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1186433

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to halt drug supplies into prisons.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	32068
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p>We are taking decisive action to improve security to: stop illicit items being smuggled in by prisoners, staff and visitors; to strengthen staff resilience to corruption; and to target organised criminals who exploit prisons as a lucrative illicit market. This package of measures is being funded through the £100m investment to tackle crime behind bars, announced by the Prime Minister last summer.</p><p> </p><p>Enhanced gate security is being deployed to the most challenging prisons in the estate. Cutting-edge x-ray body scanners will target prisoners internally smuggling illicit items into prisons. We recently announced the first 16 sites to receive this equipment.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst the vast majority of our staff are honest and hardworking, we are also investing new resource to step up our counter corruption capability and strengthen (in scale and reach) intelligence-led operations and investigations with law enforcement partners against those that present the greatest threat of harm to prison security and the community.</p><p> </p><p>We will also equip sites with new technology and staff to enhance staff and visitor searching at the gate. We have already announced the first 7 sites for this provision.</p><p> </p><p>We are fully supporting the Right Hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham’s Private Member’s Bill on Prisons (Substance Testing) which is due to have its second reading on the 15 May. This Bill will improve our ability to test for drugs across the estate and provide the appropriate support to prisoners using drugs.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 24/03/2020 15:37:22 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1186457

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prison Officers: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to protect prison officers from covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	32135
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p>Prisons have existing, well-developed policies and procedures in place to manage outbreaks of infectious diseases. We have procedures agreed with our public health colleagues for protecting staff in the workplace but, like any member of the community, some prison staff may need to self-isolate in line with public health advice, or may become infected. All staff working in prisons have clear advice on the steps they should take should they become unwell, or if they have been exposed to COVID-19 risk. That includes specific advice on how establishments should work together with public health authorities and the NHS to control any outbreaks which may occur.</p><p> </p><p>Together with Public Health England (PHE) we have identified what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required to keep staff safe. We are working with providers to ensure the continued supply of PPE and cleaning and hygiene products, so that staff are protected and our establishments are hygienic.</p><p> </p><p>We are also taking steps to boost staff availability, this includes operationally qualified staff in HMPPS HQ returning to prisons to support continuity of service. The will help us to maintain as normal a regime as possible within prisons.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer grouped question UIN 32136 question first answered 24/03/2020 17:55:54 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1186458

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment has he made of the availability of personal protection equipment for prison staff during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	32136
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p>Prisons have existing, well-developed policies and procedures in place to manage outbreaks of infectious diseases. We have procedures agreed with our public health colleagues for protecting staff in the workplace but, like any member of the community, some prison staff may need to self-isolate in line with public health advice, or may become infected. All staff working in prisons have clear advice on the steps they should take should they become unwell, or if they have been exposed to COVID-19 risk. That includes specific advice on how establishments should work together with public health authorities and the NHS to control any outbreaks which may occur.</p><p> </p><p>Together with Public Health England (PHE) we have identified what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required to keep staff safe. We are working with providers to ensure the continued supply of PPE and cleaning and hygiene products, so that staff are protected and our establishments are hygienic.</p><p> </p><p>We are also taking steps to boost staff availability, this includes operationally qualified staff in HMPPS HQ returning to prisons to support continuity of service. The will help us to maintain as normal a regime as possible within prisons.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer grouped question UIN 32135 question first answered 24/03/2020 17:55:54 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1186560

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Cemeteries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what economic assessment he has made of the effect of transferring closed burial grounds from the Church of England to local authorities.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Aaron Bell
uin	32213
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2020 answer text <p>Historically, the Church of England has made burial provision for local communities, and continues to do so. The transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities returns the accountability for their maintenance to the community as a whole. Local authority spending priorities are a matter for local discretion.</p><p>Data on the transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities is not held centrally.</p><p>The Law Commission’s current Programme of Law Reform includes a project to consider streamlining and modernising the law governing the disposal of human remains, with a view to putting forward a legal framework for the future.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 32214 32215 32216 question first answered 27/03/2020 10:07:22 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4837 label Biography information for Aaron Bell

1186561

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Cemeteries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what funding is available for local authorities to maintain burial grounds.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Aaron Bell
uin	32214
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2020 answer text <p>Historically, the Church of England has made burial provision for local communities, and continues to do so. The transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities returns the accountability for their maintenance to the community as a whole. Local authority spending priorities are a matter for local discretion.</p><p>Data on the transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities is not held centrally.</p><p>The Law Commission’s current Programme of Law Reform includes a project to consider streamlining and modernising the law governing the disposal of human remains, with a view to putting forward a legal framework for the future.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 32213 32215 32216 question first answered 27/03/2020 10:07:22 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4837 label Biography information for Aaron Bell

1186562

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Churches: Staffordshire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many closed churchyards have been transferred from the Church of England to local authorities in Staffordshire since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Aaron Bell
uin	32215
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2020 answer text <p>Historically, the Church of England has made burial provision for local communities, and continues to do so. The transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities returns the accountability for their maintenance to the community as a whole. Local authority spending priorities are a matter for local discretion.</p><p>Data on the transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities is not held centrally.</p><p>The Law Commission’s current Programme of Law Reform includes a project to consider streamlining and modernising the law governing the disposal of human remains, with a view to putting forward a legal framework for the future.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 32213 32214 32216 question first answered 27/03/2020 10:07:22 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4837 label Biography information for Aaron Bell

1186563

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Burial Act 1853
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the Burial Act 1854 and the financial effect of its provision on local authorities.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Aaron Bell
uin	32216
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2020 answer text <p>Historically, the Church of England has made burial provision for local communities, and continues to do so. The transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities returns the accountability for their maintenance to the community as a whole. Local authority spending priorities are a matter for local discretion.</p><p>Data on the transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities is not held centrally.</p><p>The Law Commission’s current Programme of Law Reform includes a project to consider streamlining and modernising the law governing the disposal of human remains, with a view to putting forward a legal framework for the future.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 32213 32214 32215 question first answered 27/03/2020 10:07:22 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4837 label Biography information for Aaron Bell

1186576

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Family Proceedings: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance he has provided to people who have orders in place through the family courts that stipulate limited contact with children during the covid-19 outbreak where contact cannot be granted due to self-isolation; whether court orders in such circumstances would be classed as a breach; and whether contact arrangements can be changed due to the need to self-isolate in family groups.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Yardley
tabling member printed	Jess Phillips
uin	32227
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government has published on gov.uk updated guidance on staying at home and away from others, which everyone must follow. This makes clear that children can if necessary move between parents living in different households, subject to the Government’s guidance on what to do if self-isolating or shielding and protecting people who are defined as vulnerable.</p><p> </p><p>Compliance with court orders is ordinarily a matter for the courts. In general, a parent who is required by a Child Arrangements Order to facilitate contact between their child and the other parent should continue to do so where this is practicable and consistent with the Government’s revised guidance. Where either parent is reasonably self-isolating or genuinely protecting someone vulnerable (provided that this is in line with Government advice in either case) then remote technology offers temporary alternative means by which to facilitate contact via telephone, the internet or social media which should be used.</p><p> </p><p>Any person named in a Child Arrangements Order may apply to the court to vary the terms of that order, but this should not be necessary if a parent is following the Government’s guidance. If an alleged breach of a Child Arrangements Order or other application is later brought to court then this will be for judicial consideration. The Government encourages parents to adopt a pragmatic approach. The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) has published helpful advice for families on effective co-parenting and child arrangements which is available at <a href="https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/grown-ups/parents-and-carers/covid-19-guidance-for-children-and-families/" target="_blank">https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/grown-ups/parents-and-carers/covid-19-guidance-for-children-and-families/</a></p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 24/03/2020 17:04:27 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4370 label Biography information for Jess Phillips

1186592

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the oral contribution by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice on 18 March 2020, Official Report column 335WH, whether there will be any penalties by HMPPS for non-delivery of teaching hours during a closure of education provision in prisons.
tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
uin	32236
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p>Where HMPPS is unable to facilitate the delivery of education in England there are payment mechanisms in the contract to ensure that suppliers are not financially disadvantaged. Prison education in Wales is a devolved responsibility of the Welsh Government.</p><p>We are in regular communications with education suppliers to ensure relationships continue to be managed well and that their key questions are answered.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 24/03/2020 17:54:06 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1186629

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Community Rehabilitation Companies: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether community rehabilitation companies will be financially penalised for not delivering (a) unpaid work and (b) group programmes during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
uin	32266
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p>We are working closely with the CRCs to understand the implications of Covid-19 on their ability to deliver unpaid work and group programmes and to consider alternatives. No decisions about the contract implications have yet been taken.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 24/03/2020 17:06:13 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts