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166611

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Public Health Funerals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of pauper's funerals in each of the last three years; and what steps his Department is taking to support families on low incomes with the costs of funerals.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Mr Frank Field
	uin	216270
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>My department does not collect data on the number of Local Authority funerals.</p><p> </p><p>The Social Fund Funeral Payment scheme continues to provide help towards a simple, respectful, low-cost funeral and in 2013/14, over 33,000 awards were made worth £44.7 million, with an average award of £1,347.</p><p> </p><p>Social Fund Budgeting Loans are also available to those on income related benefits to cover costs relating to funeral expenses.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 02/12/2014 11:44:12 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

155535

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners: LGBT+ People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate he has made of the number of prisoners declaring themselves to be lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered.
	tabling member constituency	Hackney North and Stoke Newington
	tabling member printed	Ms Diane Abbott
	uin	214231
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The number of prisoners in England and Wales broken down by sexual orientation as at 26 September 2014 is shown in the table below:</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table: Headcount of prisoners by Sexual Orientation as at 26 September 2014</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Sexual Orientation</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Headcount</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other</p></td><td><p>1779</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Heterosexual / Straight</p></td><td><p>63738</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Not Asked/Refused to State</p></td><td><p>20117</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Grand Total</p></td><td><p>85634</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Transgender Prisoners with a Gender Recognition Certificate are recorded on administrative systems as their legal gender. In accordance with the Gender Recognition Act of 2004 and the Equality Act 2010, transgender individuals are not identified as being transgender on administrative systems.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 02/12/2014 10:20:51 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	172 label Biography information for Ms Diane Abbott

166609

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 13 of the summary of the National Audit Office report, Universal credit: progress update, published on 26 November 2014, what contingency plans are in place to cover the £2.8 billion additional staff cost necessary to roll-out the current service for universal credit if the digital service is delayed.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds West
	tabling member printed	Rachel Reeves
	uin	216334
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>As the NAO report makes clear, the £2.8bn figure is not a realistic assessment of the costs of running Universal Credit on a completely rolled out basis. Contingency plans are developed on an ongoing basis as part of the programme’s approach to integrated planning and risk management. The plans which cover all key areas of programme development and delivery are regularly assessed and refreshed as part of our ongoing governance of the Programme.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper grouped question UIN 216337 question first answered 02/12/2014 16:09:40 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4031 label Biography information for Rachel Reeves

166453

	registered interest
	date	26/11/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Catering
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department has spent on catering and hospitality since May 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	216193
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Departmental expenditure on Hospitality from the start of the 2010 financial year up to 31<sup>st</sup> October 2014, the latest date for which information is available, is shown in the graph attached. Expenditure on catering is not specifically identified but expenditure on Working Lunches and Refreshments is held and this information is also included in the graph.</p><p> </p><p>Expenditure should be seen in the context of the number of staff employed by the Department, Currently 79,514 (as at 31 October 2014), which works out at a cost per head of £1.45 per year.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 02/12/2014 13:10:57 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb attachment 1 file name Catering & Hospitality May 2010-31 Oct 2014.PDF title Catering & Hospitality May 2010-31 Oct 2014
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

155537

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Wales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will ensure that as much of the construction and fitting-out work as possible at the new North Wales prison is carried out by locally-based contractors.
	tabling member constituency	Clwyd West
	tabling member printed	Mr David Jones
	uin	214292
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Lend Lease has committed to spending £30 million with local businesses and that at least 50% of the entire workforce will be recruited from within a 50 mile radius, with a target of 70%. Under the contractual arrangements in place, Lend Lease are required to report to the MoJ how much of the contract is being spent with companies within a 25 and 50 mile radius of the prison site.</p><p> </p><p>A number of supplier engagement events have been held where local businesses were able to meet constructors. Opportunities have been advertised on Business Wales and Sell2Wales using a dedicated North Wales project page.</p><p> </p><p>The North Wales Prison Employment, Skills and Engagement Committee is being created to focus on enabling the delivery of apprenticeships, training and local employment and work placement days. A Learning and Development Academy for supply chain, SME’s and local businesses and local people is also being set up to improve skills and secure tenders.</p><p> </p><p>To date over £1.1m has been spent with local businesses as part of the early works at the prison site.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 02/12/2014 10:59:08 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1502 label Biography information for Mr David Jones

166610

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 1.12 of the National Audit Office report, Universal credit: progress update, published on 26 November 2014, in which month he plans to produce the more detailed outline business case required by HM Treasury.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds West
	tabling member printed	Rachel Reeves
	uin	216341
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Our current plan is to produce the Universal Credit Outline Business Case during 2015 to reflect the development of the Digital Service and to inform the Spending Review. This will be finalised and submitted for formal HM Treasury approval.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 02/12/2014 16:11:30 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4031 label Biography information for Rachel Reeves

166045

	registered interest
	date	25/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Altcourse Prison
	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 increase prisoner safety at HM Prison Altcourse.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Walton
	tabling member printed	Steve Rotheram
	uin	215825
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The Government does not tolerate violence of any kind within the prison estate, and prisoner safety is treated extremely seriously. Tackling violence in prisons is a priority for this Government, and steps are being taken to manage levels of violence within a complex and challenging prison population. We will be issuing new guidance to public sector and contracted prison providers on managing violence early next year.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The recently announced joint national protocol between National Offender Management Service (NOMS), the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on the appropriate handling of crimes in prison strengthens existing policy and requirements on the reporting of serious assaults or other serious crime occurring in custody so that this type of crime can be targeted. The protocol will be published before the end of the financial year following final consultation.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>G4S, who manage HMP Altcourse, are preparing an action plan to address any strategic weaknesses, to be overseen by Phil Wheatley, formerly Director General of NOMS. They are in the process of revising HMP Altcourse’s local Incentive and Earned Privilege (IEP), Violence Reduction and Safer Custody strategies. They are also arranging for the provision of additional resources to support local management in security and residential functions.</p><p> </p><p>NOMS regularly carries out operational audits and assessments of all aspects of prisoner safety at all prisons and will continue to monitor HMP Altcourse’s progress closely.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 02/12/2014 16:34:56 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4035 label Biography information for Steve Rotheram

166044

	registered interest
	date	25/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Security
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether transmission x-rays are likely to be used in normal search procedures in prisons in the next 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
	tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
	uin	215875
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) employs a range of technological aids to assist in searching including: hand held detectors, portals and Body Orifice Security Scanners, which can detect metallic items concealed internally. X-ray machines are used in most prisons to screen baggage and goods entering prisons but are not used for searching people and there are presently no plans to introduce the technology for this purpose in prisons in England and Wales.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 02/12/2014 16:17:06 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

166067

	registered interest
	date	25/11/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when non-UK citizens in pathfinder areas will be able to claim universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds West
	tabling member printed	Rachel Reeves
	uin	215823
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The Universal Credit Gateway Conditions will continue to include a criterion that the claimant must be a British citizen who has continuously lived in the UK for the last two years</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 02/12/2014 16:53:39 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey previous answer version 30742 answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	4031 label Biography information for Rachel Reeves

155546

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Open Prisons
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners serving what sentence length are being held in open prisons.
	tabling member constituency	Shipley
	tabling member printed	Philip Davies
	uin	214197
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The below table provides the number of prisoners serving sentences currently and residing in open prisons, by sentence length.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="8"><p><strong>Prisoners serving an immediate custodial sentence in open prisons, 30 September 2014, England and Wales</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Sentence length</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>30-Sep-14</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Less than or equal to 6 months</p></td><td><p>26</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>More than 6 months to less than 12 months</p></td><td><p>53</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>12 months to less than 4 years</p></td><td><p>820</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>4 years or more (excluding indeterminate)</p></td><td><p>2,167</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Indeterminate sentences</p></td><td><p>1,038</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Recall</p></td><td><p>43</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>All sentenced prisoners</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>4,147</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="4" rowspan="2"><p>The figures in these tables have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="4"><p>This data does not include untried, convicted unsentenced, fine defaulter or non-criminal prisoners.</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>There are two means by which indeterminate sentenced prisoners (ISPs – both those serving life and indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPPs)) – are considered for transfer to open conditions. The principal means is by way of a positive recommendation from the independent Parole Board, which falls to officials either to accept or reject on behalf of the Secretary of State, under agreed delegated authority. However, ISPs may also apply to progress to open conditions without Parole Board involvement, where they can show exceptional progress in reducing their risk. Each application is determined on its merits under agreed delegated authority from the Secretary of State by officials in the Offender Management and Public Protection Group in the Ministry of Justice.</p><p> </p><p>Determinate sentenced prisoners are assessed for their suitability for open conditions by experienced prison staff with relevant input from offender managers and other professionals within the prison. The assessment will consider the extent to which the prisoner has reduced identified risks and any intelligence or other information that provides evidence of the prisoner’s trustworthiness for conditions of very low security. Determinate sentence prisoners should not generally be moved to open prison if they have more than two years to serve to their earliest release date, unless assessment of a prisoner’s individual risks and needs support earlier categorisation to open conditions. Such cases must have the reasons for their categorisation fully documented and confirmed in writing by the Governing Governor.</p><p> </p><p>All offenders located in open conditions have been rigorously risk assessed and their risks have been deemed manageable in open conditions.</p><p> </p><p>The public have understandable concerns about the failure of some prisoners to return from temporary release from open prison. Keeping the public safe is our priority and we will not allow the actions of a small minority of offenders to undermine public confidence in the prison system. The number of temporary release failures remains very low; less that one failure in every 1,000 releases and about five in every 100,000 releases involving alleged offending, but we take each and every incident seriously. The Government has already ordered immediate changes to tighten up the system as a matter of urgency. Prisoners are now no longer eligible for transfer to open conditions if they have previously absconded from open prisons; or if they have failed to return or reoffended whilst released on temporary licence, unless there are exceptional circumstances.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 02/12/2014 10:35:36 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies