number of hours actually work
:16:26. > :16:30.when she examines the number of officers in the system. I thank the
:16:31. > :16:34.honourable lady for her question, I will of course look at those numbers
:16:35. > :16:37.in detail and I'm looking at them just now. What I would say as well
:16:38. > :16:42.as the number of staff, it is important how staff are deployed and
:16:43. > :16:47.how staff are trained and the Paras the governors have to be able to get
:16:48. > :16:57.the best out of the staff working in the prisons. I agree, staff are
:16:58. > :17:02.crucial to make them work well. One of the causes of lack of safety and
:17:03. > :17:05.prisons has been psychoactive substances, with the secretary agree
:17:06. > :17:10.with me that the ban on possession of the substances in prison should
:17:11. > :17:14.improve the safety of other prisoners and prison officers if
:17:15. > :17:20.that ban is properly enforced? My honourable friend is right, they
:17:21. > :17:25.have, MPS have been a major issue in our prisons. I was pleased when I
:17:26. > :17:31.visited HMB Norwich last week to see they are using the new wedges Laois
:17:32. > :17:35.and the tackle that issue -- the new legislation. The search and catch
:17:36. > :17:38.people out and they is exceeded in reducing the amount of usage of that
:17:39. > :17:39.struggle ready. I would like is it that type of programme happening
:17:40. > :18:03.more across our prison estate. Forgive me, I think the summer
:18:04. > :18:08.recess has taken its toll, I am determined to ensure our prisons are
:18:09. > :18:12.places of safety and reform, we need to help get offenders of drugs,
:18:13. > :18:15.improve their education and get the work skills they need so they are
:18:16. > :18:24.less likely to reoffend when they come out. Could she answered this
:18:25. > :18:29.question, does she see a connection between the long-term decline in
:18:30. > :18:33.prison officer numbers down 30% between 2010 and 2013 and they are
:18:34. > :18:40.going down again and this massive increase on assaults on staff, 90%
:18:41. > :18:43.up on the last month? I thank the honourable gentleman for his
:18:44. > :18:47.question, there are many factors driving prison violence and self
:18:48. > :18:51.harm, I am looking at the evidence about what will work and what steps
:18:52. > :18:54.we can take but I'm determined to tackle this and I'm very clear the
:18:55. > :19:02.current levels of violence we have are unacceptable. Can I warmly
:19:03. > :19:04.congratulate the secretary of state and the new ministerial team on
:19:05. > :19:07.their appointment, of course we need more prison officers but can of
:19:08. > :19:12.these extra of state and their ministers to look at greater use of
:19:13. > :19:17.as mentors. Wandsworth is leading the way with 50 mentor 's teaching
:19:18. > :19:22.education, but we can also do this in terms of both employment for
:19:23. > :19:33.therapeutic use and to cut down the use of drugs. I referred to that my
:19:34. > :19:36.honourable friend and as group to prison minister said a tremendous
:19:37. > :19:39.work and we're learning from the work he carried out in the
:19:40. > :19:43.Department. He makes an important point and I think we need to look at
:19:44. > :19:47.overall prison culture in some of our best prisons, we do have
:19:48. > :19:49.exemplary work going on such as mentoring and we have to make sure
:19:50. > :19:55.that is happening across our prison estate. The Secretary of State might
:19:56. > :19:59.be aware the head of the prison service in Northern Ireland recently
:20:00. > :20:02.stepped down, attacks on prison staff are on the rise, can she
:20:03. > :20:05.ensure her department is engaging actively with the Department of
:20:06. > :20:09.Justice in Northern Ireland to see what lessons can be learned and to
:20:10. > :20:13.try and improve safety and prisons in Northern Ireland. Thank the
:20:14. > :20:17.honourable gentleman for his question, I have been in touch with
:20:18. > :20:26.the Justice minister in Northern Ireland and I look forward to
:20:27. > :20:30.speaking Derringer course. My congratulate the sexy of state on
:20:31. > :20:35.her appointment, is part of the problem that we have so many
:20:36. > :20:39.Victorian prisons? -- secretary of state. The honourable gentleman is
:20:40. > :20:43.right. We have a big issue with prisons that are out of date and not
:20:44. > :20:47.fit for purpose. It makes it more difficult for our excellent
:20:48. > :20:52.governors and more officers to manage well. I'm pleased to say this
:20:53. > :20:58.summer we were able to close Holloway prison. We have our ?1.3
:20:59. > :21:02.billion building programme and what I want to see his new modern prisons
:21:03. > :21:07.built brewery can see prisoners get the education and work then is
:21:08. > :21:10.exceeded in outside life. As McGeeney to succeed. And close down
:21:11. > :21:17.some of our most dilapidated and outdated prisons. It is crucial that
:21:18. > :21:21.victims of crime are supported as effectively as possible, the victims
:21:22. > :21:25.called was revised in 2015, victims of all, no fences after entitled to
:21:26. > :21:28.support from a wide range of organisation as well as criminal
:21:29. > :21:32.justice agencies. The reforms the court will improve services for
:21:33. > :21:37.victims and their families got ensemble to give evidence remotely
:21:38. > :21:42.and digitally. Over 23,000 individual crimes reported in
:21:43. > :21:46.Enfield over the past 12 months, for far too long the victims of these
:21:47. > :21:50.crimes have been forgotten and ignored by the criminal justice
:21:51. > :21:54.system. Given that the victims commissioner support the
:21:55. > :21:58.introduction of a long for victims of crime, when will the Government
:21:59. > :22:04.fulfil its election manifesto commitment to bring forward
:22:05. > :22:08.legislation on the issue? I thank the honourable lady for her
:22:09. > :22:11.question. We want to make sure all vulnerable and intimidated witnesses
:22:12. > :22:14.can give the best evidence in court and feel less anxious, we are
:22:15. > :22:18.committed to making sure victims of crime get the support they need, we
:22:19. > :22:21.have protected the overall level of funding for victims across the
:22:22. > :22:26.spending review period and have announced funding of over 95 main
:22:27. > :22:31.pounds in 20 extreme to find critical support services. -- 2016.
:22:32. > :22:37.Victims of crime want to see the perpetrators of that crime properly
:22:38. > :22:41.punished. Is the minister happy that prisoners are automatically released
:22:42. > :22:44.halfway through their prison sentence no matter how disruptive
:22:45. > :22:47.they are or not much how much of a threat they still pose the public or
:22:48. > :22:52.does he agree that prisoners should serve the sentence was handed down
:22:53. > :22:58.by the courts in full? Thank my honourable friend for his question.
:22:59. > :23:02.The purpose of justice and the justice system must be the primary
:23:03. > :23:07.goal to reduce reoffending. If somebody in prison has been assessed
:23:08. > :23:10.and is deemed not a risk to society and is being properly rehabilitated,
:23:11. > :23:18.it is in the best interests of that individual and for that person to be
:23:19. > :23:24.released. Too often the victims of criminal driving, they are and their
:23:25. > :23:30.families are not treated as victims of crime, told they were involved in
:23:31. > :23:33.annexes and does McCain an accident. When will that got to be changed and
:23:34. > :23:37.had Minister tell us where we will finally get the review into the
:23:38. > :23:43.sentencing of these types of offences? Thank euphoric the
:23:44. > :23:48.question -- thank you for the question. I don't see that as part
:23:49. > :23:52.of my purview but if he would write to me I will reply to him on this
:23:53. > :23:54.issue. I would agree victims in these situations need more
:23:55. > :24:01.protection and the culture needs to change. The best ways to ensure
:24:02. > :24:04.justice is served is to ensure victims have the chance to make a
:24:05. > :24:08.victim impact statement to the court but this does not always happen.
:24:09. > :24:14.What can the Minister do to ensure this happens in every case? I thank
:24:15. > :24:19.the honourable gentleman for his question. As I understand it, they
:24:20. > :24:23.are getting more opportunity to do this now because of the opportunity
:24:24. > :24:29.today this online I would agree that this is something that should be put
:24:30. > :24:34.in place. As has been mentioned earlier, today's report on violence
:24:35. > :24:38.against women and girls shows an increase in prosecutions, however
:24:39. > :24:44.victims charities remain concerned about their futures as was stated by
:24:45. > :24:48.the chair of the usual frog please -- police and crime commissioners
:24:49. > :24:50.supporting the group when asking the ministry to clarify funding
:24:51. > :24:57.available to be cc earlier this year. The manager told my honourable
:24:58. > :25:02.friend for Wigan that he would be keeping an eye on this matter, which
:25:03. > :25:05.is not good enough with respectful so will the secretary of state
:25:06. > :25:14.confirm victim services will receive the full funding are required. The
:25:15. > :25:18.victim services budget has increased significantly from ?48 million to
:25:19. > :25:24.around 95 main pounds in the current financial year. In 2016 and 17 we
:25:25. > :25:29.have allocated about ?7 billion to 99 rate support centres providing up
:25:30. > :25:35.to male and female victims of rape and child sexual abuse. I do not
:25:36. > :25:38.recognise the description the shadow minister has given, this Government
:25:39. > :25:39.is committed to protecting victims, particularly women who have been
:25:40. > :25:51.victims of crime. Question number six. The illicit use
:25:52. > :25:54.of mobile phones in prison undermines security, order and
:25:55. > :25:57.control and has been linked to many forms of criminality. This
:25:58. > :26:02.Government is determined to take action to stop it.
:26:03. > :26:05.The connection between technology and radicalisation by the
:26:06. > :26:10.dissemination of extremism in prisons is one of the most critical
:26:11. > :26:15.challenges we face. Will my honourable friend continue to do all
:26:16. > :26:18.that is possible to ensure that prisoners, who already face
:26:19. > :26:22.difficulties re-engage in with society, do not have a difficult
:26:23. > :26:27.task made impossible by those who would use mobile phones and
:26:28. > :26:30.technology to spread extremist poisoning? My honourable friend will
:26:31. > :26:36.have no doubt seen the Government response to the review on extremism.
:26:37. > :26:40.We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure extremist ideologies are
:26:41. > :26:46.not spread by any means, including mobile phones.
:26:47. > :26:49.There have been reports in Swansea prison of people simply throwing
:26:50. > :26:55.mobile phones over the wall, which provides anonymity for prisoners to
:26:56. > :27:00.indulge in all sorts of criminal activity. What is he doing about
:27:01. > :27:04.this sort of thing? He makes a very important point, every governor I
:27:05. > :27:08.have spoken to in the last six weeks has mentioned the growing problem of
:27:09. > :27:13.illegal mobile phones in prison. I believe technology is titled --
:27:14. > :27:17.vital to detect and block these phones, so in addition to the range
:27:18. > :27:20.of technologies already deployed across the prison estate, we have
:27:21. > :27:24.held a high-level meeting with mobile network operators asking them
:27:25. > :27:30.to use their expertise to develop new technological solutions to deny
:27:31. > :27:35.mobile phone signals in prisons. As responsible businesses, I expect
:27:36. > :27:43.these operators to fully cooperate. Question seven. There is and there
:27:44. > :27:54.will be an appropriate level of corporate vision for the people of
:27:55. > :27:58.Bari. -- people of Bury. Thank you, and I warmly welcome my
:27:59. > :28:03.honourable and learned friend to his new role, and thank you for that
:28:04. > :28:07.brief reply. While school provision might be regarded as adequate now,
:28:08. > :28:11.what is important is that it continues to be adequate in the
:28:12. > :28:15.future. And with the new Lord Chancellor and a new ministerial
:28:16. > :28:19.team, could I ask that they look again at the proposals for North
:28:20. > :28:23.Manchester, particularly the consequential effects on, for
:28:24. > :28:28.example, the police budget as the police are faced with longer journey
:28:29. > :28:31.times when they attend court? I am immensely indebted to the
:28:32. > :28:35.honourable gentleman. Can I start by paying tribute to the
:28:36. > :28:39.work that my honourable friend has done, and for the proposals that he
:28:40. > :28:46.has put forward about his local court situation. He will know, as a
:28:47. > :28:51.lawyer as well, that we are investing huge amounts of money, ?1
:28:52. > :28:57.billion, to transform Court Central ideal is. This modern technology
:28:58. > :29:01.improves efficiency and means fewer people need to attend court in
:29:02. > :29:06.person. There are excellent facilities are available to the
:29:07. > :29:09.people of Bury and Manchester, which has some of the best courts in the
:29:10. > :29:13.country. The Minister will know that the
:29:14. > :29:17.proposals across the whole of Greater Manchester are quite far
:29:18. > :29:22.reaching and controversial in parts of that city region. Can he explain
:29:23. > :29:27.to the house is precisely what has been agreed with the Greater
:29:28. > :29:30.Manchester combined authority in the memorandum of understanding that his
:29:31. > :29:36.department has signed with them, and whether or not it means the combined
:29:37. > :29:40.authority can look again at some of those procedures? Of course, he will
:29:41. > :29:44.realise that none of these decisions is taken lightly and it is important
:29:45. > :29:49.to work closely with local government. That is exactly what has
:29:50. > :29:54.been happening. Just to give him an impression of the tremendous
:29:55. > :29:58.improvement that this Court modernisation programme is making,
:29:59. > :30:04.it has been going for four months and 6 million pieces of paper have
:30:05. > :30:10.been avoided as a result, that is a pile of paper, using digital case
:30:11. > :30:13.files. 6 million pieces of paper avoided, meaning a pile as high as
:30:14. > :30:20.the largest building in London, the Shard. Huntington is a splendid part
:30:21. > :30:23.of the world which deserves to be very well represented by the
:30:24. > :30:29.honourable gentleman, but it is a long way from Bury, to which this
:30:30. > :30:31.question exclusively relates. The question is about Bury. He can come
:30:32. > :30:40.in later and I look forward to hearing from him.
:30:41. > :30:46.This information is published by the legal professions. For example, 30%
:30:47. > :30:56.of QCs are women and 6% of QCs declare themselves as coming from a
:30:57. > :31:03.BA any background. -- a BAME background. That shows a very
:31:04. > :31:11.limited progress. What can the Government do to improve this? I
:31:12. > :31:15.thank him for his question. We want a justice system that works for
:31:16. > :31:20.everyone, a legal services industry using all the talent in our country.
:31:21. > :31:23.I have already had very positive conversations with the Lord Chief
:31:24. > :31:28.Justice, who is keen to improve diversity figures in the judiciary,
:31:29. > :31:33.and I am due to meet the bar Council shortly to talk -- talk specifically
:31:34. > :31:37.about the bar. What assessment has my right
:31:38. > :31:39.honourable friend made of opportunities to increase
:31:40. > :31:43.apprenticeship -based routes into the legal professions and the prison
:31:44. > :31:50.services, to increase social mobility? I thank him for his
:31:51. > :31:53.question, I am a huge fan of apprenticeships. With the new
:31:54. > :31:57.apprenticeship levy, that brings a big opportunity for some of our
:31:58. > :32:01.large legal services firms, but right across the board to increase
:32:02. > :32:08.the number of apprenticeships. It is something I will talk to them about
:32:09. > :32:11.over the coming months. As one London provider of legal
:32:12. > :32:17.education, fees for the academic year ahead are as follows, nearly
:32:18. > :32:22.?11,000 for the graduate diploma in law, almost ?15,000 for the legal
:32:23. > :32:26.practice course and almost ?19,000 for the bar professional training
:32:27. > :32:30.course. On top of the cost of university education, these fees are
:32:31. > :32:34.beyond the reach of many from ordinary backgrounds. Given this
:32:35. > :32:41.reality, how will the Minister ensure a diverse legal profession?
:32:42. > :32:45.I thank him for his question. I have been discussing this right across
:32:46. > :32:50.the legal profession. One of the issues that we have is that the
:32:51. > :32:53.younger end, we are seeing a lot more diversity, the question is how
:32:54. > :32:57.people progress through the pipeline. I would like to see more
:32:58. > :33:03.transparency so we can look at people moving through the system. I
:33:04. > :33:06.have no doubt that with the Lord Chief Justice and leading judges,
:33:07. > :33:12.they want to see more diversity and they are keen to work with me.
:33:13. > :33:18.Number nine. With your permission, I will group this with question 15.
:33:19. > :33:22.Prisons must become places of rehabilitation where offenders can
:33:23. > :33:25.change their lives and turn away from crime, addressing health needs
:33:26. > :33:29.including mental health is key in this. We are committed to meeting
:33:30. > :33:33.the mental health needs of prisoners. All prisons must have
:33:34. > :33:36.procedures in place to identify, manage and support those with mental
:33:37. > :33:40.illnesses. Can the Minister confirm that
:33:41. > :33:44.governors will have new powers and abilities to run their own mental
:33:45. > :33:48.health and health budgets, will that also include co-commissioning of
:33:49. > :33:59.mental health services with local CCG Yes? -- CCGs? It is under
:34:00. > :34:03.consideration at present, I think commissioners have an important part
:34:04. > :34:09.to play in helping to structure health care services within prison.
:34:10. > :34:13.Does the Department have a figure for the numbers in prison at the
:34:14. > :34:17.moment who have mental health issues, would my honourable friend
:34:18. > :34:21.reassure me that prison staff are adequately trained to deal with
:34:22. > :34:24.those people exhibiting mental health issues?
:34:25. > :34:29.I thank him for his question. Based on a Ministry of Justice survey, 49%
:34:30. > :34:36.of prisoners were assessed as being at risk from anxiety and/ or
:34:37. > :34:40.depression, 16% reported symptoms indicative of psychosis. Department
:34:41. > :34:46.of Health figures are somewhat different, north of 90% of prisoners
:34:47. > :34:49.have a mental health problem if you include substance misuse. This is an
:34:50. > :34:51.area where I am seeking more data. We are committed to meeting the
:34:52. > :34:56.mental health needs of prisoners, which is why all new intake prison
:34:57. > :35:02.officers receive mental health awareness training as part of
:35:03. > :35:06.entry-level training. 100 people have taken their lives in prison in
:35:07. > :35:12.the past year, the highest level for over 25 years. Over 9000 people have
:35:13. > :35:16.self harmed in prisons, an increase of over 25% in the last year alone.
:35:17. > :35:20.I think the Government should be ashamed, I think it is a dereliction
:35:21. > :35:25.of their duty of care. I want to know what they will actually do to
:35:26. > :35:27.look at the thousands of prisoners who had serious mental health
:35:28. > :35:31.conditions and are not being looked after.
:35:32. > :35:37.I thank the honourable lady for her question. Mental health is pretty
:35:38. > :35:41.complex, the genesis of problems do not just occur in the terms of the
:35:42. > :35:46.parliament. The system in place in terms of mental health care and the
:35:47. > :35:49.continuity of care for people before, during and after their stay
:35:50. > :35:55.should be. I would argue that has should be. I would argue that has
:35:56. > :35:59.been the case for many decades. -- clearly not where it should be. I
:36:00. > :36:06.have been asked to look at this and will be doing so, but this is a huge
:36:07. > :36:08.and very complex area and I am not about to make dispatch box
:36:09. > :36:12.commitments on it as a consequence. But there is a particular risk for
:36:13. > :36:16.women in prison, 30% of women prisoners have had a previous
:36:17. > :36:21.admission for a psychiatric problems before they went into prison. In the
:36:22. > :36:27.last year, 11 women have killed themselves. My impression is that
:36:28. > :36:31.this is because the last Secretary of State did not focus on the
:36:32. > :36:37.recommendations of a report which would have ensured a better level of
:36:38. > :36:43.mental health for women in prison. What is this minister going to do on
:36:44. > :36:49.this report, and on women in prison? I thank her for her question. I have
:36:50. > :36:54.read that report, it is good. It was published in 2007 and is still
:36:55. > :36:59.relevant today, with some international coherence within
:37:00. > :37:04.another report about youth offenders. I will be looking at it
:37:05. > :37:08.and I am personally persuaded of some of the arguments within. But
:37:09. > :37:12.the idea that the former Secretary of State was in anyway not keeping a
:37:13. > :37:24.close eye on this, I have seen no about.
:37:25. > :37:28.Mr Speaker, Speaker... Those convicted of sexual offences
:37:29. > :37:32.are just one cohort of the range we manage daily. In doing so we shall
:37:33. > :37:39.make sure a state capacity is realigned to meet the demand for
:37:40. > :37:43.places, including those convicted of sexual offences. I thank him for his
:37:44. > :37:49.reply. HMP lose in my constituency has seen a huge surge in prisoners
:37:50. > :37:56.for sexual offences, either on remand or serving a sentence. -- HMP
:37:57. > :38:02.fares. This puts pressure on stuffing, space and resources. What
:38:03. > :38:05.specific advice can he give HMP Lewes? Those served with sexual
:38:06. > :38:10.offences at HMP Lewes and general are held in separate units providing
:38:11. > :38:13.suitable accommodation for their offending behaviour. Perhaps I can
:38:14. > :38:20.reassure her that the Brits -- prison received hundred ?55,000 of a
:38:21. > :38:24.?12 million Government fund for safety, planning to spend this on
:38:25. > :38:32.staff. There is a recruitment drive is going on at the moment. Staff are
:38:33. > :38:35.being vetted, a number of staff will be starting imminently.
:38:36. > :38:41.Surely the Minister would understand that whether it is prisoners who
:38:42. > :38:45.have been tried and convicted for crimes of a sexual nature or
:38:46. > :38:48.prisoners with mental health problems or other problems, it is
:38:49. > :38:54.the quality of management prisons which must give us all great
:38:55. > :38:57.concern. When my select committee looked at education in prisons, we
:38:58. > :39:02.kept coming back that the culture of the prison comes from the top and is
:39:03. > :39:07.supported by well-trained and well-educated prison officers.
:39:08. > :39:13.Mr Speaker, I agree entirely with the honourable gentleman that the
:39:14. > :39:18.quality of the leadership in the prison makes a huge difference to
:39:19. > :39:22.the regime, has staff are inspired, but also how deep can rehabilitate
:39:23. > :39:27.offenders. That is why those on this side of the house argue for prison
:39:28. > :39:32.reform, where we empower these governors, give them control of
:39:33. > :39:35.budgets and enable you to get local resources to meet the needs of
:39:36. > :39:43.offenders. Number 11.
:39:44. > :39:49.Mr Speaker, with permission I would like to group questions 11 and 16.
:39:50. > :39:53.Most offenders arrive in prison with very low levels of educational
:39:54. > :39:57.attainment, very high levels of substance misuse and often very poor
:39:58. > :40:02.histories of employment. I believe modern prisons have a purpose, to
:40:03. > :40:06.keep the public safe and tackle each of these issues so prisoners have
:40:07. > :40:10.the foundations to secure and hold down a job on release.
:40:11. > :40:14.I would like to thank my honourable friend, but I have recently visited
:40:15. > :40:19.prisoners from my constituency who told is that offenders do not have
:40:20. > :40:22.access straightaway on release to accident -- national insurance
:40:23. > :40:26.numbers, bank accounts or an employment benefits. What steps are
:40:27. > :40:31.the Government taking to improve this? I agree with the honourable
:40:32. > :40:36.member that if this through the gate services, as we call them, are to
:40:37. > :40:39.work and stop reoffending, things like national insurance numbers and
:40:40. > :40:43.bank accounts need to be in place. There are a series of programmes in
:40:44. > :40:45.place, including an offender banking programme which opened about 5000
:40:46. > :40:53.new bank accounts every year. The Minister and fight the fact that
:40:54. > :40:59.research shows that employment after custody gratefully greatly urges the
:41:00. > :41:02.amount of reoffending. What are they doing with the Department for Work
:41:03. > :41:08.and Pensions to ensure offenders find work after they leave prison
:41:09. > :41:14.and also stay in work? To tackle the challenge of getting prisoners work
:41:15. > :41:20.when they leave, the member has rightly identified it acquires a
:41:21. > :41:24.concerted effort across Government and across the community. Every
:41:25. > :41:29.prisoner has the opportunity to meet with a DWP work coach before their
:41:30. > :41:32.release and the role of the work coaches to guide them to employment.
:41:33. > :41:37.Worse coaches can ensure a prisoner knows their national insurance
:41:38. > :41:42.number and the other services they need in order to make the
:41:43. > :41:46.appropriate transition. When many prisoners are already on short-term
:41:47. > :41:49.sentences for under nine months and are often in prison for short
:41:50. > :41:55.periods, could he give some advice as to governors will be judged on
:41:56. > :42:00.placing those prisoners into employment when the challenges are
:42:01. > :42:04.difficult? I've met with a number of governors since I've been appointed
:42:05. > :42:08.to this job and most governors will tell you what they want is to be
:42:09. > :42:16.empowered to match resources to the needs of prisoners in their prison,
:42:17. > :42:20.working with local employers and the entire community. That is what
:42:21. > :42:23.governors want. The other point is that this is not just the
:42:24. > :42:31.responsibility of governors, if we want prisoners to go out and be able
:42:32. > :42:34.to find work, doing business has a raw, to come in the plays a role and
:42:35. > :42:37.we all have a role, because prisoners can leave them have jobs
:42:38. > :42:43.and restart their lives for the better and we all benefit. More than
:42:44. > :42:46.60% of young people in the justice system have a communications
:42:47. > :42:50.disability and more than one third of young offenders have speaking and
:42:51. > :42:54.listening skills at the level expected for an 11-year-old. With
:42:55. > :42:58.the skills being fundamental with the ability to hold down a job, will
:42:59. > :43:01.the Minister update the house of what assessment the Government makes
:43:02. > :43:08.of speech and language support need and how well that need is being met?
:43:09. > :43:14.The member is obviously right, lots of prisoners arrived with huge
:43:15. > :43:17.learning difficulties and a disadvantage and that is well
:43:18. > :43:20.documented, what we need is individual programmes tailored to
:43:21. > :43:24.the needs of the prisoner and the way to do that as the honourable
:43:25. > :43:30.member said is to empower governors to work with probation companies,
:43:31. > :43:33.rehabilitation organisations to deliver these programmes. He said
:43:34. > :43:37.the minister I raise a report on this matter myself in two dozen and
:43:38. > :43:42.it's got a copy of voice and sure you'll find on the internet. Or in
:43:43. > :43:50.the house library. I'm sure the honourable gentleman does. We are
:43:51. > :43:54.immensely grateful. Fewer than half of the people entering our prisons
:43:55. > :43:58.have basic standards of English and maths, this is an enormous problem
:43:59. > :44:02.because we know low levels of education can be read people from
:44:03. > :44:08.securing jobs on release and leading law-abiding lives. The secretary of
:44:09. > :44:14.state is right in saying in order to get a job the need to have both
:44:15. > :44:18.literacy and numeracy are essential. Should we are putting more resources
:44:19. > :44:24.into educating prisoners on release to be able to get jobs? My
:44:25. > :44:28.honourable friend is right. The fact is too many people enter our prisons
:44:29. > :44:33.without those skills but we need to use that time in prison to help
:44:34. > :44:38.those prisoners gain those basic skills so they succeed outside. What
:44:39. > :44:41.we started doing is measuring, testing prisoners as they enter
:44:42. > :44:45.prisons, what I'm looking to see as we measure the progress made during
:44:46. > :44:50.their stay in prison so we can hold governors accountable for that.
:44:51. > :44:56.Could the Minister confirmed there will be no return to the policy on
:44:57. > :45:05.banning books for prisoners? I confirm that books are freely
:45:06. > :45:08.available in prison. I warmly welcome the Right Honourable friend
:45:09. > :45:13.to her position. I would like to see the new Secretary of State about the
:45:14. > :45:20.importance of art in prisons and I hope that my honourable friend will
:45:21. > :45:22.recognise having deleted -- recognise how they can teach
:45:23. > :45:25.prisoners are range of skills and help she will meet the arts Alliance
:45:26. > :45:28.that the earnest opportunity to discuss what the arts can do in
:45:29. > :45:34.particularly in Laois and to literacy. Firstly can I say what a
:45:35. > :45:40.fantastic job and my honourable friend has done in championing the
:45:41. > :45:47.arts in every part of our country and his legacy lives on. It will
:45:48. > :45:53.live on in our prisons. I'm sure he is overcome with emotion, what a
:45:54. > :45:59.happy day. What discussions will she have with the Justice Department
:46:00. > :46:04.into the Volvo legislators to insure that best practice is replicated in
:46:05. > :46:10.improving literacy across prisons in all of the UK? -- in devolved
:46:11. > :46:14.legislatures. I'm looking forward to meeting my counterpart across the UK
:46:15. > :46:17.and discussing these critical issues because it is a challenge we all
:46:18. > :46:28.face. Extreme brevity is now required. The Government's reform
:46:29. > :46:34.programme is intended to deliver a simple modern justice system that is
:46:35. > :46:37.available for everyone. East Lancashire, including my
:46:38. > :46:43.constituency of Blackburn and up to five other constituencies has only
:46:44. > :46:47.one legal aid, sledgers so that makes listers frontier with housing,
:46:48. > :46:53.what the Minister do about this desert of legal advice? It is
:46:54. > :46:58.important they should be legal aid available and it is in housing
:46:59. > :47:02.cases. As it is, in the most important cases where people's life
:47:03. > :47:06.or liberty or home is at stake, it is also available in domestic
:47:07. > :47:09.violence cases and cases where children may be taken into care. I'm
:47:10. > :47:14.grateful to the honourable lady for highlighting this issue. Let's be
:47:15. > :47:19.clear that legal aid in housing cases is something that is available
:47:20. > :47:25.and there is a national helpline as well as the services of lawyers
:47:26. > :47:33.across the country. Double questions, Mr Douglas Castle. I'm
:47:34. > :47:37.proud to take on the role of Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary,
:47:38. > :47:41.upholding the rule of line and justice system, I'm determined to
:47:42. > :47:46.insure our prisons as of safety and reform, where offenders can get off
:47:47. > :47:49.drugs, improve education and get the work skills they need to their less
:47:50. > :47:54.likely to reoffend. I would like to pay tribute to our brave prison
:47:55. > :47:59.officers and probation staff. Over the next couple of months I will lay
:48:00. > :48:02.out my plans for prison reform and setting out plans to modernise the
:48:03. > :48:09.courts to ensure we continue to have a world leading justice system. Sir
:48:10. > :48:16.James Mumby was asked to undertake a review of the family Court in August
:48:17. > :48:21.2014, can the Minister shed light on ending the secrecy that can lay it
:48:22. > :48:24.to injustice quiz I think the honourable gentleman boys question,
:48:25. > :48:30.Andrew to meet James Mumby next week to discuss this issue. There's been
:48:31. > :48:36.some progress in bringing the family Court but there is a balance to be
:48:37. > :48:39.struck behind highly sensitive issues and opening it up Philly, I
:48:40. > :48:45.will get more detail. Will my honourable friend commit to using
:48:46. > :48:47.all the powers at her disposal to protect British military personnel
:48:48. > :48:51.and veterans who have served our country bravely and with great
:48:52. > :48:56.honour from the spurious and outrageous legal claims like those
:48:57. > :48:59.pursued by people such as public interest lawyers? I am delighted to
:49:00. > :49:04.tell my honourable friend that this summer the legal aid agency pulls
:49:05. > :49:10.the plug on its contract with public interest lawyers, it will no longer
:49:11. > :49:15.be adamant chasing our rave service personnel. Legal aid should support
:49:16. > :49:19.vulnerable people in our society, not used to pursue spurious cases
:49:20. > :49:26.against our Armed Forces who do so much to serve our country. Can I
:49:27. > :49:30.join colleagues in welcoming the new Justice Secretary and her team to
:49:31. > :49:34.their new roles. The Government has created the toxic conditions for the
:49:35. > :49:38.record levels of violence, drug finds and death across the prisons
:49:39. > :49:41.is the bike reducing the number of prison officers by one third yet the
:49:42. > :49:45.former prison minister spent much of his time at the dispatch box this
:49:46. > :49:49.year telling me privately about his department was not successful
:49:50. > :49:52.recruitment drive. He did Justice Secretary did not have the figures
:49:53. > :49:58.earlier answering a question from my friend, so I will help out. Can she
:49:59. > :50:02.explained why we have 421 fewer full-time equivalent front line
:50:03. > :50:08.prison officers working in our public prisons than we did one year
:50:09. > :50:13.ago? I fully acknowledge that we do have issues with violence and safety
:50:14. > :50:17.in our prison, the levels are unacceptable and I determined to
:50:18. > :50:24.deal with issues like this and I will lay out my plans shortly. Since
:50:25. > :50:27.the Government has no provision privatisation, concerns have
:50:28. > :50:30.repeatedly been raised about the quality of presentence reports for
:50:31. > :50:32.the court as a result of our project targets set. The probation
:50:33. > :50:37.inspectors has described this month as a persistent problem leading to
:50:38. > :50:42.inappropriate sentences being handed down. Vital safeguarding checks such
:50:43. > :50:45.as domestic violence checks with pulleys and child protection checked
:50:46. > :50:50.with children's services are not taking place prior to sentencing.
:50:51. > :50:55.Will the Justice Secretary can -- commits to an urgent review to the
:50:56. > :50:58.public, probation professionals and sentences can have confidence when
:50:59. > :51:03.convicted criminals are sensed those deciding of all the necessary
:51:04. > :51:09.evidence available. Probation services do vital work at the
:51:10. > :51:12.minister responsible for prisons and probation is looking very close at
:51:13. > :51:17.this issue. I would point out that those on shorter sentences get much
:51:18. > :51:23.more support thanks to our new probation contracts. Questions must
:51:24. > :51:30.be brief. There is a lot to get to and not much time. I would never
:51:31. > :51:33.excuse criminal behaviour but some former prisoners have been denied
:51:34. > :51:36.opportunities in life many of us take for granted, what is the
:51:37. > :51:43.department and other Government departments doing to ensure the life
:51:44. > :51:47.chances agenda extends the prisons? I thank my honourable friend for
:51:48. > :51:51.that question, prisons are places where some of the problems in
:51:52. > :51:55.society are magnified as the Prime Minister said, if we're going have a
:51:56. > :52:01.society and country that works for everyone and prison reform is part
:52:02. > :52:05.of that come including literacy, training, work in prisons and
:52:06. > :52:07.unemployment opportunities when people are released. The Secretary
:52:08. > :52:11.of State will know that Charlie Taylor was asked to carry out a
:52:12. > :52:14.review of the youth justice system last year and enter it does make an
:52:15. > :52:18.interim report was published in February and we were promised the
:52:19. > :52:23.final one in July, we don't have it, can the Secretary of State as when
:52:24. > :52:25.we don't -- where we will have given explanation? I thank the honourable
:52:26. > :52:30.lady for this question, it's an incredibly important issue, but the
:52:31. > :52:32.youth justice Minster and I have ever met Charlie Taylor and we will
:52:33. > :52:40.be publishing our response this autumn. Does the Department intends
:52:41. > :52:43.to promote English law, the rule of law and our legal sector around the
:52:44. > :52:50.world, particularly to take advantages of the opportunities that
:52:51. > :52:53.may arise from Brexit? English law had a huge impact spreading the rule
:52:54. > :52:58.of Law around the world, it is the law of choice is over one quarter of
:52:59. > :53:03.jurisdictions and Brexit gives us even more opportunities to promote
:53:04. > :53:12.this. I will champion ?25 billion legal services industry as a key
:53:13. > :53:15.part of both Brexit global Britain. The selected media has expressed
:53:16. > :53:22.concern that judges are reporting they hear no money claims at all,
:53:23. > :53:25.claims brought by workers in low-paid sectors and which often
:53:26. > :53:29.succeeded, when will the Government published a review of the impact of
:53:30. > :53:34.implement tribunal fees which is now six months overdue and had to
:53:35. > :53:39.restore justice for opiate workers for low paid. Can I start by
:53:40. > :53:44.welcoming the report on court and tribunal fees, we intend to respond
:53:45. > :53:48.and we will also publish the review of changes to employment tribunal
:53:49. > :53:55.fees in due course. This is an important area and we will do that.
:53:56. > :53:57.I would like to ask the Secretary of State about the treatment of women
:53:58. > :54:01.giving birth in prisons and those with young children. And whether she
:54:02. > :54:06.will do more to ensure that children have access to their mothers and
:54:07. > :54:13.where appropriate their fathers and can be as near to them as possible.
:54:14. > :54:18.I think the honourable lady for the question. 100 babies deserve resided
:54:19. > :54:22.in mother and baby units in prison in 2015, prisons do an excellent job
:54:23. > :54:24.making these environments is built as is possible and babies can spend
:54:25. > :54:27.time away from the prisoners nominated carers but knowing the
:54:28. > :54:30.importance of early years is essential we consider alternative
:54:31. > :54:32.ways of dealing with female offenders including those with young
:54:33. > :54:39.children and babies and care responsibilities. Secretary of State
:54:40. > :54:42.alleged earlier to the closure and imminent sale of Holloway prison and
:54:43. > :54:47.made me aware of the wish to cite a women's sector on the site,
:54:48. > :54:50.discussions are taking place with the Mayor of London but I wonder if
:54:51. > :54:53.the Secretary of State could the sperm she and the Government will
:54:54. > :54:58.play its part in ensuring an outcome that secures services for women on
:54:59. > :55:00.that site. I thank the honourable lady for a question and I will be
:55:01. > :55:06.interested in looking more at the details on that proposal. Following
:55:07. > :55:11.the closure of the Buxton in Micah the previous minister decided that
:55:12. > :55:14.it should go to Stockport and Chesterfield as was originally
:55:15. > :55:18.intense and. Sign has appeared on the district quarries that McCourt
:55:19. > :55:20.has seen the work when the Chesterfield, will my honourable
:55:21. > :55:25.friend investigators and injure the decision by the ministers admitted,
:55:26. > :55:31.not the one by the officials in the original flawed consultation?
:55:32. > :55:37.I am grateful to my honourable friend for having raised this issue,
:55:38. > :55:46.he will be pleased to note that I have had the notice taken down.
:55:47. > :55:49.Busta the response to the consultation stated that the work
:55:50. > :55:53.would go to Stockport in Chesterfield, that is what is
:55:54. > :55:56.happening. Further to a previous question, I
:55:57. > :56:00.have many constituents who cannot get access to employment tribunal is
:56:01. > :56:04.because the fees have proved prohibitive that were introduced in
:56:05. > :56:08.the last parliament. Can the minister promised the Haas today
:56:09. > :56:16.that he will make a statement to the House on the impact of those fees?
:56:17. > :56:20.As he will have heard, we recognise that we need to produce our review,
:56:21. > :56:25.which we will publish, and also to respond to the Justice committee's
:56:26. > :56:29.report. And, of course, their documents, which will be available
:56:30. > :56:34.in the vote office. That will happen in due course, we are committed to
:56:35. > :56:38.that. And effective court administration
:56:39. > :56:41.is very different from retaining costly court buildings. But whether
:56:42. > :56:47.the closures are going hand-in-hand with investment and better use of
:56:48. > :56:53.technology and efficiencies, not least in Bury, Mr Speaker.
:56:54. > :56:56.I was not psychic, but I realised what the honourable gentleman
:56:57. > :57:00.earlier was driving out and I am glad he was persistent. Persistence
:57:01. > :57:05.pays. Minister? My honourable friend is
:57:06. > :57:10.right, we need a programme of transformation that maintains a very
:57:11. > :57:13.high quality of our legal system. I don't think many in this house would
:57:14. > :57:19.disagree that it is one of the best in the world. But we wanted to be
:57:20. > :57:22.the most modern as well. We are investing ?1 billion, we have saved
:57:23. > :57:28.a shard load of paper, as I mentioned earlier, and we will do a
:57:29. > :57:31.lot more of this. Our courts are benefiting from the digital
:57:32. > :57:39.revolution at every other part of society is benefiting from already.
:57:40. > :57:44.My constituent's 17-year-old son was murdered last year. Will the
:57:45. > :57:50.Minister meet with me and the mother to discuss the repeated failings in
:57:51. > :57:54.the justice system that made his -- mean that his killer is still
:57:55. > :57:58.walking the streets? I would be very happy to meet the
:57:59. > :58:02.honourable lady and her constituents, I am sorry to hear
:58:03. > :58:07.about the case. Colin pitchfork was convicted of
:58:08. > :58:12.raping and murdering two young girls in the 1980s. Will the Minister
:58:13. > :58:16.please assure me and the public of their safety, given that Mr
:58:17. > :58:20.Pitchfork is being moved to an open prison?
:58:21. > :58:29.The honourable member will be aware that transferring prisoners from
:58:30. > :58:34.from one prison to another is done on a careful assessment of the
:58:35. > :58:39.risks. I am sure that would have taken place, but I am happy to
:58:40. > :58:42.discuss in detail if he wants to do so.
:58:43. > :58:46.Does the Secretary of State accept that the Human Rights Act is an
:58:47. > :58:50.indispensable part of the Good Friday Agreement, and whatever the
:58:51. > :58:55.plans for elsewhere, the Government is obligated to the retention of the
:58:56. > :58:59.Human Rights Act in Northern Ireland as a co-guarantor of the Good
:59:00. > :59:05.Agreement? The UK has led the world in human
:59:06. > :59:08.rights, from Magna Carta -- Magna Carta to habeas corpus. We are
:59:09. > :59:13.committed to bringing forward a British Bill of Rights to further
:59:14. > :59:16.build on these ancient protections. The Prime Minister has already met
:59:17. > :59:27.Nicola Sturgeon to make sure that the UK works together...
:59:28. > :59:33.And intensity meets... We intend to meet...
:59:34. > :59:36.We intend to meet, as the Secretary of State said, all those across the
:59:37. > :59:42.United Kingdom with concerns about it.
:59:43. > :59:47.Over the summer I visited the job club at the prison in my
:59:48. > :59:51.constituency, set about the behest of prisoners. Does the Minister
:59:52. > :59:56.agree that some of the best examples of rehabilitation are taking place
:59:57. > :00:00.in the category D prisons, and will he come and see that prison so we
:00:01. > :00:06.can learn across the wider prison estate about what really good
:00:07. > :00:09.rehabilitation can do for prisoners brutal life chances?
:00:10. > :00:13.Spreading best practice is essential, especially in
:00:14. > :00:18.rehabilitation. I welcome the chances is too busy constituency to
:00:19. > :00:29.see the excellent work being done by this job club?
:00:30. > :00:32.Half an hour ago, the Secretary of State for Justice said that the
:00:33. > :00:34.Human Rights Act will be replaced with a new British Bill of Rights
:00:35. > :00:36.including additional human rights. What additional human rights will
:00:37. > :00:38.there be? I said we will be enhancing human
:00:39. > :00:46.rights in this country and bring forward proposals in due course.
:00:47. > :00:49.We have seen a 41% increase in disability hate crime prosecutions.
:00:50. > :00:56.Will the Secretary of State keep this as a priority?
:00:57. > :01:01.I absolutely agree with that. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I received
:01:02. > :01:05.assurances from the Government that the post-implementation review of
:01:06. > :01:09.tribunal fees would be published late last year. Nine months on and
:01:10. > :01:14.thousands more discrimination cases and we are still waiting. Why is it
:01:15. > :01:18.taking so long for the Government to get a move on and publish the review
:01:19. > :01:23.and follow the Scottish Government to abolish tribunal fees are
:01:24. > :01:26.completely in Scotland, not Northern Ireland.
:01:27. > :01:31.As the honourable lady says, it is right that this review should be
:01:32. > :01:35.published, and it will be in due course, together with the reply to
:01:36. > :01:39.the select committee. And we welcome the report and the discussion about
:01:40. > :01:43.this, I would like to thank her for her question.
:01:44. > :01:46.Last but not least. Will the Minister confirm that this
:01:47. > :01:52.ministerial team will continue the good work of its predecessor team in
:01:53. > :02:20.looking at how prisoners' family size can be
:02:21. > :02:23.strengthened to disappoint some remaining colleagues, but demand has
:02:24. > :02:25.exceeded supply as usual. Urgent questions, Jamie Reid. ??F
:02:26. > :02:39.ORCEDWHITE to ask the Secretary of State if he will make a statement on
:02:40. > :02:42.safety at Sellafield? Ensuring high standards of nuclear safety and
:02:43. > :02:47.security will always ensuring high standards of nuclear safety and
:02:48. > :02:52.security will always be a priority. There is no safety risk to side
:02:53. > :02:56.stuff for the public, it would be wrong to suggest otherwise. Sela
:02:57. > :03:01.file -- Sellafield contains the legacy of the UK's earliest
:03:02. > :03:04.programmes, where nuclear waste was dumped with no plan to save
:03:05. > :03:08.disposal. The Government has been turning that around a priority.
:03:09. > :03:10.There is no safety risk to side Stav for the public, it would be wrong to
:03:11. > :03:12.suggest otherwise. Sela file -- Sellafield contains the legacy of
:03:13. > :03:13.the UK's earliest programmes, where