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1204165

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2020
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how many COVID-19 (1) cases, and (2) deaths, there have been in the UK since 23 March; what steps they have taken to prevent transmission of COVID-19 in prisons; what measures are in place to mitigate the risks of suicide, particularly among young offenders; whether those measures include extending the amount of time prisoners may spend out of their cell each day; and how many low risk prisoners have been released early to reduce overcrowding in cells during the COVID-19 pandemic.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL5740
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government acted quickly to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in prisons by implementing restricted regimes to comply with national social distancing guidance and limiting inter-prisons transfers. Prisons are also implementing a ‘compartmentalisation’ strategy to isolate the sick, shield the vulnerable and quarantine new arrivals. Latest public health advice suggests these measures have contained the spread of the virus and minimised the number of deaths.</p><p>As of Friday 12 June, we are aware of 495 prisoner and 963 prison staff COVID-19 cases across England and Wales. These figures reflect the total cumulative number of recorded positive cases – not the number of live cases – of COVID-19, and includes individuals that have since recovered. Figures are subject to revision as more information becomes available.</p><p>As of Friday 12 June, 23 prisoners and 9 members of prison staff have sadly died having tested positive for COVID-19 or having shown symptoms. It is a matter for the coroners to determine cause of death.</p><p>The restricted regimes introduced to protect prisoners and staff from COVID-19 mean that prisoners are spending longer in their cells than normal which raises new and different risks to safety and the mental health of prisoners. The Government takes its responsibilities for these issues very seriously.</p><p>To this end, the Government is supporting prison Governors to devise and implement local safety and welfare plans designed to mitigate these safety risks. Prisons across the estate are giving prisoners access to educational and entertainment material intended to support their wellbeing. Prisoners confined to their cells continue to access healthcare and time in the open air, where possible. They also have access to telephones, extra phone credit and, where available, video calls to contact their loved ones. We continue to make the Samaritans phone service available, and are working with the Samaritans to ensure that the listener peer support scheme continues to function effectively.</p><p>Within the Youth Custody Service (YCS) there has been a focus on delivering essential activities such as regular phone calls (with young people having been allocated additional free phone credits), access to showers and education materials, and time in the fresh air, as well as activities children can undertake in small groups or in their rooms, including workouts and access to entertainment.</p><p>‘SECURE STAIRS’ -the integrated framework of care jointly led by NHS England and NHS Improvement and the YCS, provides the foundations as to how the YCS works with children - has been adopting an approach that underlines the importance of connectivity, whilst adhering to the guidance on physical distancing.</p><p>The YCS is continuously assessing the situation, and is keen to expand the regime as soon as it is safe and sustainable to do so.</p><p>On 4 April, the Government announced the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme. This scheme enables risk-assessed prisoners, who are within two months of their release date, to be temporarily released from custody, as part of the national approach to managing public services during this challenging period. As of Friday 12 June, 113 offenders have been released under this scheme. Our plans for early release form one part of a package of measures to create headroom in the estate to allow us to fully implement compartmentalisation. We are also working to expedite remand cases and temporarily expanding the estate through the installation of single occupancy units.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 30/06/2020 16:19:25 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1204208

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Barristers: Self-employed
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the research by the Bar Council published on 27 April that without further support 74 per cent of self-employed barristers will be unable to continue to practice.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL5810
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government is continuing to engage with the Bar Council to understand the concerns and what support we can provide. The Government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) covers most people who receive most of their income from self-employment. In addition, for criminal legal aid practitioners, we have provided greater access to hardship payments from the Legal Aid Agency to allow practitioners to claim one month after they were first instructed instead of six, and to lower the threshold for work done on a case from £5,000 to £450. We also note that the four Inns of Court have created a package of measures to assist junior barristers and that an emergency fund by the Barristers’ Benevolent Association and hardship funds from the inns are being introduced. We continue to keep the situation under review in the light of developing recovery plans.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 30/06/2020 14:32:51 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1204180

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Clinks: Probation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what role Clinks will play in the Dynamic Framework for the provision of probation services.
	tabling member printed	Lord German
	uin	HL5766
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2020 answer text <p>In his statement to the House of Commons on 11<sup>th</sup> June 2020, the Lord Chancellor confirmed plans for a Probation Services Dynamic Framework through which the National Probation Service and other public bodies can commission rehabilitative and resettlement services. It opened on 11<sup>th</sup> June for registration by prospective suppliers with an interest in provision of one or more of 14 service categories.</p><p>Our plans for the first set of contracts to be commissioned through the Framework reflect our assessment of the relative distribution of offender needs, the availability of existing local provision, and the capacity of both the third sector and HMPPS (in light of the impact of COVID-19) to complete call-off competitions and mobilise services in time for the start of future arrangements in June 2021. These contracts will be commissioned for delivery at police force or probation region level. We initially intend to run competitions for lots which cover the following Probation Services Dynamic Framework service categories:</p><p>• Accommodation</p><p>• Employment, training, and education</p><p>• Family and significant others</p><p>• Lifestyle and associates</p><p>• Emotional wellbeing</p><p>• Social inclusion</p><p>• Women</p><p>• Young adults (in Wales only)</p><p>Of these, accommodation and employment, training and education services will be commissioned at NPS regional level. All others will be commissioned at Police Force Area level.</p><p>As we finalise the detail of these plans, Ministers and members of the Probation Reform Programme team will continue to meet regularly with voluntary sector organisations to seek their feedback on our plans. Officials are supporting workshops which will be run by Clinks and which will cover a range of topics linked to participation in the Probation Services Dynamic Framework, including consortia building, to aid voluntary sector organisations in their bids for contracts.</p><p>I will place a copy of the Framework in the library of the House.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie grouped question UIN HL5765 HL5767 HL5768 question first answered 29/06/2020 16:15:40 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	4163 label Biography information for Lord German

1204181

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Rehabilitation: Civil Society
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what specialist rehabilitation services they plan to make available to third sector organisations.
	tabling member printed	Lord German
	uin	HL5767
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2020 answer text <p>In his statement to the House of Commons on 11<sup>th</sup> June 2020, the Lord Chancellor confirmed plans for a Probation Services Dynamic Framework through which the National Probation Service and other public bodies can commission rehabilitative and resettlement services. It opened on 11<sup>th</sup> June for registration by prospective suppliers with an interest in provision of one or more of 14 service categories.</p><p>Our plans for the first set of contracts to be commissioned through the Framework reflect our assessment of the relative distribution of offender needs, the availability of existing local provision, and the capacity of both the third sector and HMPPS (in light of the impact of COVID-19) to complete call-off competitions and mobilise services in time for the start of future arrangements in June 2021. These contracts will be commissioned for delivery at police force or probation region level. We initially intend to run competitions for lots which cover the following Probation Services Dynamic Framework service categories:</p><p>• Accommodation</p><p>• Employment, training, and education</p><p>• Family and significant others</p><p>• Lifestyle and associates</p><p>• Emotional wellbeing</p><p>• Social inclusion</p><p>• Women</p><p>• Young adults (in Wales only)</p><p>Of these, accommodation and employment, training and education services will be commissioned at NPS regional level. All others will be commissioned at Police Force Area level.</p><p>As we finalise the detail of these plans, Ministers and members of the Probation Reform Programme team will continue to meet regularly with voluntary sector organisations to seek their feedback on our plans. Officials are supporting workshops which will be run by Clinks and which will cover a range of topics linked to participation in the Probation Services Dynamic Framework, including consortia building, to aid voluntary sector organisations in their bids for contracts.</p><p>I will place a copy of the Framework in the library of the House.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie grouped question UIN HL5765 HL5766 HL5768 question first answered 29/06/2020 16:15:40 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	4163 label Biography information for Lord German

1204209

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Barristers: Young People
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what steps they taking, if any, to support young barristers.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL5811
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The legal profession in England and Wales is independent of government, and barristers are regulated by the Bar Council through the Bar Standards Board. The Government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) covers most people who receive most of their income from self-employment, and young barristers who are eligible can benefit from this scheme. For young barristers who are criminal legal aid practitioners, we have provided greater access to hardship payments from the Legal Aid Agency to allow practitioners to claim one month after they were first instructed instead of six, and to lower the threshold for work done on a case from £5,000 to £450.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 30/06/2020 14:34:18 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1204179

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Probation: Civil Society
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government whether the bidding process for third sector bodies to provide probation services will be conducted on a national or a regional basis.
	tabling member printed	Lord German
	uin	HL5765
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2020 answer text <p>In his statement to the House of Commons on 11<sup>th</sup> June 2020, the Lord Chancellor confirmed plans for a Probation Services Dynamic Framework through which the National Probation Service and other public bodies can commission rehabilitative and resettlement services. It opened on 11<sup>th</sup> June for registration by prospective suppliers with an interest in provision of one or more of 14 service categories.</p><p>Our plans for the first set of contracts to be commissioned through the Framework reflect our assessment of the relative distribution of offender needs, the availability of existing local provision, and the capacity of both the third sector and HMPPS (in light of the impact of COVID-19) to complete call-off competitions and mobilise services in time for the start of future arrangements in June 2021. These contracts will be commissioned for delivery at police force or probation region level. We initially intend to run competitions for lots which cover the following Probation Services Dynamic Framework service categories:</p><p>• Accommodation</p><p>• Employment, training, and education</p><p>• Family and significant others</p><p>• Lifestyle and associates</p><p>• Emotional wellbeing</p><p>• Social inclusion</p><p>• Women</p><p>• Young adults (in Wales only)</p><p>Of these, accommodation and employment, training and education services will be commissioned at NPS regional level. All others will be commissioned at Police Force Area level.</p><p>As we finalise the detail of these plans, Ministers and members of the Probation Reform Programme team will continue to meet regularly with voluntary sector organisations to seek their feedback on our plans. Officials are supporting workshops which will be run by Clinks and which will cover a range of topics linked to participation in the Probation Services Dynamic Framework, including consortia building, to aid voluntary sector organisations in their bids for contracts.</p><p>I will place a copy of the Framework in the library of the House.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie grouped question UIN HL5766 HL5767 HL5768 question first answered 29/06/2020 16:15:40 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	4163 label Biography information for Lord German

1204182

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Rehabilitation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by Lord Keen of Elie on 16 June (HL Deb, col 2029), whether they will lay before the House a copy of the dynamic framework for specialist rehabilitative services.
	tabling member printed	Lord German
	uin	HL5768
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2020 answer text <p>In his statement to the House of Commons on 11<sup>th</sup> June 2020, the Lord Chancellor confirmed plans for a Probation Services Dynamic Framework through which the National Probation Service and other public bodies can commission rehabilitative and resettlement services. It opened on 11<sup>th</sup> June for registration by prospective suppliers with an interest in provision of one or more of 14 service categories.</p><p>Our plans for the first set of contracts to be commissioned through the Framework reflect our assessment of the relative distribution of offender needs, the availability of existing local provision, and the capacity of both the third sector and HMPPS (in light of the impact of COVID-19) to complete call-off competitions and mobilise services in time for the start of future arrangements in June 2021. These contracts will be commissioned for delivery at police force or probation region level. We initially intend to run competitions for lots which cover the following Probation Services Dynamic Framework service categories:</p><p>• Accommodation</p><p>• Employment, training, and education</p><p>• Family and significant others</p><p>• Lifestyle and associates</p><p>• Emotional wellbeing</p><p>• Social inclusion</p><p>• Women</p><p>• Young adults (in Wales only)</p><p>Of these, accommodation and employment, training and education services will be commissioned at NPS regional level. All others will be commissioned at Police Force Area level.</p><p>As we finalise the detail of these plans, Ministers and members of the Probation Reform Programme team will continue to meet regularly with voluntary sector organisations to seek their feedback on our plans. Officials are supporting workshops which will be run by Clinks and which will cover a range of topics linked to participation in the Probation Services Dynamic Framework, including consortia building, to aid voluntary sector organisations in their bids for contracts.</p><p>I will place a copy of the Framework in the library of the House.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie grouped question UIN HL5765 HL5766 HL5767 question first answered 29/06/2020 16:15:40 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	4163 label Biography information for Lord German

1227979

	registered interest
	date	27/07/2020
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) how many prison staff have been tested for COVID-19; and (2) how many prisoners in all prisons have been tested for COVID-19.
	tabling member printed	Lord Browne of Belmont
	uin	HL7333
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/08/2020 answer text <p>A testing programme is being conducted to help understand the spread of Coronavirus in prisons and how it is transmitted within individual establishments and across the wider estate began on Monday 20 July.</p><p><br>The testing study is taking place across 28 prisons in England and is being carried out in collaboration with the University of Southampton, Public Health England, Department of Health and Social Care and National Audit Office.</p><p><br>Every one of the 20,000 prisoners and 10,000 staff at the 28 sites will be invited to carry out an antigen test, consisting of mouth and nose swabs, to see if they currently have the virus. Participation is completely voluntary but we encourage as many as possible to carry out the test. The test will be repeated two more times with a gap of three weeks between each test.</p><p><br>This testing study follows a pilot of voluntary testing of both staff and prisoners at HMP Littlehey. This consisted of over 1,000 tests being undertaken and pleasingly no positive results were found.</p><p><br>This testing study runs for 9 to 12 weeks to allow all three testing rounds to be completed.</p><p><br>Currently, the establishments which have started undertaking this COVID-19 prevalence Testing Programme are: Bure, Coldingley, Drake Hall, Frankland, Gartree, High Down, Leeds, Lewes, New Hall, Norwich, Send, The Mount, Wandsworth and Wealstun.</p><p><br>As of 5pm 30th July 2020, there have been 2542 prisoner tests with four positive results. There have been 1571 staff tests with three positive results.</p><p>With HMPPS staff being able to self-refer for testing the complete number of staff who have been tested for COVID-19 is unknown by HMPPS. While the total number of tests carried out on prisoners since testing began is also unknown, the Ministry of Justice has started publishing a weekly release of Covid-19 related statistics, which includes confirmed COVID-19 cases in prisoners and children in custody. These statistics provide total numbers across England and Wales.</p><p>The statistics release can be found here each Friday: <br>https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hm-prison-and-probation-service-covid-19-statistics</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 06/08/2020 14:41:26 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	3801 label Biography information for Lord Browne of Belmont

1227700

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners' Release: Older People
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government by how much the prison population of England and Wales would decrease if prisoners (1) over 65 years old, (2) over 70 years old, and (3) over 75 years old, were released.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL7149
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/08/2020 answer text <p>Based on prison population data as at 30 June 2020, the prison population of England and Wales includes (1) 2,660 prisoners over 65 years old, (2) of whom 1,497 prisoners are over 70 years, and (3) 671 prisoners are over 75 years old.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 04/08/2020 14:49:25 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1227978

	registered interest
	date	27/07/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Crimes of Violence
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many adjudications related to incidences of violence against prison staff there were in each year since 2014; and how many of those incidences resulted in additional days being added to a prisoner's sentence.
	tabling member printed	Lord Browne of Belmont
	uin	HL7332
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/08/2020 answer text <p>The prisoner discipline system upholds justice in prisons and ensures incidents of prison rule-breaking have consequences. Only Independent Adjudicators, who are District Judges or Deputy District Judges, can make an award of additional days to a prisoner’s custodial time left to serve.</p><p>Where an act of violence amounts to a criminal offence, prisoners should be investigated by the police and face serious sanctions. The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 has increased sentencing powers for offences of common assault and battery committed against an emergency worker. This provides Courts with the powers to punish those who commit violent crime against prison staff.</p><p>The information requested can be found in the table attached.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 06/08/2020 14:16:21 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie attachment 1 file name Data for PQ HL7332-FOR PUBLICATION.XLSX title Excel Spreadsheet
	tabling member	3801 label Biography information for Lord Browne of Belmont