:00:00. > :00:08.Houses of Parliament at 11 o'clock tonight. First, questions to the
:00:09. > :00:12.Justice Secretary, Liz Truss. The House will be aware of Jenny Swift
:00:13. > :00:18.in Doncaster prison and mice somebody's with her family as all
:00:19. > :00:22.deaths in custody, there would be an investigation by the prison and
:00:23. > :00:26.probation 's ombudsman. We want to assure transgender offenders are
:00:27. > :00:32.treated fairly, lawfully and decently with their rights and
:00:33. > :00:36.safety are respected. I cautiously welcomed the new guidance regarding
:00:37. > :00:39.the management of transgender prisoners and I'm sure we will all
:00:40. > :00:44.be keen to see all transgender people treated with respect and
:00:45. > :00:50.dignity. Can the minister assure the House that the new guidance also
:00:51. > :00:54.applies to transgender people held in immigration detention centres as
:00:55. > :01:00.well as those held in general prison systems? I thank the honourable lady
:01:01. > :01:05.fair question. The new guidelines to staff she has mentioned following a
:01:06. > :01:10.review into the management and care of transgender offenders, the review
:01:11. > :01:17.involved oversight in closing the Prison Reform Trust. We had 70
:01:18. > :01:23.people in this position in the estate which reflects broadly with
:01:24. > :01:30.the population. Specifically with regards to the question you asked,
:01:31. > :01:35.if you write to me, I will reply. The non-guidance is welcome indeed.
:01:36. > :01:41.Can the Minister outlined what this applies to in terms of non-binary
:01:42. > :01:45.people who are in prisons because it is not just about those defining
:01:46. > :01:52.themselves as men or women, it is about non-binary people as well.
:01:53. > :01:57.Again to put it in perspective, we have four people who are in that
:01:58. > :02:01.position currently in the estate. The new guidelines state all
:02:02. > :02:07.transgender prisoners should be expressed ink -- should be allowed
:02:08. > :02:11.to express their gender in of prison location. Quickly confirm that is no
:02:12. > :02:15.longer a requirement for gender recognition certificates and could
:02:16. > :02:18.he tell us how confident he is that these guidelines are being applied
:02:19. > :02:26.across the whole of the estate and will he expect to do an assessment
:02:27. > :02:30.of the impact? People are cared for and managed in the agenda with which
:02:31. > :02:38.they identify rather than this being based on their legally recognise
:02:39. > :02:42.gender. The guidelines were brought about with the interaction of
:02:43. > :02:46.various independent organisations. Staff are being trained in this area
:02:47. > :02:50.will stop I think some perspective is required. We have a prison system
:02:51. > :02:57.that is traditionally male and female and we are seeing relatively
:02:58. > :02:58.small numbers. With regards to recent tragic events come I'm
:02:59. > :03:13.looking at each case. The prison and Courts Bill will set
:03:14. > :03:19.out the reform of offenders as well as the punishment of offenders is a
:03:20. > :03:22.keep purpose of prison. We need to make sure the whole system is
:03:23. > :03:25.focused on getting prisoners the education they need, getting them
:03:26. > :03:31.off drugs and into jobs so we can reduce the ?15 billion cost of
:03:32. > :03:36.reoffending. I commend my honourable friend for the work she is doing.
:03:37. > :03:39.Could she set out the standards she is laying down so prison
:03:40. > :03:45.improvements and offender outcomes can be properly measured? We need
:03:46. > :03:49.standards so it can hold prison governors to account on what they
:03:50. > :03:53.are achieving. We will be starting to introduce those standards from
:03:54. > :03:58.April 20 17th. They will include measures like prison safety,
:03:59. > :04:00.progress made in English and maths, progress on getting an offenders
:04:01. > :04:07.into employment and measuring the time-out of cell in prisons. The
:04:08. > :04:15.Secretary of State will know that good rehabilitation depends on two
:04:16. > :04:19.things. A good probation service but secondly good partnerships with the
:04:20. > :04:24.business community and employers that will give them appropriate
:04:25. > :04:28.employment to steer them on their way. We have had some good
:04:29. > :04:34.experience at Reading and other jails and will he back that -- will
:04:35. > :04:39.she backed that partnership? We know when someone gets into work, they
:04:40. > :04:42.are much less likely to reoffend. We will be launching an employment
:04:43. > :04:49.strategy later this year encouraging more employers like Timpson 's, who
:04:50. > :04:52.do a good job to participate and we want to get the third sector
:04:53. > :04:55.involved in that rehabilitation programme. You're going to be
:04:56. > :04:59.announcing reforms to the probation system and one of the key focus is
:05:00. > :05:05.would be on how the probation service gets people into employment.
:05:06. > :05:10.Has there been progress in getting accurate job data Bacon says in the
:05:11. > :05:17.areas to which prisoners are going to be released in order to focus on
:05:18. > :05:20.work preparation in prisons as effectively as possible? We are
:05:21. > :05:23.working with the DWP to get that data and make sure it is much more
:05:24. > :05:28.linked up but by giving governors more power, we will enable them to
:05:29. > :05:32.work with their local employers, making sure there are jobs available
:05:33. > :05:35.so we are training people up in prison, getting them into
:05:36. > :05:42.apprenticeships so they can continue those apprenticeships and that work
:05:43. > :05:45.when they leave prison. What steps is the Government taking to ensure
:05:46. > :05:49.that mental health problems are picked up as part of the
:05:50. > :05:53.rehabilitation process, not just to reduce suicide rates but also to
:05:54. > :05:59.ensure that services are streamlined upon release? Mental health is a
:06:00. > :06:03.major issue. What we are giving governors is more power over the
:06:04. > :06:08.commissioning of mental health services in prison. What I also want
:06:09. > :06:11.to see is better diagnosis of mental health issues early in the criminal
:06:12. > :06:18.justice system, so when people appear in court and when they are
:06:19. > :06:22.run community sentences as well. Will the Minister said a high
:06:23. > :06:34.standard for employment projects in prisons along the lines of the
:06:35. > :06:38.experience in Padua. There was an outstanding exporting bakery
:06:39. > :06:43.business. I thank her for her comments and I think Mac catering
:06:44. > :06:49.and bakery is a big area where we do a lot of training already. We are
:06:50. > :06:52.working with organisations in getting people into employment and
:06:53. > :06:59.we have the bad boys bakery at Brixton which produces some
:07:00. > :07:06.excellent cakes. The Secretary of State seems well informed on these
:07:07. > :07:10.important matters. Getting them into employment is important and the
:07:11. > :07:12.Secretary of State referred to this. What assessments has heard
:07:13. > :07:15.department remained of the amount of prisoners that leave prison getting
:07:16. > :07:22.into employment and staying in it for more than six months? The
:07:23. > :07:25.honourable gentleman is right to talk about the longevity of that
:07:26. > :07:30.employment and we are designing those measures that prison governors
:07:31. > :07:35.and probation services will be held to account on, on the basis of
:07:36. > :07:45.getting people into sustainable employment. That is an important
:07:46. > :07:48.measure. Where and offender is at risk of serious harm, they will
:07:49. > :07:52.receive a standard recall. Thereafter, they will only be
:07:53. > :07:56.rereleased before the end of their sentence at the risk they pose is
:07:57. > :08:00.reduced and they can be safely managed in the community. In cases
:08:01. > :08:06.that are not high risk, a fixed term recall is often more appropriate. It
:08:07. > :08:08.is bad enough that prisoners are automatically released halfway
:08:09. > :08:14.through their sentence whether they pose a risk or not but when someone
:08:15. > :08:18.released on licence from prison Ben reoffend is, surely the least of the
:08:19. > :08:22.public can expect is the criminals concerned are sent back to prison to
:08:23. > :08:25.serve the remainder of their prison sentence in full. Instead of the
:08:26. > :08:30.huge number that we called prison for a 28 days on a fixed term
:08:31. > :08:34.recall. Sometimes on multiple occasions. How does the Minister
:08:35. > :08:44.justify this fraud on the British public? Where there is a high risk
:08:45. > :08:50.posed, the prisoner will not be rereleased before the end of beer --
:08:51. > :08:58.their sentence. Those were charged in a high risk status. If they are
:08:59. > :09:04.convicted of a further offence, they get a fresh sentence. Is the
:09:05. > :09:07.Minister aware of a recent case in Northern Ireland where someone
:09:08. > :09:11.charged with a serious terrorist offence in connection to the murder
:09:12. > :09:15.of prison officer David Black Tom abscond when he was on bail and the
:09:16. > :09:21.police to report that the courts for over weeks. If the Minister aware of
:09:22. > :09:37.that and whether any discussions to take this matter forward? Betty is
:09:38. > :09:42.not a question on the order paper. -- that is. I am not aware of that
:09:43. > :09:48.case and I am willing to dig it up with the honourable member. Someone
:09:49. > :09:51.in the justice system have raised fears that recall is used to
:09:52. > :09:55.regularly by rehabilitation companies. This is because the
:09:56. > :10:00.companies are descent advised from investing time where they will not
:10:01. > :10:04.be able to complete their committee sentence. What assessment has the
:10:05. > :10:10.Minister made of the use of recall by community rehabilitation
:10:11. > :10:16.companies? The honourable member makes a good point in how the
:10:17. > :10:20.process works. Companies have to justify the grounds to recall to
:10:21. > :10:24.officials in the National offending management service before going
:10:25. > :10:29.ahead. Where officials do not found grounds that recall, they will
:10:30. > :10:32.challenge the community rehabilitation companies. It is
:10:33. > :10:36.important to recognise that sometimes be calling an offender who
:10:37. > :10:40.is in breach of their licence allows the offender manager to put in place
:10:41. > :10:48.the appropriate mechanisms to manage them in the community. We are
:10:49. > :10:53.recruiting an extra 2500 prison officers and rolling out new body
:10:54. > :10:56.worn cameras. We are empowering governors in providing extra funding
:10:57. > :10:59.to enhance the physical security of the prison estate.
:11:00. > :11:08.If you I appreciate that prison violence has been a problem for
:11:09. > :11:12.decades. I remember being a GPS several decades ago, and there was a
:11:13. > :11:17.prison riot being dealt with them, but was it wise to cut the number of
:11:18. > :11:21.prison officers by 25% given these problems? I would be delighted to
:11:22. > :11:25.have a conversation with him about his experience looking at these
:11:26. > :11:30.issues because he is absolutely right, they have been a problem for
:11:31. > :11:36.a number of years. It will take time to build up the front line the crypt
:11:37. > :11:42.recruiting doors 2500 additional officers. But we have faced new
:11:43. > :11:46.challenges were psychoactive substances, drawings, mobile phones,
:11:47. > :11:50.taking action to deal with those, but it is important we have staff on
:11:51. > :11:56.the front line who can inform offenders and keep prisons safe. --
:11:57. > :11:59.drones. Six major incidents and eight weeks
:12:00. > :12:05.is unprecedented in the 25 years I have been in this House. Following
:12:06. > :12:08.on from the honourable gentleman from Gainsborough, which he
:12:09. > :12:15.confirmed the figures to September meant a loss, of 14 hundred is an
:12:16. > :12:26.officers? And when you have to recruit 2500, don't you mean 4000 to
:12:27. > :12:30.meet those 2000 500,000 -- 2500, and do you intend to do that? You're
:12:31. > :12:35.right, we need to recruit 4000 over the next year. I announced initially
:12:36. > :12:43.we were recruiting officers for ten of the most challenging prisons,
:12:44. > :12:47.making job offers to those first 400. We have launched the graduate
:12:48. > :12:51.scheme, and within 24 hours of announcing that scheme, we had
:12:52. > :12:54.expressions of interest from over 1000 candidates, so there are people
:12:55. > :12:58.interested in joining the prison service. It is a challenge to
:12:59. > :13:02.recruit those numbers of officers but the other tournament to do it,
:13:03. > :13:08.it is what we did to do to turn prisons around and make them places
:13:09. > :13:11.of safety and reform. Would you accept that the greatest support we
:13:12. > :13:15.can give two prison officers is to make sure they have the correct
:13:16. > :13:20.levels of staffing in their prisons? Is she aware that there has been
:13:21. > :13:24.significant problems highlighted by reports recently in Chelmsford
:13:25. > :13:31.prison which has been attributed to the understaffing of the prison.
:13:32. > :13:35.What is being done to get the levels of staff to correct levels? And
:13:36. > :13:41.would you agree for your Minister for prisons to have a meeting with
:13:42. > :13:46.me to discuss this? You are absolutely right, we do need to
:13:47. > :13:50.recruit staff at Chelmsford, in addition to other prisons. I know
:13:51. > :13:54.the prisons Minister will be meeting him soon. And I am keen to visit
:13:55. > :14:01.Chelmsford myself, to come and meet the gentleman there and see the
:14:02. > :14:04.situation on the front line. As well as issues with the
:14:05. > :14:08.understaffing and morale we still have issues with some old prisons,
:14:09. > :14:13.which are neither suitable for the caves of rehabilitation needed and
:14:14. > :14:17.also cause security issues. Can the government update us on what has
:14:18. > :14:22.been happening to deal with that problem? You are absolutely right.
:14:23. > :14:26.It is harder to reform offenders and create safe environments we want in
:14:27. > :14:32.old prisons that are not fit for purpose. That is why we are building
:14:33. > :14:38.additional prison places, 1.3 billion allocated, we will open each
:14:39. > :14:41.MP Bergman in Wales shortly with additional places. But we are
:14:42. > :14:48.committed and I will announce more about the prison build programme in
:14:49. > :14:55.due course. In 2011, and confirmed in 2016, there was adjusting the
:14:56. > :14:58.Delia competition -- the daily accommodation fabric checks. How has
:14:59. > :15:05.that have maintained order and reduced self harm? You raise a very
:15:06. > :15:11.important issue. We do need cells that are fit for purpose. And also
:15:12. > :15:14.that are usable. One of the things my honourable friend, the Prisons
:15:15. > :15:18.Minister, has been focused on a regular meetings has been making
:15:19. > :15:31.sure that contractors get cells back to you as unfit for purpose.
:15:32. > :15:33.Some prisons, including in Birmingham, use prisoner violence
:15:34. > :15:37.reduction representatives to discourage disorder. These are
:15:38. > :15:42.prisoners who are paid to monitor other inmates. Stakeholders we have
:15:43. > :15:47.spoken to suggest that some are ensuring compliance by themselves
:15:48. > :15:57.meeting out violence to troublesome inmates. What assessment has she
:15:58. > :16:00.made their use? The honourable lady refers to those valiant reduction
:16:01. > :16:05.programmes, and I have seen them in place in a number of prisons, where
:16:06. > :16:10.they can be very effective. Because often it is peer two peer support
:16:11. > :16:15.that can help turn prisoners around. However, they need to be carefully
:16:16. > :16:18.managed and monitored. My expectation is that it is the role
:16:19. > :16:24.of the governor of the prison to make sure all those proper systems
:16:25. > :16:31.are in place. In December, during her statement to the House on the
:16:32. > :16:35.riot at one prison in Birmingham, the Justice Secretary suggested that
:16:36. > :16:38.as many as 13 Tornado teams were deployed to the prison. Such events
:16:39. > :16:44.deprive other prisons of office numbers. Officer numbers. Does she
:16:45. > :16:49.have confidence that she had the resources to deal with the
:16:50. > :16:55.disturbances of this kind? And when will the Sara Payne investigation
:16:56. > :17:00.into what happened they concluded? Well, be an increasing the number of
:17:01. > :17:04.Tornado staff to make sure that we do deal with any incidents that are
:17:05. > :17:07.either cross prison estate, particularly while we are building
:17:08. > :17:13.up the strength of our front line. Those officers do a fantastic job
:17:14. > :17:16.and did a fantastic job in resolving the incident at each MP Birmingham.
:17:17. > :17:21.I can tell her that the investigation being led by Sarah
:17:22. > :17:26.Paynes on the incident at HMP Birmingham will report back in
:17:27. > :17:31.February. Amanda Solway. Question number five. I would like to take
:17:32. > :17:36.question five with nine and 12. The prison safety and reform White Paper
:17:37. > :17:40.confirms commitment to tackling the supply and demand for drugs and
:17:41. > :17:46.prisons. It also gives governors get a pilot over services in prison,
:17:47. > :17:49.devolving control for education and increasing health care provision
:17:50. > :17:58.including drug testing and rehabilitation. In my role, I have
:17:59. > :18:01.visited many prisons and one of the most consistent and challenging
:18:02. > :18:05.problems is not only treating drug addiction but actually preventing
:18:06. > :18:13.those from entering the prison system. What other plans to prepare
:18:14. > :18:20.it -- prevent MPS abuse and prisons? Prisons up a range of searching
:18:21. > :18:23.tools available. We have trained 300 dogs to detect psychoactive
:18:24. > :18:28.substances and introduce laws to prosecute those who smuggle and
:18:29. > :18:31.supply drugs. Can you explain what impact legal highs are having inside
:18:32. > :18:38.prisons and what steps the government is taking to crack down
:18:39. > :18:41.on this very serious problem? The use of legal highs is undeniably
:18:42. > :18:49.changing behaviour patterns amongst prisoners. Panorama last night was
:18:50. > :18:53.quite illustrative of the impact of new psychoactive substances. We have
:18:54. > :18:55.an innovative testing programme under the testing regime and
:18:56. > :19:02.continue to work with health partners to reduce the demand.
:19:03. > :19:06.In light of the increasing pressures on the prison population, do you see
:19:07. > :19:11.any merit on the suggestions by the Harvard league for penal reform is
:19:12. > :19:15.suggestions that there is the increased use of community orders,
:19:16. > :19:21.which work in Southend, and their approach to helping offenders with
:19:22. > :19:25.drug problems? Thank you for your question. We want to see effective
:19:26. > :19:30.community orders, so that further crimes are not committed. This
:19:31. > :19:35.includes better mental health, drugs and alcohol interventions. I am
:19:36. > :19:37.aware that if we can get to grips with mental health challenges and
:19:38. > :19:43.substance misuse challenges that crime will go down. Address the
:19:44. > :19:50.issue of drug addiction, I think you have to address smuggling drugs into
:19:51. > :19:54.prison. One method is introducing new scanning machines, similar to at
:19:55. > :19:57.airports. Have you considered doing that in prisons and thereby stopping
:19:58. > :20:05.drugs being smuggled by people into prison? Thank you for your question.
:20:06. > :20:08.Yes, consideration has been given to that. There is difficulty of a new
:20:09. > :20:17.psychoactive substances because the way they are being smuggled in,
:20:18. > :20:20.sometimes for example being impregnated into paper, it is
:20:21. > :20:25.difficult to find that via a scanner. But we are desperate to
:20:26. > :20:30.deal with this because of the adverse impact it is having. The
:20:31. > :20:33.honourable member has an identical question at number 19 which wasn't
:20:34. > :20:41.gripped. But the position is clear, if he does stand, I will call him,
:20:42. > :20:44.but he does, get in there, man! Will you agree that if we are to reduce
:20:45. > :20:49.reoffending it is vital we get the prisoners of drugs and give them the
:20:50. > :20:57.skills needed to find work as in the local community on release?
:20:58. > :21:02.My honourable friend is the same profession I am an fully understands
:21:03. > :21:06.the importance proper treatment of substance misuse. Part of that also
:21:07. > :21:15.having successfully got off of the drug is finding purpose in life and
:21:16. > :21:21.employment would be key to that. I would like to group questions six
:21:22. > :21:27.with 17th, we are investing significant financial resources,
:21:28. > :21:30.about 100 million, to recruit 2500 additional dozen officers, investing
:21:31. > :21:35.in 4 million in marketing campaign and effort, and in addition to the
:21:36. > :21:39.national recruitment campaign, there are local recruitment schemes
:21:40. > :21:43.running in 30 of our hardest to recruit prisons. As I am grateful
:21:44. > :21:50.for that reply. Can I urge him as he begins this recruitment process to
:21:51. > :21:54.give due process to rural areas, such as North Dorset, we have high
:21:55. > :22:00.post prices are high, and deployment levels are very low, making the
:22:01. > :22:04.Governor's is job even harder at a local prison, making it harder to
:22:05. > :22:10.recruit. I am aware the member takes a keen interest in his local prison.
:22:11. > :22:14.I can give him the assurance that that prison has been made a priority
:22:15. > :22:18.prison which means that the governor there is getting the extra resource
:22:19. > :22:23.in addition to the national campaigns effort to recruit the
:22:24. > :22:26.staff needed. Many of my constituents work in the prison
:22:27. > :22:30.service and I was recently contacted by one constituent who has worked in
:22:31. > :22:34.the prison service for over 23 errors. He was concerned about the
:22:35. > :22:38.level of morale amongst fellow officers, citing recent riots. What
:22:39. > :22:41.assurance can the Minister give me to ensure those serving on the front
:22:42. > :22:47.line can work safely and with appropriate staffing numbers?
:22:48. > :22:50.You are absolutely right. Prison officers are some of the finest and
:22:51. > :22:56.bravest public servants. We want them to be able to work in safe
:22:57. > :22:59.conditions and that is why we are tackling the use of drones, drugs
:23:00. > :23:05.and phones and prisons, also recruiting more staff to work in a
:23:06. > :23:08.safe environment. Given the enormous turnover of staff within the prison
:23:09. > :23:11.estate and the reality the government will need to employ
:23:12. > :23:16.around 4000 extra staff to meet the net figure of 2500, what can the
:23:17. > :23:22.Minister jealousy is doing to incentivise the current prison staff
:23:23. > :23:27.to stay and not what code? The reality is in 75% of prisons
:23:28. > :23:31.recruitment is not a challenge but in some prisons, particularly London
:23:32. > :23:35.and the South East, there is a challenge, and what we're doing
:23:36. > :23:39.there to recruit new is offering market supplements of about ?4000
:23:40. > :23:47.extra to attract new people and for those that are already in the system
:23:48. > :23:49.are looking in discussions about professionalising the prison service
:23:50. > :23:55.more to give them better citizen and more pride. Thank you. The chief
:23:56. > :23:59.executive officer of the National offender management service, Michael
:24:00. > :24:05.Souter, told MPs, as we have heard again today, of the need to recruit
:24:06. > :24:10.8004 prison officers to achieve the increase in 2500, yet existing
:24:11. > :24:16.prison officers have rejected the latest pay offer, and when Michael
:24:17. > :24:19.met the POA this week, did the Secretary of State join him and did
:24:20. > :24:29.she make the necessary commitments to make increased staffing in the
:24:30. > :24:36.prison service a reality? The Secretary of State and I met the POA
:24:37. > :24:41.last week, with a very constructive discussion, about talks and more
:24:42. > :24:47.widely about reform, specialising the officers' jobs and raising their
:24:48. > :24:50.status. Question number seven. We are determined to use the
:24:51. > :24:54.opportunities presented by the exit from the EU to build a truly global
:24:55. > :25:00.Britain. The world leading legal services contributing ?25 billion
:25:01. > :25:06.per item to the UK economy. My department is leaving work with the
:25:07. > :25:13.EU uncivil, commercial and family law and on the Office on justice. He
:25:14. > :25:20.wants to group that question seven with Number 10. With your position,
:25:21. > :25:25.number 11. Even ten, but we are very grateful. Scott Mann. Thank you, I
:25:26. > :25:29.like to welcome confirmation by Prime Minister that we will cease of
:25:30. > :25:32.membership of the single market, thus ending control of the European
:25:33. > :25:37.courts of this country. Do you look forward to the day when the British
:25:38. > :25:41.courts are no longer undermined by European judges sitting in
:25:42. > :25:46.Luxembourg? My honourable friend is absolutely right. We have fantastic
:25:47. > :25:53.judges here in the UK. Independent and incorruptible. We are going to
:25:54. > :25:57.be leaving the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, add the
:25:58. > :26:07.final decision will now be down to British judges. Like all things!, we
:26:08. > :26:12.facing uncertainty and looking at citizens' rights. -- like all things
:26:13. > :26:16.Brexit. What about pending cases before the Court of Justice and the
:26:17. > :26:22.EU? And the time of departure from the EU?
:26:23. > :26:29.Those types of issues will be resolved in due course and there
:26:30. > :26:33.will be a statement later today from my honourable friend, the Brexit
:26:34. > :26:37.secretary. What can my right honourable friend do to ensure the
:26:38. > :26:42.legal profession that contracts where the choice of law is English
:26:43. > :26:50.or Welsh law, will continue to be enforceable across Europe even when
:26:51. > :26:55.we've left the EU? This is a vital issue for our fantastic legal
:26:56. > :26:58.services profession. Four of the top ten international law firms are
:26:59. > :27:04.headed in the UK and what I've said this week at a joint meeting with
:27:05. > :27:08.the Lord Chief Justice and members of the legal profession is that
:27:09. > :27:17.mutual enforcement of judgments will be a key part of them Brexit
:27:18. > :27:21.negotiations. Civil and criminal justice are devolved to the Scottish
:27:22. > :27:25.parliament. Does she agree with the conclusions of the first report of
:27:26. > :27:30.exiting the EU select committee that the great reform bill must be dealt
:27:31. > :27:34.with in a way that is consistent with the existing devolution
:27:35. > :27:45.settlement and she accept that the legislative consent will be required
:27:46. > :27:48.to the great reform bill. --? I am looking forward to meeting be
:27:49. > :27:52.honourable lady to discuss the issues. The Prime Minister has been
:27:53. > :27:59.clear she wants to strike a bespoke Brexit deal that works for the whole
:28:00. > :28:02.of the UK. Because civil and criminal justice devolved, the
:28:03. > :28:07.triggering of article 50 will have major implications for the rights
:28:08. > :28:11.and freedoms of people in Scotland. Does she accept at the Seoul
:28:12. > :28:16.Convention will be engaged and does she agree with the Supreme Court's
:28:17. > :28:28.judgment this morning that the sole convention has a important role in
:28:29. > :28:31.harmonious changes? The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State
:28:32. > :28:36.that exiting the EU are working closely with the Government on the
:28:37. > :28:40.issue of exiting the EU. The Government has been clear it will
:28:41. > :28:48.respect the decision of the court made this morning. We are currently
:28:49. > :28:55.conducting the competence of review of this system to make sure cutting
:28:56. > :29:00.crime and preventing future victims. There are a wide number of factors
:29:01. > :29:06.that impact on the services including the nature of supervision
:29:07. > :29:13.and we have positive -- and rehab support. In October a report by the
:29:14. > :29:17.presence and probation Inspectorate found high work loads meant there
:29:18. > :29:21.was no time to think about cases in prison and that workload for
:29:22. > :29:27.resettlement workers meant that they spent little time working with
:29:28. > :29:32.individuals. Isn't this evidence that the Government's mistaken
:29:33. > :29:36.privatisation of the probation services failing prisoners, failing
:29:37. > :29:43.to prevent reoffending and therefore failing to protect the wider
:29:44. > :29:47.community. The ambition we have set for our probation system review due
:29:48. > :29:52.out at the beginning of April is very clear. That is we want a simple
:29:53. > :29:56.probation system with very clear outcome measures such as getting
:29:57. > :30:02.offenders into employment and into housing. Looking at outcomes is the
:30:03. > :30:03.best way to judge our probation system rather than looking at the
:30:04. > :30:22.imports. The Government's reforms will
:30:23. > :30:26.modernise the courts and tribunal system, improve the experience of
:30:27. > :30:31.everyone who comes in contact with it, particularly victims and
:30:32. > :30:34.witnesses. We need to make sure the provision of legal support is also
:30:35. > :30:40.updated to reflect the new way in which the justice system will work.
:30:41. > :30:43.We will work closely with the legal sector, victims and witnesses and
:30:44. > :30:48.others to review across the board the types of support needed in but
:30:49. > :30:55.nice justice system and produce a Green paper in the spring of 2018.
:30:56. > :31:03.Technology can mean courthouses that have closed can allow constituents
:31:04. > :31:08.to get access to justice. Can the Minister confirm that at Skegness
:31:09. > :31:12.courthouse, it is going to receive the kind of technology solution that
:31:13. > :31:16.will allow my constituents to still get access to justice and that this
:31:17. > :31:23.will not come at a cost to the local police? We're working to establish a
:31:24. > :31:27.video link facility at the Skegness and this will allow victims and
:31:28. > :31:36.witnesses to give evidence without travelling to Boston. Yesterday the
:31:37. > :31:48.British Parliamentary Association showed how well the PSNI and Garda
:31:49. > :31:53.are working together. With the Minister ensure that we are in
:31:54. > :32:00.either the same place or a better place? He meant to refer to the
:32:01. > :32:12.modernisation of the core system. It was purely an error.
:32:13. > :32:18.I would be happy to discuss it with the honourable gentleman and pass
:32:19. > :32:28.his remarks through to the Secretary of State for Air exiting the EU so
:32:29. > :32:30.he is aware of the concerns. Three Magistrates' Courts have been closed
:32:31. > :32:35.in Gloucester and the probation service divided. The Crown Court in
:32:36. > :32:42.Gloucester and the Magistrates' Court in Cheltenham continue to leak
:32:43. > :32:48.well disabled access is poor. Could you confirm today that action will
:32:49. > :32:52.be taken both on the physical condition of the courts and also
:32:53. > :33:02.annus mess and of the rehabilitation company's work. -- on the assessment
:33:03. > :33:08.of the rehabilitation company's work? I am particularly keen to get
:33:09. > :33:17.that skylight fixed for him and I am working hard on that. In the reply,
:33:18. > :33:21.the minister Doctor modernising the tribunal system. Part of that
:33:22. > :33:24.modernisation should be getting rid of employment Tribunal fees, the
:33:25. > :33:30.introduction of those fees has led to a cut in the number of employment
:33:31. > :33:34.tribunal cases by two thirds and a cut of over 80% in sex
:33:35. > :33:38.discrimination cases. Can the Minister announced that they will be
:33:39. > :33:44.abolished as part of access to justice and modernising the system?
:33:45. > :33:50.We have been reviewing employment tribunal fees and I can say to him
:33:51. > :33:55.that the publication of that review is imminent. Having said that, I
:33:56. > :33:59.would say to him that their raise a difference of opinion across the
:34:00. > :34:03.Chamber on this because we do think it right that individuals should
:34:04. > :34:08.contribute to the costs of the tribunal 's and it is worth bearing
:34:09. > :34:18.in mind that ACAS has increased its workload in employment cases from
:34:19. > :34:22.23,000 cases a year to 92,000 now. The result has been a very large
:34:23. > :34:30.increase in the number of cases that do not then proceed to the tribunal.
:34:31. > :34:34.If the UK is to remain at the forefront of legal services
:34:35. > :34:39.worldwide and for the sector to continue, it is vital our court
:34:40. > :34:46.system is modern, flexible and fit the 21st-century. I agree with that
:34:47. > :34:51.and we have the best legal system in the world but we need also to have
:34:52. > :34:56.the most modern. And so to get as many things out of court that don't
:34:57. > :35:01.need to be there, to apply the full force of judge and court room for
:35:02. > :35:05.the difficult and complex issues, strip away unnecessary hearings,
:35:06. > :35:11.duplication, it is important and I can report to the House that whereas
:35:12. > :35:17.two hearings ago, there was a saving of a shard load of paper as a result
:35:18. > :35:22.of these reports, it has now gone up to three shard loads. We have saved
:35:23. > :35:29.people of that height which would be a pile of paper as high as the
:35:30. > :35:40.largest building in the world. What a well-informed fellow he is. The
:35:41. > :35:44.new chairman of the bar Council has warned about relying too heavily on
:35:45. > :35:50.delivering justice online. Yesterday the President of the family courts
:35:51. > :35:55.complained that facilities in his courts are a disgrace to stop prone
:35:56. > :36:02.to the video link failing and desperate and poor video signals.
:36:03. > :36:08.Does the Minister understand that some cases just on suitable for
:36:09. > :36:13.video links and is he prepared to properly resourced those which are?
:36:14. > :36:19.It is very important that the courts should have the facilities they need
:36:20. > :36:22.it -- which is the reason for our modernisation programme. As far as
:36:23. > :36:28.the concerns about open justice, it is very important to realise that it
:36:29. > :36:31.will all work on the basis that there is access to see what's
:36:32. > :36:35.happening in a virtual hearing. People will be able to see that and
:36:36. > :36:43.it isn't going to be secret justice at all. It is important that we
:36:44. > :36:51.reduce the 15 billion cost of reoffending and all the misery that
:36:52. > :36:54.causes our -- that it causes in our society. They should go on to
:36:55. > :36:57.employment when they leave prison and our new standards are there to
:36:58. > :37:02.make sure governors are held to account for that. My private members
:37:03. > :37:06.bill is aimed at reducing homelessness and it returns to the
:37:07. > :37:09.House on Friday. One of the key provisions within that is the duty
:37:10. > :37:14.on the prison service to help and assist people who are leaving prison
:37:15. > :37:17.to find homes which are stable. What measures can my right honourable
:37:18. > :37:22.friend take to ensure prison governors use the four two-hour
:37:23. > :37:29.workshops that are to prepare prisoners for a life outside prison?
:37:30. > :37:34.As well as getting into a job, having suitable houses is also
:37:35. > :37:38.important to reducing reoffending. As well as measuring employment
:37:39. > :37:44.rates, we are also measuring housing rates and prison governors will be
:37:45. > :37:53.held to account on how well they are doing in terms of facilitating those
:37:54. > :37:57.offenders to get into housing. Once a person has been to prison, they
:37:58. > :38:01.pay their debt to society and contributing to society through work
:38:02. > :38:05.is a key part of rehabilitation. Does my right honourable friend
:38:06. > :38:09.agree that the declaration of a criminal record at the beginning of
:38:10. > :38:17.a job application creates an unnecessary barrier to work? I
:38:18. > :38:23.entirely agree that it is important that we help people get into work.
:38:24. > :38:28.I'm supportive of the band the box initiative and we are exploring
:38:29. > :38:31.options for promoting it. We will be publishing our employment strategy
:38:32. > :38:36.and we want to encourage more employers like Halfords, Greggs and
:38:37. > :38:42.DHL who work with ex-offenders to get involved because once they get
:38:43. > :38:49.into jobs, they can prove loyal and effective employees once in work. We
:38:50. > :38:52.are committed to reforming our domestic human rights framework and
:38:53. > :38:54.will return to consider our proposals was we know the
:38:55. > :39:02.arrangements for our exit from the EU. The Secretary of State said in
:39:03. > :39:05.September last year that she was anticipating meeting the Scottish
:39:06. > :39:10.Justice Minister to discover -- discuss their repeal of the Human
:39:11. > :39:13.Rights Act in Scotland. How do she planned to guarantee the proposed
:39:14. > :39:19.British Bill of Rights will not compromise the economy of the
:39:20. > :39:22.Scottish legal system? The Secretary of State has offered some days and I
:39:23. > :39:29.hope you will be possible for that meeting to take place with the
:39:30. > :39:32.Justice Minister. Certainly there will be some time for that now
:39:33. > :39:38.because we are going to return to our proposals was winnow the
:39:39. > :39:41.arrangements for exit from the EU. While it is right that our
:39:42. > :39:45.commitment to replace the Human Rights Act remains on the Government
:39:46. > :39:52.agenda, does my right honourable friend agree with me that leaving
:39:53. > :39:55.the European Union and freeing the United Kingdom from being bound by
:39:56. > :40:01.the Charter of fundamental rights, must be the absolute top priority
:40:02. > :40:07.for this Government? I do agree with that. It is important that we sort
:40:08. > :40:16.out the EU side of matters and the exit from the EU before we return to
:40:17. > :40:20.this subject. Scotland there is strong parties of the ECHR and the
:40:21. > :40:26.Human Rights Act in both Parliament and across civil society. Can he
:40:27. > :40:31.then agree that any attempt to repeal existing rights will be
:40:32. > :40:40.likely to provoke a constitutional crisis? Certainly I don't accept
:40:41. > :40:43.that the sort of changes that we are proposing to consider once the
:40:44. > :40:49.situation is known about our exit from the EU, that they would be a
:40:50. > :40:53.crisis making compilation. This country has always had a problem
:40:54. > :40:55.respect human rights. It predates the Human Rights Act and I think we
:40:56. > :41:07.can agree on that. Question 15.
:41:08. > :41:14.There were 6688 serving custodial sentences, foreign nationals are
:41:15. > :41:20.also being held on remand, or immigration detention centres. We
:41:21. > :41:23.are increasing the number of foreign National offenders removed from
:41:24. > :41:32.prisons, whether under the prisoner transfer agreement or through early
:41:33. > :41:37.removal scheme. In 2015-16, 5810 for a national offenders were removed,
:41:38. > :41:42.this is the highest summer since records began, and since 2010, 30
:41:43. > :41:47.3000 have been removed. Poland has one of the biggest national groups
:41:48. > :41:53.of foreign national offenders and prisons, their delegation from the
:41:54. > :41:57.transfer of directive of the EU was due to expire in 2016. Are we in a
:41:58. > :42:05.position to send these Polish prisoners back to prison in their
:42:06. > :42:09.own country? All eligible Polish nationals have been identified and
:42:10. > :42:13.deportation orders sought. We have referred cases to the Polish courts
:42:14. > :42:18.and transfers will take place once Polish legal procedures have been
:42:19. > :42:21.completed. Can the Minister say whether he thinks the number of
:42:22. > :42:30.prisoner transfers will go up or down after we leave the EU? We have
:42:31. > :42:33.already been in touch with the Department for exiting the EU on
:42:34. > :42:38.prisoner transfer agreements. But as I said in my opening answer that is
:42:39. > :42:42.one way of removing prisoners from this country. The early removal
:42:43. > :42:50.scheme is another way as we have been successful at removing a lot of
:42:51. > :42:53.prisoners to that scheme. Has the Ministry of Justice made an
:42:54. > :42:59.assessment of how many British offenders are held in foreign
:43:00. > :43:05.prisons? That is a number available but I don't have that to hand, I'm
:43:06. > :43:10.willing to provide that. Put the details in the library, it will be
:43:11. > :43:21.helpful to us all. Paul Blomfield. Number 22. Imminently.
:43:22. > :43:26.Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister claims she wants to protect workers'
:43:27. > :43:30.rights. Isn't the fear that publishing this report as it
:43:31. > :43:35.demonstrates the introduction of fees has negated that process? The
:43:36. > :43:37.Minister earlier said that publication is imminent. His
:43:38. > :43:43.predecessor said last July it was soon. Can you define the terms and
:43:44. > :43:48.give a date? He will not have long to wait, it is genuinely imminent.
:43:49. > :43:52.LAUGHTER But can I say that that has taken
:43:53. > :44:03.longer than we'd hoped. Topical questions. Number one.
:44:04. > :44:08.Today the Supreme Court issued its judgment on Article 50. The 11
:44:09. > :44:11.justices of the Supreme Court heard evidence over four days in December
:44:12. > :44:17.before handing down their judgment today. Our independent judiciary is
:44:18. > :44:23.the cornerstone of the rule of law and vital to the constitution and
:44:24. > :44:28.freedoms. The reputation of it is unrivalled world over. Supreme Court
:44:29. > :44:32.justices are people of integrity and impartiality. Whilst we may not
:44:33. > :44:36.agree with judgments it is a fundamental part of any thriving
:44:37. > :44:40.democracy that legal process is followed. The government is clear
:44:41. > :44:46.that it will respect the decision of the court. Thank you. The Secretary
:44:47. > :44:51.of State has been gallivanting but City of London law firm of late,
:44:52. > :44:55.most recently thirsty on Fleet Street, one thing to put English law
:44:56. > :44:59.at the forefront of attempts to create a global Britain. Does she
:45:00. > :45:06.think this law is superior to Scots law? What is she to promote the
:45:07. > :45:10.international interests of law firms from across the UK and law firms not
:45:11. > :45:19.in the City of London? Will they get the same consideration? Thank you
:45:20. > :45:22.for your question. I want to promote both English and Scots Law
:45:23. > :45:29.internationally, I think they are both huge assets to our country. And
:45:30. > :45:34.very important parts of commerce and business and the trust people have
:45:35. > :45:37.in our system. When I meet the Scottish Justice Minister, I will be
:45:38. > :45:42.delighted to meet some law firms up in Scotland. I welcome the
:45:43. > :45:50.government commitment to creating the status of Guardian for property
:45:51. > :45:53.and affairs of a missing person this is much wanted and needed by
:45:54. > :46:00.families. Can you tell us when this legislation will be brought before
:46:01. > :46:06.the House? We do well, my honourable friend for Thirsk Malton's bill on
:46:07. > :46:11.the subject. We are wanting to help families of a person left behind. We
:46:12. > :46:14.want to introduce legislation but we also now look forward to responding
:46:15. > :46:22.to my honourable friend's bill at its second reading.
:46:23. > :46:27.There are two micro things dented as four double Chris Eakin are
:46:28. > :46:32.attempting to ignore the referendum -- two dangerous things, ignoring
:46:33. > :46:36.the referendum and when the judiciary comes under attack. Whilst
:46:37. > :46:43.I welcome the progress the Secretary of State has today, under pressure,
:46:44. > :46:46.made in speaking up for the independence of our judiciary, it
:46:47. > :46:54.hasn't deterred those attacks from continuing. Though she now, once and
:46:55. > :46:59.for all, condemned the attacks on our judiciary? I'm delighted to hear
:47:00. > :47:06.that the Labour Party wants to support the will of the British
:47:07. > :47:12.people. That is a welcome development. As I've said, I'm
:47:13. > :47:16.intensely proud of our independent judiciary, they are equal part of
:47:17. > :47:29.our democracy. But I'm also proud to live in a country that has a press.
:47:30. > :47:34.-- free press. Can a decision when giving fair access to children, give
:47:35. > :47:39.fair access to both parents, because there are occasions where fathers do
:47:40. > :47:43.not get fair access which they deserve question is my friend and I
:47:44. > :47:49.have discussed this informally. The welfare of the child is always
:47:50. > :47:52.paramount in court decisions. But you will remember that parental
:47:53. > :47:58.involvement provisions were inserted into the children act in 2014,
:47:59. > :48:03.requiring the court now presumes that a parent's involvement in the
:48:04. > :48:09.child's life will further that child's welfare, unless the contrary
:48:10. > :48:12.can be shown. All members will have been appalled by the recent inquest
:48:13. > :48:18.findings into the tragic death of Dean Saunders at Chelmsford prison.
:48:19. > :48:21.This is a man in a mental health crisis who should never have been
:48:22. > :48:24.sent to prison, failed by everyone who should have been there to
:48:25. > :48:28.protect him. According to the charity inquest he is one of a
:48:29. > :48:35.prisoners to take their life last year. When will the Secretary of
:48:36. > :48:44.State provided Phil Anne Frank responds to why he died? -- to
:48:45. > :48:50.provide a full and frank response. This is a dreadful case, I am
:48:51. > :48:53.seeking the details of all these cases to see if there is a pattern
:48:54. > :49:01.and hope to come forward later in the year with any suggestions with
:49:02. > :49:06.the regards to policy change in regards to prisons. Figures released
:49:07. > :49:11.last month show that women are twice as likely to be prosecuted and seven
:49:12. > :49:15.times more likely to face the maximum ?1000 fine than men for
:49:16. > :49:20.nonpayment of the TV licence. Additionally, figures show that in
:49:21. > :49:24.2015 and number of women jailed for offences relating to this matter
:49:25. > :49:28.doubled. Can you explain to the House by women seem so
:49:29. > :49:36.disproportionately falling foul of the TV tax? Thank you for your
:49:37. > :49:40.question, and of course sentencing in individual cases is a matter for
:49:41. > :49:43.the courts. By the government are concerned that women and indeed men
:49:44. > :49:50.are not sent to custody if they do not need to be there. Sentencing for
:49:51. > :49:53.nonpayment of TV licence has new guidelines announced today, with
:49:54. > :49:56.possible factors to do the seriousness of TV licence evasion,
:49:57. > :50:01.including whether the culprit was experiencing significant financial
:50:02. > :50:05.hardship. The proposed closure of Camberwell Magistrates' Court would
:50:06. > :50:08.require my constituents, whether victims, witnesses defendants, to
:50:09. > :50:13.make long bus journeys to Croydon and Wimbledon to attend court. What
:50:14. > :50:17.assessment had you made on the implications of this proposed
:50:18. > :50:23.closure for access to justice for my constituents? Thank you for your
:50:24. > :50:28.response to the consultation, which has now closed, and we will announce
:50:29. > :50:34.the decision into course. But as made clear in the consultation there
:50:35. > :50:38.is excess capacity at London Magistrates' Court, Camberwell Green
:50:39. > :50:41.has significant outstanding maintenance of over ?1 million, so
:50:42. > :50:46.the consultation is about ensuring modern and efficient courts and
:50:47. > :50:49.improved arrangements for everyone. Assisting victims of crime is
:50:50. > :50:54.clearly at the centre of the government attempts to modernise the
:50:55. > :50:59.court system. What steps can you take to ensure that victims of
:51:00. > :51:03.sexual crime is assisted in their rights and preserved in the court
:51:04. > :51:09.system question that is an important point. We are seeing a record number
:51:10. > :51:15.of people prosecuted now for sexual crime, but I want to make it clear
:51:16. > :51:18.that victims and witnesses should be able to come forward, we are having
:51:19. > :51:27.more pre-trial cross-examination, so that people don't have the
:51:28. > :51:29.difficulty of appearing in court. I have spoken to victims organisations
:51:30. > :51:36.to see what more we can do to protect vulnerable victims. Does the
:51:37. > :51:40.Secretary of State recognised in relation to the Human Rights Act
:51:41. > :51:43.that the Good Friday Agreement requires that the European
:51:44. > :51:47.Convention on Human Rights to be directly enforceable in Northern
:51:48. > :51:51.Ireland? As you know, it is important that all matters to do
:51:52. > :51:54.with the devolved arrangements are fully considered in this context.
:51:55. > :52:02.But in the light of the announcement I've made today, there will be more
:52:03. > :52:05.time for that. Could the Minister outline what support has been
:52:06. > :52:09.provided to Lewes prison since it went into special measures at the
:52:10. > :52:13.end of last year and update on the progress made tackling some of those
:52:14. > :52:17.key issues that put it on special measures in the first place? The
:52:18. > :52:23.champion Lewis went into special measures on the 12th of December,
:52:24. > :52:25.and a package of support has been developed, for the newly appointed
:52:26. > :52:29.governor who took his post on the 9th of January. I would be happy to
:52:30. > :52:34.meet the member to discuss this support in detail. The consultation
:52:35. > :52:39.on driving offences and penalties relating to causing death or serious
:52:40. > :52:43.injury closes on February the 1st. When does the Minister expect the
:52:44. > :52:47.report on the outcome of consultation to be available? Is I
:52:48. > :52:54.understand we have received thousands of responses to that
:52:55. > :52:57.consultation and we will analyse results and once we are in a
:52:58. > :53:02.position we can bring forward for the proposals. What is the
:53:03. > :53:06.department doing to recruit high-quality graduates to the prison
:53:07. > :53:12.service? Thank you for your question, we have launched the
:53:13. > :53:15.programme which is like teacher first for prisons, encouraging the
:53:16. > :53:19.brightest and best graduates, we have had a huge response, more than
:53:20. > :53:23.1000 expressions of interest within 24 hours, and I look forward to them
:53:24. > :53:29.joining our fantastic prison service. It is two years this month
:53:30. > :53:32.since the government signed the prisoner transfer agreement with
:53:33. > :53:39.Nigeria, could the Minister tell me how many prisoners have been removed
:53:40. > :53:42.to a Nigeria since that agreement? Again I am happy to provide that
:53:43. > :53:48.information and put it in the library of the House. Following the
:53:49. > :53:55.announcement last week by the Prime Minister that Britain intends to
:53:56. > :54:01.leave the European Court of Justice, which you outline what preparations
:54:02. > :54:07.for department is making to have the UK court system to take out balls
:54:08. > :54:11.and accountabilities previously taken out by the European Court?
:54:12. > :54:14.Once believed the European Union, British judges will once again be
:54:15. > :54:19.the final decision makers in our courts. I am sure that are
:54:20. > :54:22.world-renowned traditionally will rise to the challenge and I am
:54:23. > :54:29.working closely with them on arrangements. The government has
:54:30. > :54:34.signalled its intention to remain a member of Europol after we leave the
:54:35. > :54:42.European Union. Is there also a similar resolve to continue the
:54:43. > :54:46.Bishop of Eurojust? Thank you for your question, I am working with
:54:47. > :54:50.arrangements for criminal justice after leaving the European Union, as
:54:51. > :54:59.well as the Secretary of State for exiting the EU. The Justice
:55:00. > :55:06.Secretary has already said that four out of the ten biggest legal firms
:55:07. > :55:10.are based in the United Kingdom. What steps are you taking, given the
:55:11. > :55:15.similarity between English law and law in New York State and Australia
:55:16. > :55:22.and New Zealand, to promote petition firms opportunities after we leave
:55:23. > :55:27.the European Union? Last week, I hosted a meeting with the Lord Chief
:55:28. > :55:30.Justice in leading legal firms, talking about mutual recognition and
:55:31. > :55:36.enforcement of contracts, and later on in the spring we will hold a
:55:37. > :55:43.global Britain legal services Summit to promote the fantastic
:55:44. > :55:47.capabilities we have in the law. When leaving prison, we need to
:55:48. > :55:51.ensure that those addicted to drugs or alcohol have the best start away
:55:52. > :55:58.from the dependency, so that their loved ones can be protected from
:55:59. > :56:02.that harm. Does the Minister agree with me that former prisoners who
:56:03. > :56:06.are addicted to substances who may then come back to course of the
:56:07. > :56:08.control their families to get to that substance can be managed
:56:09. > :56:21.better? I think it is important they receive
:56:22. > :56:29.treatment in the community and it is something I am looking at very
:56:30. > :56:34.closely. A crab Laura Berry? Ministers will be aware of an
:56:35. > :56:39.incident that took place where a defendant while in the dock was able
:56:40. > :56:45.to use a sharp object to take part in a serious act of violence against
:56:46. > :56:49.themselves. Will the Secretary of State look into what went wrong with
:56:50. > :56:53.the security arrangements at the court? No one should be in a
:56:54. > :56:57.position to do harm to themselves or others in a court in England or
:56:58. > :57:00.Wales. He makes an important point about an extremely concerning
:57:01. > :57:03.incident. I have been briefed already but I have asked for a
:57:04. > :57:06.further report from Her Majesty's Courts service on what happened and
:57:07. > :57:14.what measures are necessary to ensure it doesn't happen again.
:57:15. > :57:17.Meeting Lancashire Police Federation last Friday, they said to me they
:57:18. > :57:23.believed the sentencing guidelines dealing with an assault on a police
:57:24. > :57:28.officer are adequate. In some cases, they are not properly fought by the
:57:29. > :57:33.court. What will the Secretary of State do to make sure an attack on a
:57:34. > :57:38.police officer is always an aggravating factor because an attack
:57:39. > :57:43.the law enforcers is an attack on society itself? I thank my
:57:44. > :57:48.honourable friend for his comment and he is right about attacks on
:57:49. > :57:51.police officers. Also on prison officers. What we are doing is
:57:52. > :57:59.strengthening the law in those areas and I have regular discussions with
:58:00. > :58:06.the sentencing council. The use of psychoactive substances such as
:58:07. > :58:08.spies, commerce secretary of state tells me what links they can
:58:09. > :58:13.highlight in the rise of psychoactive substances and the
:58:14. > :58:22.levels of violence in prisons? He is right that psychoactive substances
:58:23. > :58:27.have an effect on our prisons. We have now rolled out testing to deal
:58:28. > :58:33.with those substances and we have extra sniffer dogs to deal with them
:58:34. > :58:37.and we are making progress. Recognising the consequences of
:58:38. > :58:41.crimes on victims must be at the forefront of offender's minds as
:58:42. > :58:45.they leave prison. What steps are ministers taking and the probation
:58:46. > :58:52.service taking to ensure this is the case? The honourable gentleman is
:58:53. > :58:58.right. Victims have to be at the centre of the justice system. That
:58:59. > :59:01.is what our court reforms will help deliver and also restorative Justice
:59:02. > :59:07.programmes led by our Police and Crime Commissioner 's can help
:59:08. > :59:15.restore justice to victims. Statement, the Secretary of State
:59:16. > :59:21.that the European Union. David Davis. I will make a statement on
:59:22. > :59:24.the Government's responds to today's judgment by the Supreme Court. This
:59:25. > :59:31.Government is determined to deliver on a decision taken by the people of
:59:32. > :59:36.the UK in the referendum to lead the European Union. We will move swiftly
:59:37. > :59:39.to do just that. I can announce today that we will surely need to do
:59:40. > :59:41.is legislation allowing the Government to move ahead with
:59:42. > :59:47.invoking article 50 which starts the formal process of withdrawing from
:59:48. > :59:52.the European Union. We received the lengthy 96 page judgment a few hours
:59:53. > :59:59.ago and Government lawyers are assessing it carefully. This would
:00:00. > :00:00.be a straightforward bill. It is not about whether or not the