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1662877

registered interest
date	13/10/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Magistrates: Labour Turnover
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of retention rates of magistrates.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	200731
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice actively monitors overall recruitment and attrition rates for the magistracy as part of the collation and publication of the Judicial Diversity Statistics. To preserve judicial independence, leadership of the magistracy is a matter for the judiciary. The Judicial Office conducts a leaving survey for those who are resigning from the magistracy, which it reviews annually.</p><p>Since 2019/ 2020, the number of leavers each year from the magistracy has decreased annually from a level of 1440 leavers in 2019/20 (10.9% of the magistracy) to 743 leavers in 2022/23 (5.6% of the magistracy). Since March 2022 797 magistrates over the age of 70 have also chosen to be reinstated following the increase of the judicial mandatory retirement age to 75.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 23/10/2023 16:14:45 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1662928

registered interest
date	13/10/2023
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, whether his Department has plans to (a) review the effectiveness of substance free living units and (b) make an assessment of the potential merits of extending those units across all prison estates.
tabling member constituency	Bolton South East
tabling member printed	Yasmin Qureshi
uin	200782
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>As part of the ambitious cross-Government Drug Strategy, we are rolling out a range of interventions to support prisoners off drugs and into recovery. This includes expanding the number of Incentivised Substance-Free Living Units where prisoners commit to remaining free of illicit drugs, with regular drug testing and incentives. We now have over 60 of these wings across the estate, and are aiming to reach up to 100 by March 2025. This will dramatically expand the number of prisoners who have access to these wings. Alongside this we are working to evaluate ISFLs to improve our understanding of the impact they are having and the experience of prisoners on these wings.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 23/10/2023 15:44:50 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	3924 label Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi

1663018

registered interest
date	13/10/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Tribunals: Standards
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 reduce waiting times for tribunal hearings.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	200872
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>Tribunals within the Ministry of Justice are administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and incorporate a wide range of administrative and civil &amp; commercial jurisdictions. The largest jurisdictions are responsible for appeals in Employment, Immigration &amp; Asylum and Social Security &amp; Child Support matters.</p><p>HMCTS aims to hear tribunal cases as quickly as possible and we are introducing online digital services in our larger tribunals to enable faster processing of cases and improve the customer experience. HMCTS is also recruiting additional Judges where required together with Legal Officers who will actively manage cases; and creating virtual regions in the Employment and Immigration &amp; Asylum tribunals to hear remote cases from any region and provide additional capacity.</p><p>If an expedited hearing is requested, a Judge or Legal Officer will make a decision on that issue, taking all the circumstances into account.</p><p>Tribunal statistics are published by MoJ on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics#tribunal-statistics-quarterly.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 23/10/2023 16:17:17 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1663040

registered interest
date	13/10/2023
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, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the education services provided in prisons.
tabling member constituency	Brentford and Isleworth
tabling member printed	Ruth Cadbury
uin	200894
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>On 28 September, we announced the new Prisoner Education Service to improve the literacy, numeracy and vocational skills of prisoners. This will support positive employment outcomes and reduce reoffending, and we have already seen the number of prisoners in work following release more than doubling between 2021 and 2023.</p><p> </p><p>We have rigorous assessments of the quality and effectiveness of the education offer in prisons. These include: tracking employment on release, attendance of prisoners in education sessions as well as provider performance.</p><p> </p><p>The Prison Service is continuing to forge a closer working relationship with Ofsted, who have been delivering education sessions to prison leaders to ensure greater collaboration and clear expectations for prison education.  This includes tracking OFSTED recommendations to ensure sites make progress against them. In the past 6 months 4 prisons have received a ‘Good’ rating from OFSTED, the most in any single year since 2015.</p><p> </p><p>All prisoners are assessed on entry, and a personal learning plan is created to meet their educational needs. This is now electronically stored so that it can move with prisoners when transferred. Prisoners who require basic maths and literacy skills are identified and offered the appropriate support.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 23/10/2023 15:51:11 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4389 label Biography information for Ruth Cadbury

1663041

registered interest
date	13/10/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners: literacy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of literacy-based education provision in prisons.
tabling member constituency	Brentford and Isleworth
tabling member printed	Ruth Cadbury
uin	200895
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>On 28 September, we announced a new Prisoner Education Service to improve the literacy, numeracy and vocational skills of prisoners. We are embedding literacy in workshops and vocational training, and we are implementing the Literacy Innovation Fund by piloting two specialist reading and literacy projects across fifteen prisons to help prisoners with the lowest reading levels.  This is alongside other Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) projects such as Shannon Trust and Leaders are Readers.</p><p>Functional Skills in literacy are subject to ambitious contractual targets with providers financially penalised if they do not meet them. Achievement against literacy functional skills has improved year on year since the end of Covid.</p><p>Whole prison reading strategies, recognised as good practice by HMIP, have been developed in all prisons, and reading leads are ensuring that literacy is at the heart of each prison's education provision. Prisoners’ reading levels are assessed on entry so that Personal Learning Plans are in place and the right support for reading is available to them.</p><p>Each prison has a library which holds essential legal texts, promotes reading for pleasure and often offer a range of reading activities.  We are improving the delivery of library services and have recently updated and upgraded library contracts, including an uplift in funding.</p><p>Prisons have continued to rollout Storybooks Dads and Mums, which helps over 5,000 prisoners a year record bedtime stories for their children, and rolled out new technology, including laptops for prisoners to take part in online courses with the Open University.</p><p>In addition, new contracts for education providers in 2025 will have robust targets on maths, English and vocational qualifications, and quality of delivery.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 23/10/2023 15:42:30 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4389 label Biography information for Ruth Cadbury

1663042

registered interest
date	13/10/2023
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, what estimate he has made of the average number and proportion of hours spent by prisoners per (a) week and (b) month in (i) education-based classes and (ii) workshops in prison as of 13 October 2023.
tabling member constituency	Brentford and Isleworth
tabling member printed	Ruth Cadbury
uin	200896
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2023 answer text <p>Because of the way in which data on education in prison are collected, it is not possible to provide a direct answer to the question posed, but prisons put on education classes and workshops 4.5 days a week, for approximately 5 - 6 hours a day, with local variations in place.</p><p>While staff shortages can have some impact on education delivery, we are increasingly using technology and blended learning to increase the flexible delivery of education outside of the classroom. Attendance to education is higher now than it was before the pandemic lockdown in March 2020.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds grouped question UIN 200897 question first answered 24/10/2023 08:16:57 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4389 label Biography information for Ruth Cadbury

1663043

registered interest
date	13/10/2023
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, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of shortages of prison staff on the provision of education in prisons.
tabling member constituency	Brentford and Isleworth
tabling member printed	Ruth Cadbury
uin	200897
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2023 answer text <p>Because of the way in which data on education in prison are collected, it is not possible to provide a direct answer to the question posed, but prisons put on education classes and workshops 4.5 days a week, for approximately 5 - 6 hours a day, with local variations in place.</p><p>While staff shortages can have some impact on education delivery, we are increasingly using technology and blended learning to increase the flexible delivery of education outside of the classroom. Attendance to education is higher now than it was before the pandemic lockdown in March 2020.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds grouped question UIN 200896 question first answered 24/10/2023 08:16:57 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4389 label Biography information for Ruth Cadbury

1663079

registered interest
date	13/10/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Ministry of Justice: Procurement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2023 to Question 198482 on Ministry of Justice: Procurement and with reference to the contract, reference 385640/1256947, published on 11 September 2023, what the supporting items are; whether the contract award notice is for one site or more; and whether the baseline cost for equipment is for (a) full purchase or (b) rental at a (i) daily, (ii) weekly and (iii) monthly rate.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	200933
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>Supporting items are items that can be added to the structure such as flooring, doors and supporting walls. The contract can be used for sites in the South of England and is currently being used at one site. Rental is charged and paid at a monthly rate.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 23/10/2023 16:17:59 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1663270

registered interest
date	13/10/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Ministry of Justice: Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much their Department spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-2023 financial year.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	201124
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>On 02 October, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a value for money audit of all Equality, Diversity and Inclusion spending in the Civil Service.</p><p>The audit will dovetail with the public sector productivity review, aiming at delivering a leaner, more efficient government. The audit forms part of our drive to improve productivity across the public sector by driving down waste and improving performance.</p><p>The findings and actions of the audit will be announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 202425 202426 202427 202428 202429 202430 202431 202432 202433 202434 202435 202436 202437 202438 202439 202440 202441 202442 202443 202444 202445 202446 202447 202448 202449 202450 202451 202452 202453 202454 202455 202456 202457 202458 question first answered 23/10/2023 15:54:38 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1663313

registered interest
date	13/10/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Overcrowding
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much funding has been allocated to each police force in England and Wales for the use of police cells under Operation Safeguard in the latest period for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Brentford and Isleworth
tabling member printed	Ruth Cadbury
uin	201167
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>Operation Safeguard is a contingency measure that provides additional headroom for use if prisoners cannot be accepted from the courts or police custody. It is a temporary measure to provide a short-term solution. When Operation Safeguard is active, tactical and operational governance reviews take place at regular intervals, as agreed with police partners.</p><p> </p><p>There are no additional costs to the taxpayer and any spend under Operation Safeguard comes from within existing departmental budgets. Every aspect of Operation Safeguard – including compensation for cells – is based on agreements between HMPPS, the police and the Home Office. Spend is recorded on a cost-recovery basis.</p><p> </p><p>Please see table below setting out payments to police forces in England and Wales for the activation of Operation Safeguard cells for the period February 2023 to September 2023.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Force</p></td><td><p>TOTAL</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Avon and Somerset Constabulary</p></td><td><p>£ 257,490</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Bedfordshire Police</p></td><td><p>£ 393,946</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cambridgeshire Constabulary</p></td><td><p>£ 306,866</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cheshire Constabulary</p></td><td><p>£ 1,405,443</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>City Of London Police</p></td><td><p>£ 142,751</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cleveland Police</p></td><td><p>£ 740,187</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cumbria Constabulary</p></td><td><p>£ 430,269</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Derbyshire Constabulary</p></td><td><p>£ 1,020,938</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Devon &amp; Cornwall Police</p></td><td><p>£ 3,558</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dorset Police</p></td><td><p>£ -</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Durham Constabulary</p></td><td><p>£ -</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dyfed-Powys Police</p></td><td><p>£ 329,689</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Essex Police</p></td><td><p>£ 402,332</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Gloucestershire Constabulary</p></td><td><p>£ 1,287,400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Greater Manchester Police</p></td><td><p>£ 1,300,907</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Gwent Police</p></td><td><p>£ 268,352</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Hampshire Constabulary</p></td><td><p>£ 634,727</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Hertfordshire Constabulary</p></td><td><p>£ 357,747</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Humberside Police</p></td><td><p>£ 737,756</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Kent Police</p></td><td><p>£ 1,317,995</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lancashire Constabulary</p></td><td><p>£ 888,225</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Leicestershire Police</p></td><td><p>£ 524,547</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lincolnshire Police</p></td><td><p>£ 302,002</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Merseyside Police</p></td><td><p>£ 577,703</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Metropolitan Police Service</p></td><td><p>£ 1,754,689</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Norfolk Constabulary</p></td><td><p>£ 710,459</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North Wales Police</p></td><td><p>£ 774,771</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North Yorkshire Police</p></td><td><p>£ 879,812</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Northamptonshire Police</p></td><td><p>£ 904,269</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Northumbria Police</p></td><td><p>£ 2,008,809</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nottinghamshire Police</p></td><td><p>£ 1,943,318</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Wales Police</p></td><td><p>£ 913,705</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Yorkshire Police</p></td><td><p>£ 888,225</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Staffordshire Police</p></td><td><p>£1,374,063</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Suffolk Constabulary</p></td><td><p>£ -</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Surrey Police</p></td><td><p>£ 548,301</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sussex Police</p></td><td><p>£ 549,283</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Thames Valley Police</p></td><td><p>£ 1,301,560</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Warwickshire Police</p></td><td><p>£ 828,059</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>West Mercia Police</p></td><td><p>£ 1,697,009</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>West Midlands Police</p></td><td><p>£ 6,594,079</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>West Yorkshire Police</p></td><td><p>£ 1,489,934</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wiltshire Police</p></td><td><p>£ -</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Central Silver Team</p></td><td><p>£ 169,585</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 23/10/2023 15:54:08 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4389 label Biography information for Ruth Cadbury