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1687336

registered interest
date	05/02/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners' Release: Employment
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 encourage newly released prisoners into employment.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	13005
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2024 answer text <p>Getting more prison leavers into employment is crucial to this government’s mission to cut crime and make our streets safer by reducing reoffending. We know that employment reduces the chance of reoffending significantly, by up to nine percentage points. That is why I am pleased to say that, in England and Wales, the proportion of prison leavers who were employed six months after their release almost doubled from 14% in April 2021 to over 30% in March 2023.</p><p>In England and Wales, we have completed recruitment of dedicated Prison Employment Leads, who get prisoners work ready and match them to jobs on release. They work with key partners in the prison including DWP, probation, education and Information Advice and Guidance providers to ensure joined-up working. In custody and in the community, HMPPS Creating Future Opportunities (CFO) provides tailored resettlement services in England, focusing on supporting those furthest from the labour market.</p><p>The Government will continue to progress this work to help businesses fill the nearly one million vacancies in the UK, while also cutting crime and reducing reoffending.</p><p>Prisons and Probation services are devolved in Northern Ireland, and employment support is a transferred matter and the responsibility of the Department for Communities.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 09/02/2024 16:32:06 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1682397

registered interest
date	16/01/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Staff
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 (a) help tackle and (b) vet HM Prison staff to ensure compliance with rules on the smuggling of contraband into prisons; and whether he has had recent discussions with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on a UK-wide approach to this issue.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	9827
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2024 answer text <p>The vast majority of prison staff are hardworking and dedicated. All HMPPS prison staff are subject to pre-employment vetting checks, including social and digital media vetting checks, to assess whether candidates meet the high standards expected of them to work in HMPPS and assures a standard of resilience upon entry. This vetting is renewed every 10 years.</p><p> </p><p>HMPPS is undertaking a Vetting Reform Programme and applying the recommendations from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Police, Fire &amp; Rescue Services report of 2022: “<em>An Inspection of Vetting, Misconduct and Misogyny in the Police Service</em>” to prisons and probation.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has not held discussions with devolved administrations about vetting but will consider the merits of doing so to ensure processes remain modern and robust across the UK.</p><p> </p><p>We committed to having a zero-tolerance approach to crime in prisons. Our £100 million Security Investment Programme, aimed at reducing crime in prisons, including the smuggling of contraband, was completed in March 2022. This investment delivered airport-style enhanced gate security to 42 high-risk sites, implementing routine searching of staff. We have since gone further and installed X-ray baggage scanners at 49 sites and invested into new drug trace detection equipment across the estate.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 23/01/2024 16:56:04 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1639193

registered interest
date	22/05/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Intimate Image Abuse: Convictions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what data his Department holds on the number of individuals convicted of revenge porn in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	186065
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2023 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the number of convictions for the offence ‘8.19 Disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress’ in the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1158218/outcomes-by-offence-2022.xlsx" target="_blank">Outcomes by Offence data tool</a>: December 2022.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 30/05/2023 11:50:11 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1567054

registered interest
date	16/01/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Homicide and Rape: Sentencing
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 sentencing guidelines for (a) rape and (b) murder; and what steps he is taking to ensure that these crimes receive the most severe punishments.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	123942
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2023 answer text <p>The independent Sentencing Council is responsible for the production and revision of sentencing guidelines, which the courts must follow, unless it would be contrary to the interest of justice. The Council also undertakes evaluation of the guidelines to ensure they are operating as intended.</p><p> </p><p>Rape carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and the average custodial sentence length for adults (aged 21 and older) increased from 99.5 months in 2010, to 114.3 months in 2021. The sentencing guidelines are clear that offences which involve the greatest harm and culpability can expect to attract the toughest sentences, for example where there has been a significant degree of planning or an abuse of trust.</p><p> </p><p>Murder convictions attract a mandatory life sentence. Schedule 21 of the Sentencing Code sets out statutory guidance to be applied by the independent courts when setting the minimum term of imprisonment, at which point they may be considered for release on licence by the Parole Board.</p><p> </p><p>The Government regularly reviews Schedule 21 and has expanded the list of whole life order (WLO) starting points through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 to include the premediated murder of a child and enabled judges to impose a WLO on those aged 18-20 in exceptional circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, in 2021 the Government commissioned an independent expert, Clare Wade KC, to undertake a review of domestic homicide sentencing. The review was delivered to the department in June 2022 and prior to publication the Government is carefully considering its recommendations and next steps.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 23/01/2023 13:18:04 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1565499

registered interest
date	10/01/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Offences against Children: Convictions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted of possession of indecent and prohibited images of children in the UK in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	120043
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2023 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes information on the number of defendants convicted of possession of indecent and prohibited images of children, in England and Wales, in the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1126556/outcomes-by-offence-june-2022-revised.xlsx" target="_blank">Outcomes by Offence data tool: June 2022</a>.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 17/01/2023 16:58:04 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1524007

registered interest
date	19/10/2022
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Barristers: Industrial Disputes
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 impact of criminal barristers' industrial action on the caseload in the crown courts; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	67016
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2022 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting the recovery of the courts and our decisive action kept justice moving during the pandemic. Now that barristers have returned to work, we can work together to drive down the backlog and ensure victims see justice served sooner.</p><p>From the second half of 2021 onwards, we started to make progress in reducing the caseload, reducing the backlog by over 2,000 from its pandemic-induced peak of 61,000 in June 2021 to 58,700 in March 2022.</p><p>However, since April 2022, when industrial action began, the caseload has been increasing again and it stood at 61,200 at the end of August. We resolved the dispute with the Criminal Bar Association on 10 October. As part of this, we committed to a package of measures including an additional £3 million of funding for case preparation, a further £4 million for defence barristers involved in pre-recorded cross-examinations, and a £5 million uplift per year for fees in the youth court from the 2024/25 financial year.</p><p>To increase capacity in the Criminal Justice System, we have removed the limit on sitting days in the Crown Court for the second year in a row and extended 30 Nightingale courtrooms beyond the end of March 2022. We have also reduced demand into the Crown Court by legislating to retain more cases in the Magistrates’ Courts. These actions will deliver swifter justice for victims and reduce the backlog of cases.</p><p>Over the next three financial years, we are investing an extra £477 million for the Criminal Justice System to help improve waiting times for victims of crime and address the Crown Court backlog.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 27/10/2022 15:28:30 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1472908

registered interest
date	23/06/2022
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Endoscopy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of using single use endoscopes in cases (a) of increased infection risk and (b) where reusable endoscopes are not readily available.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	23744
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2022 answer text <p>During the pandemic, NHS England and NHS Improvement published a variety of guidance on the sterilisation and decontamination of reusable medical equipment and use of single-use equipment. The purchase and use of single-use equipment is determined by individual National Health Service trusts, which consider the facilities available, workforce, finances and the patient population to select the most appropriate medical equipment.</p><p>NHS England and NHS Improvement have reviewed the potential merits of single-use endoscopes and considered hospital acquired infections, patient safety and the prevalence of antibiotic resistant organisms in care environments. These discussions are ongoing to appropriately review all factors, including environmental sustainability and economic considerations. There are no plans to alter procedures in favour of using single-use endoscopes in any setting.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 23745 23746 question first answered 27/06/2022 16:18:47 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1472910

registered interest
date	23/06/2022
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Endoscopy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the impact of reprocessed endoscopes on level of risk for patients in critical care environments; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	23745
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2022 answer text <p>During the pandemic, NHS England and NHS Improvement published a variety of guidance on the sterilisation and decontamination of reusable medical equipment and use of single-use equipment. The purchase and use of single-use equipment is determined by individual National Health Service trusts, which consider the facilities available, workforce, finances and the patient population to select the most appropriate medical equipment.</p><p>NHS England and NHS Improvement have reviewed the potential merits of single-use endoscopes and considered hospital acquired infections, patient safety and the prevalence of antibiotic resistant organisms in care environments. These discussions are ongoing to appropriately review all factors, including environmental sustainability and economic considerations. There are no plans to alter procedures in favour of using single-use endoscopes in any setting.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 23744 23746 question first answered 27/06/2022 16:18:47 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1472911

registered interest
date	23/06/2022
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Endoscopy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to help ensure single-use endoscopes are available in critical care settings; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	23746
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2022 answer text <p>During the pandemic, NHS England and NHS Improvement published a variety of guidance on the sterilisation and decontamination of reusable medical equipment and use of single-use equipment. The purchase and use of single-use equipment is determined by individual National Health Service trusts, which consider the facilities available, workforce, finances and the patient population to select the most appropriate medical equipment.</p><p>NHS England and NHS Improvement have reviewed the potential merits of single-use endoscopes and considered hospital acquired infections, patient safety and the prevalence of antibiotic resistant organisms in care environments. These discussions are ongoing to appropriately review all factors, including environmental sustainability and economic considerations. There are no plans to alter procedures in favour of using single-use endoscopes in any setting.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 23744 23745 question first answered 27/06/2022 16:18:47 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1471005

registered interest
date	16/06/2022
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle delays in ambulance response times.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	19617
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2022 answer text <p>Ambulance trusts receive continuous central monitoring and support from the NHS England and NHS Improvement-funded National Ambulance Coordination Centre. In 2022/23, NHS England and NHS Improvement have allocated an additional £150 million for ambulance service pressures, supporting improvements to response times through additional call handler recruitment, retention and other measures.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 23/06/2022 16:00:39 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon