0:00:00 > 0:00:01round-up of the Day in both Houses of Parliament at 11pm tonight.
0:00:01 > 0:00:05First, questions to the Justice Secretary David Gower and his team
0:00:05 > 0:00:20of ministers.With permission, I would like to answer questions one
0:00:20 > 0:00:25and two. Maintaining access to justice is a key principle when
0:00:25 > 0:00:34changes to the estate are proposed. Reassessed travel time for court
0:00:34 > 0:00:43users. Decisions to close a court is never taken likely. Reform programme
0:00:43 > 0:00:53will improve access to justice for many users, while online proceedings
0:00:53 > 0:01:02and video courts will make access easier.In my constituency, Buxton
0:01:02 > 0:01:10Court closed in 2016. Some of my constituents now have to travel 40
0:01:10 > 0:01:14miles to Chesterfield Court. Police say it takes them a whole day to
0:01:14 > 0:01:18take someone to court, instead of less than half a day. It impacts the
0:01:18 > 0:01:22number of offenders they can bring to court and to justice in my area.
0:01:22 > 0:01:28Please will he take this into account and the current
0:01:28 > 0:01:32consultation?Ungrateful for those comments, but we also have to take
0:01:32 > 0:01:39into account that during the financial year, 41% of court
0:01:39 > 0:01:44tribunal is used less than half of their available hearing capacity.
0:01:44 > 0:01:49Across the country, courts are utilised at 58% of their capacity.
0:01:49 > 0:01:56In those circumstances, we have to make decisions about the reforms we
0:01:56 > 0:02:01undertake.Thank you. I have been raising concerns about the closure
0:02:01 > 0:02:06of Lambeth County Court for two years. My constituents facing the
0:02:06 > 0:02:08repossession of their homes must now attempt Clerkenwell County Court
0:02:08 > 0:02:16which lawyers report to be a chaotic environment, impossible to contact
0:02:16 > 0:02:21by telephone, where cases files frequently go missing, and where the
0:02:21 > 0:02:28number of those failing to attend is rocketing.The reality is we are
0:02:28 > 0:02:32undertaking a series of reforms here, making much greater use of
0:02:32 > 0:02:39digital technology, increasing access to online ways of dealing
0:02:39 > 0:02:47with this. And these are... This is an important modernisation that the
0:02:47 > 0:02:51court system needs.Very sadly, we have lost our Magistrates' Court in
0:02:51 > 0:02:57Kettering which I believe is a mistake. It means witnesses are all
0:02:57 > 0:03:03having to travel further. I think the closure of courts sends up a
0:03:03 > 0:03:09signal to the magistrate that they are not valued. Can we get rid of
0:03:09 > 0:03:14this ridiculous age limit where by magistrates have to retire at 70?
0:03:14 > 0:03:21Ungrateful to him for raising this point. Is a matter that I have
0:03:21 > 0:03:25received representations upon. That is consistent with what happens
0:03:25 > 0:03:30elsewhere in the judiciary, but I'm conscious this will continue to be a
0:03:30 > 0:03:40matter of some debate.The government is continuing to cut
0:03:40 > 0:03:50court staff, closing Court and signing millions of pounds for the
0:03:50 > 0:03:52digitisation programme. Will the Minister promised not to close any
0:03:52 > 0:03:57more courts or sign contracts until the court bill is published and the
0:03:57 > 0:04:03matter has been debated fully in this chamber?I hope to be able to
0:04:03 > 0:04:11bring forward further news, in terms of the Courts Bill in the near
0:04:11 > 0:04:16future. But I'm not going to give that undertaking. I think it is
0:04:16 > 0:04:22important that we continue to look to get the best out of the resources
0:04:22 > 0:04:28that we have and if that means reforms here in making greater use
0:04:28 > 0:04:37of digital technology and also ensuring that our courts stay as
0:04:37 > 0:04:45efficient as possible, we will continue to do so.I understand that
0:04:45 > 0:04:48the honourable member for Rochdale has got a great interest in this
0:04:48 > 0:04:59area and did a lot of work when he was the PPC of Greater Manchester.
0:04:59 > 0:05:05It is right that cases come to court as quickly as possible. Timeliness
0:05:05 > 0:05:11in a criminal court system is improving. From listening to
0:05:11 > 0:05:18completion, the average is down to 27 days. Unfortunately, as he will
0:05:18 > 0:05:21know, there are particular challenges in relation to six
0:05:21 > 0:05:27offences where it takes longer for cases to come to court.The Minister
0:05:27 > 0:05:37is right. There are complexities, but in cases where there are
0:05:37 > 0:05:41legitimate adjournments this can lead to months of delay and
0:05:41 > 0:05:46sometimes it takes years before victims come to court. Victims are
0:05:46 > 0:05:53already traumatised by what has happened to them. Can we make them a
0:05:53 > 0:06:02priority?Here's right. We need to be extremely careful with vulnerable
0:06:02 > 0:06:05witnesses to ensure they have justice. Were bringing in measures
0:06:05 > 0:06:09and rolling out the taking of their evidence to ensure that they can do
0:06:09 > 0:06:19that pre-trial and therefore safely, which will speed up justice. As he
0:06:19 > 0:06:23knows, we are hoping to bring forward the courts bill which will
0:06:23 > 0:06:27ensure the streamlining of justice, doing away with unnecessary
0:06:27 > 0:06:33hearings, which will hopefully speed up access to justice.Can administer
0:06:33 > 0:06:40further outline what training lawyers get when handling vulnerable
0:06:40 > 0:06:50witnesses?In family court, all judges have training regarding
0:06:50 > 0:07:01vulnerable witnesses. I'm sure the CPS have training as well.We are
0:07:01 > 0:07:04committed to improving the experiences of those who have become
0:07:04 > 0:07:08victims of crime. By the summer, we will publish our victim strategy.
0:07:08 > 0:07:18The key area of which is how we can improve interactions with the
0:07:18 > 0:07:25criminal justice system.Does he agree that the video hearing system
0:07:25 > 0:07:39will improve the system and increase capacity?He is right. Ensuring the
0:07:39 > 0:07:48easiest possible way for people to give evidence is part of our
0:07:48 > 0:07:52efficiency strategy.The Serious Case Review into the appalling
0:07:52 > 0:07:55sexual abuse of girls and vulnerable adults in Newcastle was published
0:07:55 > 0:08:01last month. Whilst generally praising the actions of local
0:08:01 > 0:08:06authorities, it raised significant concerns about the way victims of
0:08:06 > 0:08:10these appalling crimes were supported and made to relive
0:08:10 > 0:08:14harrowing experiences. Will the Minister be responding directly to
0:08:14 > 0:08:21the recommendations of the Spicer review?I thank the honourable lady
0:08:21 > 0:08:26for her question. The Department is aware of the Serious Case Review
0:08:26 > 0:08:31concerning sexual exploitation of children. The details are shocking.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35We are looking at ways to continually improve our service and
0:08:35 > 0:08:43I will be writing to her with regards to whether we will respond
0:08:43 > 0:08:48directly to that.The Scottish Government is bringing in
0:08:48 > 0:08:56legislation to prevent people from civil court fees. Discussions is he
0:08:56 > 0:09:02having about lessons to be learned? I think there are plenty to learn
0:09:02 > 0:09:09from what is happening in Scotland. Discussions continue on a regular
0:09:09 > 0:09:14basis and I look forward to learning from Scotland in the future.The
0:09:14 > 0:09:20government had plans to legislate to ban alleged domestic abusers from
0:09:20 > 0:09:25cross examining their victims in family courts. Did the Minister say
0:09:25 > 0:09:29of this is still government policy? And if so, when such a provision
0:09:29 > 0:09:35will be put before this House? Every time there is a delay, the more
0:09:35 > 0:09:47vulnerable people get traumatised in court.He is spot on. It is wrong
0:09:47 > 0:09:52that this behaviour in the courts is not acceptable. We will bring
0:09:52 > 0:09:56forward details of this in our bill later this year.The court
0:09:56 > 0:10:02experience can be a will bewildering one. From feeling like a different
0:10:02 > 0:10:09planet. Not helped by the fact that 72% of court judges are men. It is
0:10:09 > 0:10:16International Women's Day on Thursday. Will the government commit
0:10:16 > 0:10:20to a time still to ensuring that 50% of judges are female?I think it
0:10:20 > 0:10:24would be appropriate if the numbers of women in that position in our
0:10:24 > 0:10:31society was greater. I will be visiting HMP Bronzefield on Thursday
0:10:31 > 0:10:37evening. I cannot commit to a timetable. I will take away her
0:10:37 > 0:10:48suggestion.Thank you. As the House will be aware, in 1988, a major
0:10:48 > 0:10:53change in the law was brought in to allow victims to be able to
0:10:53 > 0:10:58challenge unduly lenient sentences. At the moment, that applies to the
0:10:58 > 0:11:02most serious indictable offences, but the government has recently
0:11:02 > 0:11:09extended it to a range of terrorist offences.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13I am grateful for that answer, but the Government has promised to
0:11:13 > 0:11:19extended to include a further range of offences. Can I ask when the
0:11:19 > 0:11:23Government is good to extend the number of cases, as we have been
0:11:23 > 0:11:29promised for quite some time? Already said in my answer. Already
0:11:29 > 0:11:33the most serious offences such as murder are covered by the scheme. We
0:11:33 > 0:11:37have extended it twice in the last few years, but we are talking very
0:11:37 > 0:11:41closely to my right honourable friend the Attorney General to look
0:11:41 > 0:11:46at other opportunities for extending the scheme.Mr Speaker, the
0:11:46 > 0:11:51Secretary of State will know that I regularly writes to him about an
0:11:51 > 0:11:55unduly lenient and unduly severe sentences. I never seem to get a
0:11:55 > 0:12:00reply. The fact is, too many women are locked up for non-violent
0:12:00 > 0:12:04offences for long periods of time, and that is the sort of case that I
0:12:04 > 0:12:09writes to him about. Why don't we ever did any comeback?It is
0:12:09 > 0:12:14reassuring to know that I am not the only person to whom the honourable
0:12:14 > 0:12:22gentleman regularly writes.To go to the nub of the honourable member's
0:12:22 > 0:12:25question, I think there is a very serious issue here, that as it is
0:12:25 > 0:12:28absolutely true that there are many more women in prison than we would
0:12:28 > 0:12:33like to see, and my honourable friend is working very hard to juice
0:12:33 > 0:12:39that population for exactly the reasons the honourable member has
0:12:39 > 0:12:48raised. -- to produce that population. -- reduce.A criminal
0:12:48 > 0:12:54case can be very traumatised in the victims. Would the Minister look at
0:12:54 > 0:13:00introducing a discretion in relation to the 20 day limit?An interesting
0:13:00 > 0:13:04question. Perhaps we could sit down to discuss this interesting idea in
0:13:04 > 0:13:16more detail.Question six. With your permission, I would like to take
0:13:16 > 0:13:20questions six, 14 and 23 together. Skilled professional prison officers
0:13:20 > 0:13:24are at the centre of running and good prisons. That is why we are
0:13:24 > 0:13:32committed to recruiting 2500 extra prison officers, and we are now nine
0:13:32 > 0:13:37months ahead of target on delivering those officers.I welcome the
0:13:37 > 0:13:41Government making progress in recruiting extra prison officers,
0:13:41 > 0:13:44but will the Minister reassure the House that he is making every effort
0:13:44 > 0:13:49to retain the services of experienced and long serving
0:13:49 > 0:13:51officers who are absolutely essential for entering new recruits
0:13:51 > 0:13:57into the service?Absolutely. As the honourable member points out, this
0:13:57 > 0:14:01is not just about numbers. Working in a prison is very challenging, and
0:14:01 > 0:14:06having the experience to do it is vital, so we are bringing incentive
0:14:06 > 0:14:09schemes in place to try to retain our most experienced staff and
0:14:09 > 0:14:15understanding the cases where they do leave why they are leaving.There
0:14:15 > 0:14:19is a huge opportunity for rehabilitation in prisons, which is
0:14:19 > 0:14:23often not taken, so what we have a lot of capacity will this increase
0:14:23 > 0:14:30in prison officers create?The central objective of bringing in
0:14:30 > 0:14:342500 extra prison officers is to allow us to pair each individual
0:14:34 > 0:14:38prison officer with six prisoners, which allows them to develop their
0:14:38 > 0:14:43individual personal relationship over time through weekly meetings,
0:14:43 > 0:14:45exactly to achieve the rehabilitative and educational
0:14:45 > 0:14:49objectives that we need to reduce reoffending and protect the public.
0:14:49 > 0:14:58The redevelopment of one prison will provide many employment
0:14:58 > 0:14:59opportunities across Northamptonshire including in my
0:14:59 > 0:15:02constituency. What does the Government doing to attract local
0:15:02 > 0:15:07people into the role, including for example former members of the Armed
0:15:07 > 0:15:14Forces?I'm very pleased this has been raised. Almost 40% of prison
0:15:14 > 0:15:16officers traditionally came from the Armed Forces. That number is
0:15:16 > 0:15:21reduced. We are now working closely with the MOD to explain what an
0:15:21 > 0:15:26interesting career this can be entered in much advertising, but
0:15:26 > 0:15:34although it is a very challenging career, it can also be deeply
0:15:34 > 0:15:36fulfilling, we would like to encourage mini more people to come
0:15:36 > 0:15:44forward into the profession.What effect does the Minister expect
0:15:44 > 0:15:49regarding the shortage of prison officers on the number of suicides
0:15:49 > 0:15:55and self harm and prisons?There is a number of drivers on suicide and
0:15:55 > 0:16:00self harm, and of course numbers of staff is one of them. There are
0:16:00 > 0:16:03other questions around it, probably the largest single driver that we
0:16:03 > 0:16:09have seen, though, since 2011 is drugs which are creating
0:16:09 > 0:16:11extraordinary psychotic episodes and leading to directing creases and
0:16:11 > 0:16:19violence. We must address this. -- direct increases.This in
0:16:19 > 0:16:23recruitment drive is welcome, but isn't it true that we are now just
0:16:23 > 0:16:26catching up? Staff at a young offenders institution in my
0:16:26 > 0:16:32constituency fell by a third in 2013 to 461, with huge impact on the
0:16:32 > 0:16:36Government and staff, with that institution having been deemed
0:16:36 > 0:16:40unsafe for both staff and prisoners. Is it not time that the Government
0:16:40 > 0:16:43now commits to working closely with staff and the prison officers
0:16:43 > 0:16:47Association to tackle this crisis and ensure we get back on track with
0:16:47 > 0:16:52rehabilitation for young offenders? 100%, we will be working very
0:16:52 > 0:16:56closely with prison officers on exactly this reason, and is the
0:16:56 > 0:16:58honourable member points out, getting the numbers right will be
0:16:58 > 0:17:04vital. Those 2500 ex-prison officers are vital to get that one to sex
0:17:04 > 0:17:16ratio we need for rehabilitation. -- one to six.Ministers talk of
0:17:16 > 0:17:19finally addressing a crisis they made by axing some in a prison
0:17:19 > 0:17:23officers, yet since the so-called recruitment drive began, over a
0:17:23 > 0:17:28third of high security prisons have actually had a fall in the number of
0:17:28 > 0:17:31prison officers, so could the Secretary of State guaranteed today
0:17:31 > 0:17:35that these high security prisons will have more staff by the next
0:17:35 > 0:17:41justice questions?One of the challenges around the high security
0:17:41 > 0:17:45state, particularly in places like London, has been around the
0:17:45 > 0:17:48employment opportunities. We have put new incentives in place to
0:17:48 > 0:17:53recruit people in London, both a signing on bonus and a retention
0:17:53 > 0:17:56bonus. I am not in a position to guarantee exactly the employment
0:17:56 > 0:18:02market, but we are making a lot of recruitment in places such as
0:18:02 > 0:18:08Belmont high security prison in London.Nearly one in four prisons
0:18:08 > 0:18:13have seen prison officers fall since the Government's recruitment drive
0:18:13 > 0:18:16began. We have a problem with experience officers leaving the
0:18:16 > 0:18:21service, creating a dangerous cocktail of inexperienced officers
0:18:21 > 0:18:24and expedients prisoners. In the last year alone, 1000 prison
0:18:24 > 0:18:28officers with more than five years' experience each have left the
0:18:28 > 0:18:32service. That is the equivalent of over 5000 years of experience lost
0:18:32 > 0:18:37in the prison service in the last year alone. So will be Secretary of
0:18:37 > 0:18:39State guaranteed that there will be more prison officers were five
0:18:39 > 0:18:49years' experience at the end of the year and now? -- than now?The
0:18:49 > 0:18:52fundamental point that is right, we need experienced prison officers. It
0:18:52 > 0:18:55is very difficult working in a prison. You can bring in huge
0:18:55 > 0:18:58numbers of new junior staff, but unless they have the experience, it
0:18:58 > 0:19:02is good to be difficult to get those kind of results. We therefore have a
0:19:02 > 0:19:05plan where we have targeted the presence was the most experienced
0:19:05 > 0:19:09officers and understanding why that is happening, and we are putting
0:19:09 > 0:19:12both work with staff in place and financial incentives in place to
0:19:12 > 0:19:19retain those experienced staff.The new recruits are welcome, but senior
0:19:19 > 0:19:25officers are also important. I am told that on certain grades, prison
0:19:25 > 0:19:29staff acting up to higher roles are paid more than if they accepted the
0:19:29 > 0:19:33actual promotion, and this acts as a disincentive to staff looking to
0:19:33 > 0:19:36take on more responsibility. Can my right honourable friend look into
0:19:36 > 0:19:42this anomaly?I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to
0:19:42 > 0:19:45the work of the honourable member for jump-start, particularly on
0:19:45 > 0:19:50prisons and for advocating for the prison population there. It is true
0:19:50 > 0:19:54that there is a very strange anomaly in the HR procedure, and we must
0:19:54 > 0:19:58tackle this. It cannot make sense that people are paid more to Act up
0:19:58 > 0:20:01and occupy the role. We want people to have career development, and we
0:20:01 > 0:20:13will move for that immediately. Question seven.There were an
0:20:13 > 0:20:21average 11,200 prisoners in prison workshops. Also in 2016, 2048
0:20:21 > 0:20:24individuals will do some temporary licence for work-related purposes.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28The new futures network will aim to get even more prisoners working
0:20:28 > 0:20:30during their sentence, and for that work to lead to employment on
0:20:30 > 0:20:41release.I know he is new in office, but Ramby Prison has been waiting
0:20:41 > 0:20:52for two years now to create the sport facilities they are capable of
0:20:52 > 0:20:56building, but the one thing they have not been given as the
0:20:56 > 0:21:01permission to proceed by the Secretary of State to do this
0:21:01 > 0:21:05commercial work. Can I incentivise him with perhaps a cup of tea
0:21:05 > 0:21:11afterwards in order to concentrate his mind on why this decision needs
0:21:11 > 0:21:21to be made urgently by him? Certainly the prospect of a cup of
0:21:21 > 0:21:27tea with the honourable gentleman does concentrate the mind. And I
0:21:27 > 0:21:31would be delighted to accept his invitation. But in terms of what we
0:21:31 > 0:21:37are trying to do is we are... Wants to ensure that we have got a prison
0:21:37 > 0:21:45system that encourages people to progress, to have opportunities to
0:21:45 > 0:21:55gain experience in the work, and I'm keen to do that in this post.And
0:21:55 > 0:21:57the honourable gentleman's officer might be thought to be a divisional
0:21:57 > 0:22:02proposition.The Secretary of State's speech this morning and the
0:22:02 > 0:22:08emphasis of more use an temporary licence is extremely welcome and
0:22:08 > 0:22:11constructive. Will he also bear in mind that at the moment, they
0:22:11 > 0:22:15through the gate programme involves careers and implement advice
0:22:15 > 0:22:19happening on the towards the end of a prisoner's sentence, while all
0:22:19 > 0:22:23evidence suggests that it should happen much earlier?I think the
0:22:23 > 0:22:26chair of the Justice select committee for his comments, and it
0:22:26 > 0:22:30is the case that we want to see what we can do in terms of release on
0:22:30 > 0:22:33temporary licence, whether we can expand that provide. Trinity is more
0:22:33 > 0:22:40widely. And in terms of his second point, I'm keen to ensure that we
0:22:40 > 0:22:45provide as much support as possible, and make it clear that there is a
0:22:45 > 0:22:48second chance for people who have gone to prison. If they abide by the
0:22:48 > 0:22:51rules, they comply by the system, we want to give them the support they
0:22:51 > 0:22:55need to turn their lives around. We'll be Secretary of State consider
0:22:55 > 0:22:59what can be done to facilitate prisoners in applying for Universal
0:22:59 > 0:23:04Credit before the release in order that they can receive the support of
0:23:04 > 0:23:07job centre and other staff immediately on police to move into
0:23:07 > 0:23:10to paid work as quickly as possible? -- will be Secretary of State
0:23:10 > 0:23:17consider?A good point, I am keen to do that. A lot of good work goes on
0:23:17 > 0:23:20in prisons, with work cultures in particular prisons providing that
0:23:20 > 0:23:25support. One of the challenges in terms of access to e-mails, and we
0:23:25 > 0:23:31need to look very careful at the large number of questions that
0:23:31 > 0:23:37raises, but I think you are right to raise this point.Work experience in
0:23:37 > 0:23:41prison is proven to reduce reoffending, so does the Secretary
0:23:41 > 0:23:45of State believe that while we rightly praise those who offer
0:23:45 > 0:23:48former offenders work experience, we need to call out those employers who
0:23:48 > 0:23:53have a blanket ban on employing ex-offenders unrelated to any
0:23:53 > 0:23:59reasonable or fair risk assessment of doing so?I agree with my
0:23:59 > 0:24:02honourable friend. I have certainly seen surveys suggesting something
0:24:02 > 0:24:07like 50% of employers and we will not engage, and what is frustrating
0:24:07 > 0:24:12is that when you do speak to those employers who do take on extra
0:24:12 > 0:24:18fenders, actually their experiences are frequently very positive indeed.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22I think if we can increasingly build a culture whereby those offenders
0:24:22 > 0:24:26are given that opportunity, think that is good for the offenders and
0:24:26 > 0:24:33good for society as it will reduce reoffending.Question eight, please.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37I believe the honourable member and myself have discussed this issue
0:24:37 > 0:24:41something like five times in the last six weeks. I would like to be
0:24:41 > 0:24:45attributed to him as being a very firm advocate for as commodities, we
0:24:45 > 0:24:49have listened very carefully to his complaints. A decision on this
0:24:49 > 0:24:51prison is not likely, the construction is not likely to be
0:24:51 > 0:24:55imminent, but I would like to say in addition to listen to those
0:24:55 > 0:24:59complaints, that a prison built in the right place in the right way,
0:24:59 > 0:25:04can provide is another good economic opportunities for an area.I think
0:25:04 > 0:25:09the Minister for his answer, but the problem is the proposed site is
0:25:09 > 0:25:13right next to residential areas, schools, and a care home, surrounded
0:25:13 > 0:25:16by very poor transport links on the Des admitted enterprise zone on
0:25:16 > 0:25:22marshland, and restricted by a covenant saying that it can only be
0:25:22 > 0:25:25used as an industrial park. -- designated enterprise zone. The
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Minister must agree with me that the whole idea is a nonstarter and
0:25:28 > 0:25:33should be scrapped with immediate effect.The honourable member has
0:25:33 > 0:25:35made these points on a number of occasions, we are listening
0:25:35 > 0:25:41carefully. Indeed, two members of our department travelled to Port
0:25:41 > 0:25:44Talbot to a meeting where these points were raised repeatedly. We
0:25:44 > 0:25:48are listening very carefully to the honourable member.Would there be an
0:25:48 > 0:25:51answer to the honourable gentleman on the industrial estate if any new
0:25:51 > 0:25:57prison fully incorporated the work of 131 Solutions, designed over six
0:25:57 > 0:26:02years ago to increase the productive and commercial output from
0:26:02 > 0:26:05prisoners, and the numbers given by the Justice Secretary right now
0:26:05 > 0:26:09suggest we have not actually made very much progress in the numbers of
0:26:09 > 0:26:13prisoners who are working. Any new prison will include 131 Solutions,
0:26:13 > 0:26:22and how are we getting on with prisoners working overall?
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Thank you. Forward very much to meeting with the Right honourable
0:26:25 > 0:26:37member to hear more about 131 solutions.If a super present is
0:26:37 > 0:26:42built in Port Talbot, there will be up to 1000 more prison places than
0:26:42 > 0:26:52there are prisoners from Wales. Is Wales set to become a penal colony
0:26:52 > 0:26:56for Westminster?I think we want to be very careful with this kind of
0:26:56 > 0:27:01language. There are currently about 85,000 prisoners within the estate.
0:27:01 > 0:27:10Having a 1000 extra prisoners in Wales is not the creation of an
0:27:10 > 0:27:15English penal colony.Will he ensure its chaplaincy avoids the
0:27:15 > 0:27:19extraordinary carrying one that has recently been reported at HMP
0:27:19 > 0:27:29Brixton?I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute in
0:27:29 > 0:27:33general to the work of the chaplaincy. That is both a Christian
0:27:33 > 0:27:40chaplaincy, the Jewish chaplaincy and the imams with whom I have
0:27:40 > 0:27:56recently met.We are seeking a new deep partnership across the whole of
0:27:56 > 0:28:03the UK. In the negotiations over market access for the criminal
0:28:03 > 0:28:09justice system, I want to deal with all nations in the UK and it is why
0:28:09 > 0:28:17my department is meeting regularly with the devolved administrations to
0:28:17 > 0:28:24discuss EU except.The Scottish Government's legal continuity bill
0:28:24 > 0:28:28gives the Scottish parliament and enhanced role in scrutinising laws
0:28:28 > 0:28:45due to Brexit.In terms of what is described as the continuity bill,
0:28:45 > 0:28:49I'm not sure in all honesty how helpful or a useful that will prove
0:28:49 > 0:28:55to be. Of the reality is there is very close scrutiny in this House of
0:28:55 > 0:28:58the measures the government is taking and the negotiations we are
0:28:58 > 0:29:17taking.We are saving up the Member for the next question. He will have
0:29:17 > 0:29:23a short wait.Can I ask the Minister if he is looking forward to April
0:29:23 > 0:29:34next year when the jurisdictions across the United Kingdom will be
0:29:34 > 0:29:41able to meet the demands of the people across United Kingdom?As we
0:29:41 > 0:29:44leave the European Union, new flexibilities will arise for all
0:29:44 > 0:29:52parts of the United Kingdom.Unlike the EU withdrawal bill, the Scottish
0:29:52 > 0:30:00Government's legal continuity bill contains a power for Scots law to
0:30:00 > 0:30:10keep pace with European law post Brexit if appropriate. Does he agree
0:30:10 > 0:30:18that a similar measure should be taken for the English legal system?
0:30:18 > 0:30:23In terms of the extent to which this parliament decides to replicate EU
0:30:23 > 0:30:26law, that is a matter for this parliament and whether we put that
0:30:26 > 0:30:32in the EU withdrawal bill or not, that freedom will continue to exist
0:30:32 > 0:30:40for this Parliament.Another point of contrast between the Westminster
0:30:40 > 0:30:46proposal and the Scottish Government's proposal is that
0:30:46 > 0:30:53fundamental rights are included. What is he doing to ensure that
0:30:53 > 0:30:59everyone in the United Kingdom keeps their rights from the charter
0:30:59 > 0:31:05regardless of which jurisdiction they reside in?The argument was
0:31:05 > 0:31:08made at that time that it was essentially replicating rights that
0:31:08 > 0:31:20were set out elsewhere in other parts of EU treaties, so the extent
0:31:20 > 0:31:24to which that fundamentally changes matters, I think there is a debate
0:31:24 > 0:31:32to be had on that.With your permission, I would like to take
0:31:32 > 0:31:42questions ten, 20 and 21 together. It is right to give legal certainty
0:31:42 > 0:31:46for families and individuals after we leave the EU. The Prime Minister
0:31:46 > 0:31:50said on Friday that part of our arrangement will be dealing with
0:31:50 > 0:31:57cross-border disputes. The best way to deal with that is a close
0:31:57 > 0:32:05encumbrance of agreement between the UK and the EU, setting out common
0:32:05 > 0:32:11rules.Leaving the EU is likely to lead to additional workload for the
0:32:11 > 0:32:14UK legal system. What additional resources have been made available
0:32:14 > 0:32:19to his apartment and to the legal system more generally to ensure they
0:32:19 > 0:32:29are fully prepared for this?I thank him for that question. He will be
0:32:29 > 0:32:34aware of the Treasury has made another £3 billion worth of extra
0:32:34 > 0:32:40funding available to departments for 2018-2020. We are in discussion with
0:32:40 > 0:32:44the Treasury about the allocation for the justice system and hope to
0:32:44 > 0:33:02agree that soon.As we leave the European Union, many aspects of our
0:33:02 > 0:33:09legal system will return to Brussels. Does he agree with me that
0:33:09 > 0:33:13the SNP's disruptive bill will do nothing but add uncertainty to our
0:33:13 > 0:33:19country?We are committed to providing a bill which works for all
0:33:19 > 0:33:26parts of the UK. The government believes that leaving the EU will
0:33:26 > 0:33:37significantly increase the decision-making of all devolved
0:33:37 > 0:33:44administrations in the UK.Legal services is a key exporter of this
0:33:44 > 0:33:51country. What is he doing to ensure there will be new arrangement for
0:33:51 > 0:33:56legal recognitions of standards and qualifications?We recognise this is
0:33:56 > 0:34:01an important right to protect for UK nationals, so they can continue with
0:34:01 > 0:34:12their chosen line of work.
0:34:13 > 0:34:19Talks on many key issues, including mutual recognition of professional
0:34:19 > 0:34:23qualifications will continue into the next phase of negotiations. We
0:34:23 > 0:34:32will seek to reach an agreement with the EU, and the Prime Minister has
0:34:32 > 0:34:37been clear she wants EU nationals in the UK and UK nationals in the EU to
0:34:37 > 0:34:50be able to continue their lives broadly as no.
0:34:52 > 0:34:59We are not likely to reach question number 19.As the Prime Minister has
0:34:59 > 0:35:07made a number of concessions regarding the European Court of
0:35:07 > 0:35:14Human Rights after Brexit, when exercising devolved jurisdiction,
0:35:14 > 0:35:20isn't it time to amend clause six of the EU withdrawal bill to the same
0:35:20 > 0:35:30effect?In terms of clause six and this question more widely, let's be
0:35:30 > 0:35:42clear. We are leaving the EU so that jurisdiction of the ECJ will end.
0:35:42 > 0:35:50The ECJ determines whether an agreement is struck illegal under
0:35:50 > 0:35:55the EU on law. Of Parliament passes an identical law to EU law, it makes
0:35:55 > 0:36:05sense for our courts to look at the ECJ judgment to be consistent. We
0:36:05 > 0:36:08have to remain our parliament would ultimately remain sovereign and it
0:36:08 > 0:36:16could decide not to accept these rules, but with consequences for
0:36:16 > 0:36:23linked market access rights.There have been a number of challenges,
0:36:23 > 0:36:33particularly with transition. Reoffending has come down. In
0:36:33 > 0:36:38Cumbria, we are performing well. We need to focus particularly on the
0:36:38 > 0:36:43questions of assessment, planning and eating. This is what we focused
0:36:43 > 0:36:51on regarding the report into London due on Monday.Private sector
0:36:51 > 0:36:53provision companies focus on contract compliance, rather than the
0:36:53 > 0:37:00true quality of supervision. It was undermining the established values
0:37:00 > 0:37:07of professionals. Does he agree it is time to put proper probation
0:37:07 > 0:37:16ahead of private profit?I had an interesting meeting at Nottingham
0:37:16 > 0:37:21prison where a sea RC is providing good through the gate services. That
0:37:21 > 0:37:29did not exist before the reforms. I don't believe this is a question of
0:37:29 > 0:37:34whether it is done by the private or public or voluntary sector, but it
0:37:34 > 0:37:40is a question of getting basic standards right. That is what we
0:37:40 > 0:37:48will question the London CRC on on Thursday.Putting it bluntly,
0:37:48 > 0:37:53privation privatisation has been a disaster. Despite this, the
0:37:53 > 0:38:02government is still pursuing their privatisation agenda. Last month,
0:38:02 > 0:38:08hostels night staff was outsourced. Will minister fully accept
0:38:08 > 0:38:16responsibility for any impact regarding this ideological
0:38:16 > 0:38:25outsourcing?He is referring to a decision made from a government run
0:38:25 > 0:38:31service to bring in additional contacted staff in to provide night
0:38:31 > 0:38:38covered by these hostels. This is traditionally work done by contacted
0:38:38 > 0:38:44staff, but of course I accept full responsibility for that decision.
0:38:44 > 0:38:49This case is a matter for the Home Office and police. I understand the
0:38:49 > 0:38:54Home Office is working closely with the MPC seek to understand the
0:38:54 > 0:39:01impact of this ruling and monitor current claims.Failures to disclose
0:39:01 > 0:39:05digital evidence has led to the collapse of four rape trials in
0:39:05 > 0:39:12recent months. In light of the recent ruling, the lack of
0:39:12 > 0:39:20criminality now exposes the police to huge problems. Will he make
0:39:20 > 0:39:26representations to the Home Office to carry out a full impact
0:39:26 > 0:39:31assessment of this decision?In terms of the disclosure cases, as
0:39:31 > 0:39:36the Attorney General has said, it is a question of public authorities
0:39:36 > 0:39:41performing the roles that they should do and doing their jobs
0:39:41 > 0:39:45properly. And clearly it is of very great concern that have been these
0:39:45 > 0:39:55cases with this appears not to have happened.I would like to express,
0:39:55 > 0:40:00as I'm sure the whole house would, our immense gratitude to the role
0:40:00 > 0:40:03that service animals play and have played for a long time in public
0:40:03 > 0:40:10life. We do things frequently that humans would not do. Ranging from
0:40:10 > 0:40:14detection of bombs to drug detention, to addressing violent
0:40:14 > 0:40:19criminals. There are very serious circumstances which a judge can take
0:40:19 > 0:40:24into account when sentencing and very serious sentences can put in
0:40:24 > 0:40:31place for anyone attacking a service animal and that is absolutely right.
0:40:31 > 0:40:45A police dog was brutally stabbed several times in my constituency. It
0:40:45 > 0:40:52is not acceptable to treat a police dog in the same way as a computer
0:40:52 > 0:41:01regarding criminal damage. Will he meet with me to discuss greater
0:41:01 > 0:41:03protection for service animals?I would like to pay tribute to the
0:41:03 > 0:41:07active campaign led by the honourable member and others. I
0:41:07 > 0:41:15would be delighted to meeting to discuss this law.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18Given that Canada, America, Australia and many of the European
0:41:18 > 0:41:21member states have a similar law, why did the Minister order the
0:41:21 > 0:41:28Government to block the Bill last Friday?As we have discussed, there
0:41:28 > 0:41:31are already very significant sentences that could be imposed
0:41:31 > 0:41:35about to ten years for this kind of action, but I would be delighted to
0:41:35 > 0:41:37meet with the right honourable member along with my honourable
0:41:37 > 0:41:45friend to discuss this detail in more detail. -- discuss this issue.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48I am grateful for that kind offer, and I would like to make the point
0:41:48 > 0:41:52that there is a gap in the law here. If you prosecute under the animal
0:41:52 > 0:41:55welfare Act, they are legal difficulties because of the drafting
0:41:55 > 0:42:01of section four, and if you prosecute the criminal damage, of
0:42:01 > 0:42:03course the value of the animal is the thing that determines the
0:42:03 > 0:42:10sentence. Often a police dog like Finn, who was eight years old, he is
0:42:10 > 0:42:14not worth that much money. He is invaluable to the police enforcement
0:42:14 > 0:42:18efforts of this country, but he is not worth a lot of money, so I'm
0:42:18 > 0:42:28grateful the Minister will talk to as about this.We can have a debate
0:42:28 > 0:42:31about Finn of the honourable gentleman has not already done so.I
0:42:31 > 0:42:36have got a ten minute rule Bill as well.The right honourable gentleman
0:42:36 > 0:42:39is ahead of events! I was just enjoying the family history the
0:42:39 > 0:42:45honourable gentleman was educating is about just now. Minister.My
0:42:45 > 0:42:48honourable friend is of course a great authority on the law. There
0:42:48 > 0:42:52are a number of issues here bulletin from the exact sentences that can be
0:42:52 > 0:43:00put in place today to the work that the secretary for environment food
0:43:00 > 0:43:04and Google affairs is introducing an animal cruelty. I look forward to
0:43:04 > 0:43:19discussing these issues over a cup of tea. -- rural affairs.
0:43:19 > 0:43:24Health services are commissioned by NHS England who are responsible for
0:43:24 > 0:43:27assessing treatment of mental health prisoners in England. In Wales, this
0:43:27 > 0:43:31is devolved to the Welsh Government were separate arrangements are made.
0:43:31 > 0:43:37I think the honourable gentleman might be a bit confused. I think the
0:43:37 > 0:43:40Minister is asking a question that would have been put the honourable
0:43:40 > 0:43:42gentleman from Coventry have been called earlier on different
0:43:42 > 0:43:47question. The question was which we are now dealing is number 16, on
0:43:47 > 0:43:55levels of violence and self harm. It is quite understandable.My
0:43:55 > 0:43:59apologies. There have been worrying increases in levels of violence and
0:43:59 > 0:44:06self harm. A lot of this is driven by new drugs, as I said earlier,
0:44:06 > 0:44:09which are increasing psychotic episodes. We are working hard on
0:44:09 > 0:44:13this, having provided training to an additional 14,000 prison officers
0:44:13 > 0:44:18focused on issues of violence and self harm. More staffing will help,
0:44:18 > 0:44:21but there is much to do.The Minister will be aware that self
0:44:21 > 0:44:31harm in prisons has risen by 75% since 2007. Whilst I appreciate the
0:44:31 > 0:44:35Minister giving as the drivers for pylons and self harming in prison,
0:44:35 > 0:44:43can he tell us in more detail how he is good to produce self harm and
0:44:43 > 0:44:46suicide? Candidacy agree that part of the solution is encouraging the
0:44:46 > 0:44:53use of mental health treatment procedures, which has fallen by 48%?
0:44:53 > 0:44:56Absolutely correct that mental health is at the heart of a lot of
0:44:56 > 0:45:01these issues. Two things, though, one of them is the training for
0:45:01 > 0:45:0814,000 additional officers. The second is the use of the process
0:45:08 > 0:45:12assessing the risk posed to the prisoner and planning to deal with
0:45:12 > 0:45:17that. We have managed to reduce the levels of suicide in the last 18
0:45:17 > 0:45:21months, but the level is still far too high. Any death is a great
0:45:21 > 0:45:29tragedy, we will continue to work hard to reduce it forward.62 years
0:45:29 > 0:45:35ago, the then MP for Liverpool stood in this chamber and raised concerns
0:45:35 > 0:45:44about Liverpool prison. In the last two years, seven prisoners have
0:45:44 > 0:45:49taken their lives in that prison. The Minister said on the 22nd of
0:45:49 > 0:45:51February that the conditions at the prison were disturbing and
0:45:51 > 0:45:55unacceptable. What action will be Minister take today to ensure that
0:45:55 > 0:45:59all prisoners' mental health needs are met, and no other prisoner takes
0:45:59 > 0:46:07their life in one of our prisons?As the honourable member has mentioned,
0:46:07 > 0:46:11Liverpool was in was very disturbing. Mental health provision
0:46:11 > 0:46:14is now significantly better than it was at the time of the inspection,
0:46:14 > 0:46:19and I spend a lot of time with the mental health staff there. But there
0:46:19 > 0:46:22is a broader issue, although we are producing suicide, that is still too
0:46:22 > 0:46:25much of it happening, and a lot of this will be about making sure that
0:46:25 > 0:46:31we deal not only with the drugs, but also have the right kind of
0:46:31 > 0:46:34purposeful activity in prisons so that prisoners do not feel the
0:46:34 > 0:46:42temptation to take their own lives. Question 17.The honourable member
0:46:42 > 0:46:45is right to highlight the value of our legal advice, which is why the
0:46:45 > 0:46:53Government has spent a vast amount of money on civil cases last year.
0:46:53 > 0:47:02The Citizens Advice Bureau has estimated that for every £1 spent on
0:47:02 > 0:47:10advice, the state would save over £2. So could the Minister met to
0:47:10 > 0:47:14commissioning some research into the cost effectiveness of introducing
0:47:14 > 0:47:17early legal advice on the housing sector so we can save money in the
0:47:17 > 0:47:24long run?There is already a that can be taken on a telephone hotline,
0:47:24 > 0:47:27legal aid is available where homelessness is at risk, and that
0:47:27 > 0:47:31the latest almost lost. There's a whole variety of early legal advice
0:47:31 > 0:47:35available through legal aid at the moment, but that's the honourable
0:47:35 > 0:47:41member will know, we are conducting a review and this issue will be
0:47:41 > 0:47:52considered.Number 18, Mr Speaker. Reducing reoffending is above all
0:47:52 > 0:47:57about having a healthy relationship between the individual and their
0:47:57 > 0:48:00family, the individual and society, the individual and the state. So
0:48:00 > 0:48:05having devolution should put family is vital. That is partly about the
0:48:05 > 0:48:11prisoner's entitlement to two visits a month. Some excellent examples,
0:48:11 > 0:48:14such as Liverpool, a fantastic family centre for a meeting with
0:48:14 > 0:48:18family, and it is also about having the telephony in place to keep those
0:48:18 > 0:48:25contacts up.I thank the Minister for his response. Does he agree with
0:48:25 > 0:48:31the findings that by maintaining family contact, you can reduce
0:48:31 > 0:48:37reoffending by over 39%?Absolutely, getting that family relationship
0:48:37 > 0:48:40right, and bedding people with their family is vital in terms of reducing
0:48:40 > 0:48:49reoffending.Topical questions, Priti Patel.For prisons to be
0:48:49 > 0:48:53effective, we must get the basics right. We must tackle the
0:48:53 > 0:49:01ringleaders of serious organised crime so that people cannot ruin
0:49:01 > 0:49:12people's' glide from behind bars. This includes creating a new team to
0:49:12 > 0:49:17work with the National Crime Agency and enhance our intelligence
0:49:17 > 0:49:20gathering capacity across the country. I will also look at how we
0:49:20 > 0:49:25categorise prisoners to make sure we are using our most secure prisons to
0:49:25 > 0:49:29tackle ongoing offending behind bars, and at the same time we will
0:49:29 > 0:49:34improve our incentive scheme so they will work more in the favour of
0:49:34 > 0:49:46criminals who play by the rules. -- prisoners who play by the rules.As
0:49:46 > 0:49:51part of the negotiations on leaving the European Union, is my right
0:49:51 > 0:49:56honourable friend liaising with other departments to ensure that we
0:49:56 > 0:49:59can deport thousands of EU nationals in our prison and remove these
0:49:59 > 0:50:05dangerous people from Britain?Since 2010, we have removed more than
0:50:05 > 0:50:0940,000 foreign national offenders from our presence. Immigration
0:50:09 > 0:50:16centres in the community allow foreign offenders to return to their
0:50:16 > 0:50:19home country, and we are working closely with the Home Office as we
0:50:19 > 0:50:26consider our fuel future criminal justice system with the aim of
0:50:26 > 0:50:32carrying on how close working relationship.Any formal statement,
0:50:32 > 0:50:35the previous Secretary of State for Justice said the Grenfell Tower
0:50:35 > 0:50:42enquiry would get to the truth and see justice done. For that to be the
0:50:42 > 0:50:46case, survivors and their families must have full confidence in it. To
0:50:46 > 0:50:52tackle the current obvious lack of trust, does the Minister agree with
0:50:52 > 0:50:54survivors and believed family is calling for a broad enquiry panel as
0:50:54 > 0:51:01there was the watershed enquiry as there wasn't the death of Stephen
0:51:01 > 0:51:09Lawrence?The process has been set up, and the enquiry is the right
0:51:09 > 0:51:12approach, the focus should be on ensuring that that enquiry is able
0:51:12 > 0:51:20to make progress rather than trying to undermine it.Family law has been
0:51:20 > 0:51:26in need of reform for far too long. We are now supporting early
0:51:26 > 0:51:29intervention and wishing to carry out a pilot scheme. We'll be
0:51:29 > 0:51:34Minister meet with me to discuss how we could make this excellent session
0:51:34 > 0:51:39is reality? -- excellent solution.I am aware of the importance of
0:51:39 > 0:51:47looking at family law. Relationship breakdown cannot read very much to
0:51:47 > 0:51:50unwelcome life circumstances for children. I'm happy to meet with the
0:51:50 > 0:51:55honourable member. He should know that I have already met with the
0:51:55 > 0:52:03Chief Executive of the family Court, I'm happy to discuss his issue.
0:52:03 > 0:52:07There has already been a public meeting in my constituency about the
0:52:07 > 0:52:10prison. He will be delighted to know we have organised another public
0:52:10 > 0:52:15meeting on the 12th of April, to which he has been invited. I would
0:52:15 > 0:52:20really encourage him to come to meet my constituents, to hear directly
0:52:20 > 0:52:22their concerns, and I can guarantee he will receive a warm welcome in
0:52:22 > 0:52:28the valley.I am very grateful. As I say, there's almost no member of
0:52:28 > 0:52:32Parliament who has been more assiduous in this subject. I think
0:52:32 > 0:52:37five meetings in the last six weeks on the subject. It was a very
0:52:37 > 0:52:41vigorous encounter between my officials and the honourable
0:52:41 > 0:52:43member's community on that last visit to Port Talbot. I would like
0:52:43 > 0:52:47very much to have the next meeting here in London if possible, I would
0:52:47 > 0:52:55be delighted to have discuss issues on that occasion.The Torbay
0:52:55 > 0:52:59offender management team works to reduce crime, and to prevent
0:52:59 > 0:53:05reoffending. What movements has the Lord Chancellor made to reducing
0:53:05 > 0:53:13crime in Torbay?This is an interesting example. It's in stars
0:53:13 > 0:53:18that the Torbay approach is working with police and children services,
0:53:18 > 0:53:26the work they do with Catch-22 on accommodation.In December, the
0:53:26 > 0:53:33spate of deaths at Nottingham prison was described to me as a random
0:53:33 > 0:53:39occurrence. Last month, another death was reported to be a suicide.
0:53:39 > 0:53:42All ministers now except there is nothing going on at this jail, this
0:53:42 > 0:53:50is not a safe environment?I visited HMP Nottingham last week, and today
0:53:50 > 0:53:57serious was it. I would like to pay to get to the prison officers and
0:53:57 > 0:54:00the governor, but there are many challenges that at present. We have
0:54:00 > 0:54:05a new violence reduction strategy, and the Act process will be central
0:54:05 > 0:54:10in solving these problems.In 100 years' time, people will look at our
0:54:10 > 0:54:17prisons the same way we look at Victorian prisons, locking up too
0:54:17 > 0:54:21many people with health problems. One thing we could do is clear out
0:54:21 > 0:54:25people serving less than a year in prison, as it does no good and are
0:54:25 > 0:54:30moved around. Will the Minister look at this?It is true that many of the
0:54:30 > 0:54:34serious challenges we have been discussing in the House today,
0:54:34 > 0:54:38particularly around violence, self harm and drug use, focus on the
0:54:38 > 0:54:42population in prison for less than 12 months. The more we can do to
0:54:42 > 0:54:45rehabilitate people on the committee while protecting the public, the
0:54:45 > 0:54:51better.Since 2010, six successive court ministers have dodged
0:54:51 > 0:54:55indecision over the future of Sunderland Courts estate, despite
0:54:55 > 0:54:57spending over £2 million on preparations for a new Centre for
0:54:57 > 0:55:04Justice, a further £284,000 will now be spent on repairs to the city's
0:55:04 > 0:55:08crumbling Magistrates' Court as a result of this delay. Will the
0:55:08 > 0:55:12Minister meet with me to see if we can put an end to this saga give the
0:55:12 > 0:55:16people of Sunderland a decision at the last?I thank the honourable
0:55:16 > 0:55:20member for her question today. It was a pleasure to meet with her
0:55:20 > 0:55:24recently to discuss this issue, and I'm grateful to her from following
0:55:24 > 0:55:28up on Friday with an e-mail. Very happy to meet with her again to
0:55:28 > 0:55:32discuss this issue. I have sent her a letter today setting out a
0:55:32 > 0:55:36timetable, as I said I would, in relation to the consideration of the
0:55:36 > 0:55:39site going forward. When she has had a chance to look at that, I am happy
0:55:39 > 0:55:47to meet with her again.Does the honourable member and we that we
0:55:47 > 0:55:53could look at the records of prisoners with good behaviour to
0:55:53 > 0:55:59reduce reoffending in the future?If there are prisoners who are abiding
0:55:59 > 0:56:06by the rules, complying with what is required of them, then governors
0:56:06 > 0:56:09should have greater flexibility to reward those prisoners with
0:56:09 > 0:56:13additional privileges, and I think that can help move people in the
0:56:13 > 0:56:18right direction, change behaviour in a positive way.The most recent
0:56:18 > 0:56:22figures from the Department show only 6% of employment Tribunal fees
0:56:22 > 0:56:27have been repaid despite the Supreme Court declared unlawful the previous
0:56:27 > 0:56:32year. If the parliament cannot uphold the law, how does it expect
0:56:32 > 0:56:40anyone else to?
0:56:40 > 0:56:44The department has a responsibility for upholding the law and it does do
0:56:44 > 0:56:51so. The department has done work in identifying interested bodies. It
0:56:51 > 0:56:56has written to the bar Council, to the representation unit. New figures
0:56:56 > 0:57:04will come out at the end of March -- on the 8th of March. Of people do
0:57:04 > 0:57:17not get refunds, we will continue to liaise with that.Could administer
0:57:17 > 0:57:26discuss solutions for tackling literacy problems?54% of inmates
0:57:26 > 0:57:34have a reading level lower than we would expect from an 11-year-old.
0:57:34 > 0:57:41Our solution is to give governors more control of the education budget
0:57:41 > 0:57:46and ensure literacy is available in every prison as part of the core
0:57:46 > 0:57:56curriculum.Are a hard-working prison officers face daily violence
0:57:56 > 0:58:04in their jobs. I would like to ask the Minister a wider question. What
0:58:04 > 0:58:09is the department doing to ensure prison of us are given full support
0:58:09 > 0:58:13when assaulted and mental health services are better than what we are
0:58:13 > 0:58:20now?We have a huge obligation to prison officers, particularly when
0:58:20 > 0:58:26the are assaulted. We need to make sure prisoners are punished. Will
0:58:26 > 0:58:34need to reduce drugs. We need to use more CCTV cameras and body held
0:58:34 > 0:58:38cameras to record salts. Prison officer is must feel safe in our
0:58:38 > 0:58:44environment.I very much hope the Foreign Secretary is beetling his
0:58:44 > 0:58:56way towards the chamber. Either he himself one of his accomplices is
0:58:56 > 0:59:11required in the chamber. We will not take points of order no. We will
0:59:11 > 0:59:21hear from the honourable gentleman in due course. Stay in your seat.
0:59:21 > 0:59:31Fiona Bruce.Can I commend the Prisons' Minister for following only
0:59:31 > 0:59:41success of his predecessor?
0:59:43 > 0:59:48Very good of the Foreign Secretary to drop in on us. I think the Member
0:59:48 > 0:59:54for Congleton should be given the chance to represent question.Will
0:59:54 > 0:59:59the Prisons' Minister meet to discuss the welfare of prisoners'
0:59:59 > 1:00:06children? There are 200,000 such children per year and the often fall
1:00:06 > 1:00:13completely through the clear system. One of the most terrifying statistic
1:00:13 > 1:00:17is the very high number of prisoners' children who then go on
1:00:17 > 1:00:21to offend themselves. I would be delighted to meet with the Minister
1:00:21 > 1:00:26to discuss prisoners and their families.What is the government
1:00:26 > 1:00:31doing to reverse the dramatic fall in community sentencing, that has
1:00:31 > 1:00:35nearly halved in the past decade, with a particularly sharp drop in
1:00:35 > 1:00:45recent years?What I would say is that we have seen an increase in
1:00:45 > 1:00:51suspended sentences. The member is right. We want to work closely with
1:00:51 > 1:00:59the CRCs because it is right the judiciary has confidence in
1:00:59 > 1:01:04non-custodial sentences, as well as custodial sentences.The Foreign
1:01:04 > 1:01:12Secretary is scribbling away, but I have an appetite to share a couple
1:01:12 > 1:01:16more questions to the Justice Secretary while the Right honourable
1:01:16 > 1:01:21gentleman is recovering his breast. Winnie is compulsory prisoner
1:01:21 > 1:01:27transfer arrangements to send foreign prisoners back to their own
1:01:27 > 1:01:39countries.As I said earlier, in the last few years, something like
1:01:39 > 1:01:4340,000 foreign national offenders have been returned to their own
1:01:43 > 1:01:47countries. We continue to seek to make progress and sign additional
1:01:47 > 1:01:55agreements so we can continue to progress this.Under the legal aid
1:01:55 > 1:01:58sentencing and punishment of offenders act, can the Minister
1:01:58 > 1:02:05confirmed the impact of cuts to legal aid and separated children
1:02:05 > 1:02:12will be considered as part of the act?The purpose of the review is to
1:02:12 > 1:02:17look at the effectiveness of the legislation that was brought
1:02:17 > 1:02:28forward, so any changes that were made by the last vote will be under
1:02:28 > 1:02:35review?So what exactly has happened at the chaplaincy at HMP Brixton?
1:02:35 > 1:02:38Brilliant question. I'm still trying to get to the bottom of it and I
1:02:38 > 1:02:51cannot provide an answer to the House.If he is in a generous mood,
1:02:51 > 1:03:07he might offer copies to members in the House and the gallery, regarding
1:03:07 > 1:03:18succinct questions.Last week, the Justice Secretary raised some
1:03:18 > 1:03:24important issues regarding virtual courts. Why is he rushing to close
1:03:24 > 1:03:28courts like the one in Cambridge, when we are yet to have the wider
1:03:28 > 1:03:36discussion about virtual courts?It is important that we make progress
1:03:36 > 1:03:45in terms of using the court estate as sensibly as possible. Resources
1:03:45 > 1:03:51are scarce. It is right that we make advantages in using digital
1:03:51 > 1:03:58technology so access to judgment becomes easier.Last weekend, prison
1:03:58 > 1:04:02of us Bedford was rushed to hospital with a serious brain injury
1:04:02 > 1:04:06inflicted by a prisoner. Another serious incident occurred at the
1:04:06 > 1:04:10weekend with prison officers running for their lives to hide from
1:04:10 > 1:04:14out-of-control prisoners. The weekend before, five prison officers
1:04:14 > 1:04:20were taken to A&E with injuries inflicted from prisoners. Will
1:04:20 > 1:04:24prison officer have to die before his government will act to keep
1:04:24 > 1:04:29prison staff safe in the line of duty?The events in Bedford at the
1:04:29 > 1:04:33weekend were deeply disturbing and the sympathy of the whole house goes
1:04:33 > 1:04:37to that prison officer and his family. In terms of violence against
1:04:37 > 1:04:44prison officers, that is an unacceptable level. Nearly 8000
1:04:44 > 1:04:49incidents last year. And, as I set out in a speech this morning, we
1:04:49 > 1:04:52have to take this regrettably seriously and recognise the driver
1:04:52 > 1:04:56of a lot of this violence is drugs and we need to recognise the driver
1:04:56 > 1:05:00of a lot of drugs in prison is serious organised and. I want to
1:05:00 > 1:05:06ensure we do all we can to address that because the prison officers
1:05:06 > 1:05:16drew a great job and it is far too dangerous for them.Dignity plc, the
1:05:16 > 1:05:26National Association of funeral directors, 50 Parisian parents in
1:05:26 > 1:05:29Hull are still seeking an independent enquiry into what
1:05:29 > 1:05:36happened to their babies' Ashes. Hull City Council have refused to
1:05:36 > 1:05:52have that independent enquiry.This situation was problematic. My heart
1:05:52 > 1:05:58goes out to all the people involved. Clearly it was very traumatic. The
1:05:58 > 1:06:05review was comprehensive.Instead of its in-house review, shouldn't
1:06:05 > 1:06:08ministers follow the excellent example of the Scottish Government
1:06:08 > 1:06:15with an independent review of legal aid?The review of legal aid is
1:06:15 > 1:06:22going to be an important one. It will be -- we will be inviting a
1:06:22 > 1:06:26number of experts to give evidence on the review, someone will have
1:06:26 > 1:06:31independent evidence to make decisions necessary we need to take
1:06:31 > 1:06:35forward.The Secretary of State will know that even the best justice
1:06:35 > 1:06:39system has miscarriages of justice. Will he pay attention to the fact
1:06:39 > 1:06:43that so many people who were later found to be innocent and had
1:06:43 > 1:06:53sentences quashed never get any compensation at all?Well, in terms
1:06:53 > 1:06:56of the pointy rages, it is an important one and I'm happy to meet
1:06:56 > 1:06:57with him