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1224158

registered interest
date	13/07/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Keen of Elie on 30 June (HL5740), what comparative estimate they have made of the number of COVID-19 (1) cases, and (2) deaths, of (a) prisoners, and (b) the general population, in England and Wales.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL6755
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/07/2020 answer text <p>We do not hold the comparative data requested. However, on 24 April, we published Public Health England modelling which assessed the impact of the population management measures prisons have implemented in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and provided updated reasonable worst-case scenario estimates. This modelling suggested that the measures we have implemented have had a positive impact on limiting the transmission of the virus in prisons and minimising the number of deaths. The modelling can be found on gov.uk.</p><p>The Ministry of Justice releases a weekly publication of Covid-19 statistics, including prisoner Covid-19 cases and deaths. The publication can be found on gov.uk and is updated every Friday.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 27/07/2020 14:57:55 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

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

1134671

registered interest
date	25/06/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Abortion: Mental Illness
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Court of Appeal ruling overturning the decision of the Court of Protection to allow a mentally ill woman to be given an abortion against her wishes; what implications they consider that case to have for the rights of those with learning disabilities to become parents; and what steps, if any, they intend to take in the light of the Court of Appeal's ruling.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16638
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>This is an extremely difficult and sensitive case, and the Government will consider the Court of Appeal judgment carefully.</p><p> </p><p>The Court of Protection hears cases about some of the most vulnerable people in society, making decisions about personal welfare – including serious medical treatment - where the person lacks capacity to do so for themselves. In doing so it must follow the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). In particular the MCA stipulates that decisions must be in the person’s best interests, taking into account all the circumstances of the case, including the wishes, feelings, beliefs and values of the person, and must be the least restrictive of their rights and freedoms.</p><p> </p><p>It is right that such serious and difficult decisions – particularly where there is disagreement about what is in the person’s best interests - are made by the independent judiciary.</p><p> </p><p>The statutory MCA Code of Practice provides practical guidance on the operation of the MCA and is currently under review. We have sought input from a range of interested stakeholders through a call for evidence in January and propose to consult on a revised Code towards the end of this year.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 10/07/2019 11:30:53 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1127983

registered interest
date	21/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prison Officers: Resignations
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons for the number of prison officers resigning within 12 months of taking up their posts; and whether those reasons include the level of violence in UK prisons.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15868
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2019 answer text <p>The huge number of officers we have recently recruited inevitably means there are more staff - and more leavers with less than one years' experience. Attached is a table containing reason for leaving and grade. (Table i)</p><p> </p><p>We are working hard to retain staff, giving staff the biggest pay increase in a decade last year and by providing additional training.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 05/06/2019 16:00:03 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie attachment 1 file name Table i.xlsx title Table (i)
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1124852

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Arson: Churches
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they hold on the number of, and circumstances behind, arson attacks on churches in (1) the UK, and (2) overseas, in the last two years; how many prosecutions there have been for such attacks in the UK; and what assessment they have made of the motives of those responsible.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15527
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <table><tbody><tr><td><p>We have consulted Home Office, who do not hold detailed information for all police forces around the circumstances and location of offences. Detailed information on the location of arson offences, such as churches, may be held on court record but to be able to identify these cases, as they are not held centrally, we would have to access individual court records which would be of disproportionate cost. Matters relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for those respective devolved administrations.</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 21/05/2019 16:16:04 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

947068

registered interest
date	23/07/2018
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	National Exhibition Centre
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what contact they have had, if any, with the Birmingham Coroner to establish what is known about the origins of the 20 skinless human bodies being exhibited at the National Exhibition Centre; and whether inquests will be opened to establish the facts involved in their deaths.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL9758
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/08/2018 answer text <p>Coroners are independent judicial office holders and as such it would be inappropriate for Ministers to intervene in or comment upon the decisions of the Birmingham and Solihull Senior Coroner.</p><p><br>The exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre has been licenced by the Human Tissue Authority in line with the provisions of the Human Tissue Act 2004. Responsibility for hosting the exhibition and maintaining ethical standards lies with the National Exhibition Centre.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 03/08/2018 12:07:38 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

938795

registered interest
date	11/07/2018
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Female Genital Mutilation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) prosecutions, and (2) convictions, for female genital mutilation there have been since it was criminalised in 1985; and in each case, what sentences were imposed by the courts.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL9411
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/07/2018 answer text <p>Up until 31 December 2017, there have been two prosecutions (one in 2014, one in 2016) and no convictions for female genital mutilation under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.</p><p>Data for 2018 will be published in May 2019.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 24/07/2018 15:55:45 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

630996

registered interest
date	07/11/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners: Suicide
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Keen of Elie on 3 November (HL Deb col 770), what estimate they have made of the financial cost of each suicide which occurs in prisons and of the annual cumulative cost.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL3015
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2016 answer text <p>Every death in custody is a tragedy, and the Government is committed to reducing the number of self-inflicted deaths in prison. It is very difficult to accurately calculate the financial costs of suicide in prison.</p><p> </p><p>Action to reduce the number of self-inflicted deaths is an urgent priority, and our plans, including investment in 2,500 more prison officers across the prison estate, are set out in the White Paper on Prison Safety and Reform which was published earlier this month.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 22/11/2016 17:55:19 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool