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995609

registered interest
date	26/10/2018
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners: Females
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 implications for his Department’s policies of the findings of a report by Inquest entitled Still Dying on the inside: examining deaths in women's prisons, published in May 2018, that 93 women have died in custody in England and Wales since March 2007; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	184397
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2018 answer text <table><tbody><tr><td><p>We are very aware of the number of women who have tragically died in our custody, and we welcome the Inquest report that rightly draws attention to the figures and to the risks this population presents. I look forward to meeting Inquest soon to discuss the recommendations in their report. Our published statistics show that the 93 deaths from 2007 to 2017 to which the report refers include 41 from natural causes, 39 that were apparently self-inflicted and 13 other deaths, including 6 that have yet to be classified. The Government takes very seriously its responsibility to keep staff and prisoners safe, and we are committed to reducing the number of self-inflicted deaths in our prisons. This is why we have established a prison safety programme through which we are taking forward a comprehensive set of actions to improve safety in custody. This includes a workstream on women offenders, which has drawn on helpful reports from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman and the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody to identify and take forward focused work in women’s prisons. These are in addition to the measures that we are taking across the estate, which include rolling out revised and improved training for staff in assessing and managing the risk of suicide and self-harm amongst prisoners (which has already reached more than 17,000 staff); improving support for prisoners in their early days in custody; revising the ACCT case management process for those identified as being at risk; and renewing our partnership with the Samaritans by confirming a further three years' grant funding for their valuable Listeners Scheme. On 27 June we published our strategy for female offenders, which sets out our vision and plan to improve outcomes for women both in the community and in custody. We want to see:<ul><li>fewer women coming into the criminal justice system;</li><li>fewer women in custody, especially on short-term sentences, and a greater proportion of women successfully managed in the community; and</li><li>better conditions for those in custody.</li></ul>A key theme in the strategy is the need for a joined-up approach to addressing female offenders’ often complex needs. We know that we will make progress in meeting these needs only by adopting a partnership approach at both national and local level. We hope to publish our National Concordat on Female Offenders by the end of the year. This will be a cross-governmental statement of intent and commitment to improve the outcomes for female offenders in a holistic, whole-systems approach.</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 31/10/2018 17:18:22 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

993705

registered interest
date	23/10/2018
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Community Rehabilitation Companies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the report by HM Inspectorate of Probation entitled Domestic abuse: the work undertaken by Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs), published in September 2018, what assessment he has made of the quality of care provided by CRCs as a result of that report's conclusions.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	182751
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2018 answer text <p>We take seriously the findings of the HM Inspectorate of Probation report on the work undertaken by Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) in relation to domestic abuse. We will publish a detailed action plan in November to address the recommendations made by the Inspectorate, and we require CRCs to develop their own robust action plans in response to specific recommendations. These plans will be closely monitored by the department’s contract management assurance and governance process.</p><p> </p><p>Our reforms to probation mean we are now monitoring around 40,000 offenders who would previously have been released with no supervision at all. However, we have been clear that CRCs need to improve across a range of areas. In September we concluded a public consultation on proposals to end current CRC contracts early and introduce new arrangements for delivering probation services. As part of these changes we are considering how to ensure probation plays its full part in tackling domestic abuse and protecting victims.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 26/10/2018 13:21:00 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

993706

registered interest
date	23/10/2018
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners' Release: Females
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to (a) conduct a review on the number of deaths of women following release from prison and (b) seek to identify his Department can take to protect women upon release.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	182752
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2018 answer text <p>We publish annual statistics on deaths of offenders in the community, which include the deaths of women under post-release supervision. The data for 2017-18 was published on 25 October 2018. It shows that 40 women under post-release supervision died in 2017-18, down from 44 in 2016-17.</p><p> </p><p>It is existing policy for all such deaths to be reviewed. Probation providers are required to examine the circumstances of each death and to determine whether the way that they work with offenders could be improved in order to make future deaths less likely. We are considering whether this requirement could be strengthened, particularly to improve the sharing of learning nationally.</p><p> </p><p>On 27 June we published our strategy for female offenders, which sets out our vision and plan to improve outcomes for women both in the community and in custody. A key theme in the strategy is the need for a joined-up approach to addressing female offenders’ often complex needs. We know that we will make progress in meeting these needs only by adopting a partnership approach at both national and local level. We hope to publish our National Concordat on Female Offenders by the end of the year. This will be a cross-governmental statement of intent and commitment to improve the outcomes for female offenders in a holistic, whole-systems approach.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 26/10/2018 13:15:01 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

993707

registered interest
date	23/10/2018
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners: Self-harm
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the by HM Prison and Probation Service entitled: Self-harm by adult men in prison: A rapid evidence assessment, published in September 2018, whether he plans to undertake further research to explore the potential link between self-harm and violence or aggression in male prisoners as recommended in that report.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	182753
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2018 answer text <p>The link between self-harm and violence is well established and informs our existing policy. For instance, the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) case management process for prisoners at risk of self-harm or suicide already includes an enhanced case management process for use where prisoners pose a risk of harm to others, as well as to themselves.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to develop our work with this link in mind. The Prison Safety Programme includes a range of measures designed to address both violence and suicide and self-harm in our prisons. A study of individuals engaged in ‘dual harm’ (both to themselves and to others) is taking place in a number of prisons, and the early findings have been used to inform the programme.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 26/10/2018 13:44:07 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

992789

registered interest
date	22/10/2018
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Offenders: Females
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the timescale is for implementation of the Female Offender Strategy which was published in June 2018; and how the success of that strategy is planned to be measured.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	182157
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2018 answer text <p>The Female Offender Strategy launched a programme of work that will take some years to deliver. It included some early key deliverables, such as the £3.5m Community Investment Fund competition which is part of our wider £5m investment in community provision between 2018-2020. We expect to announce successful grant bids in November. Lord Farmer’s Review of family ties for female offenders in custody and the community is due to report by the end of the year.</p><p>We are currently engaging with stakeholders on our plans for Residential Women’s Centre pilots to refine our thinking around the potential design and delivery of the pilots. After this period of market engagement, we will look to open a procurement process. Our timeline is subject to the findings of our engagement process.</p><p>We are putting robust governance in place, to ensure delivery of the strategy’s aims. This includes a strengthened minister-led Advisory Board, with new stakeholder members to ensure that we have the right expertise to provide advice and challenge to Government. Plans for monitoring and evaluating the progress of the strategy are currently in development.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 25/10/2018 15:41:42 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

946791

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	Residential Women's Centres
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the timetable is for the opening of the five new residential women’s centres announced on 27 June 2018.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	167251
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/09/2018 answer text <p>We are working with local and national partners to develop a pilot for ‘residential women’s centres’ in at least five sites across England and Wales.</p><p>We want to ensure that the models we test are appropriate for their local context. This may require multiple local partners, including those from statutory and voluntary sectors, working together. Therefore, at this stage the timetable is not yet finalised.</p><p>However, we are undertaking an initial engagement process with stakeholders and potential providers and partners to refine the design and delivery model for the pilot. This is taking place over the next few months and will support our co-design approach for taking forward the pilot.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 04/09/2018 14:57:05 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

927999

registered interest
date	20/06/2018
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Offenders: Supported Housing
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 (a) the availability and (b) the suitability of supported accommodation for female prisoners on release.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	155778
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2018 answer text <p>We have interpreted “supported accommodation” as referring to Approved Premises, which provide residential accommodation in the community for female offenders who pose a medium risk of harm, as well as having complex resettlement needs.</p><p> </p><p>We are conducting a review into Approved Premises capacity for women, to ensure there is provision for women where it is needed. We are seeking to identify suitable provision for women in London and Wales, where we recognise that need is pressing.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 25/06/2018 14:19:57 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

928000

registered interest
date	20/06/2018
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Youth Custody
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 change in the number of commissioned beds in (a) secure children’s homes, (b) secure training centres and (c) young offender institutions since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	155779
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2018 answer text <p>The change in the number of commissioned places in the three sectors of the under-18 estate is consistent with the sentencing practice of the courts and our policy of ensuring that young people are sent to custody only when there is no alternative. We will continue to ensure that enough places are available to ensure that the sentence of the court can be carried out.</p><p>The number of children entering the youth justice system has declined year on year, but many of those in our care demonstrate very challenging and complex behaviour.</p><p> </p><p>To deal with these challenges we are increasing frontline staff numbers in public-sector Young Offender Institutions and already have more than 200 officers enrolled on a specialist youth custody foundation degree.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 25/06/2018 14:29:57 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

928001

registered interest
date	20/06/2018
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners: Mental Illness
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many transfers of prisoners to hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1983 there have been in each of the last three years; and what the average time was for such transfers to take place in each of those years.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	155780
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2018 answer text <p>The total number of prisoners who have been transferred to hospital under sections 47 or 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in each of the last three years is set out below:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2015</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p>1,010</p></td><td><p>980</p></td><td><p>936</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The data are published annually on the gov.uk website under the Offender Management Statistics.</p><p> </p><p>The average time for such transfers to take place in each of those years has remained the same: 14 days.</p><p> </p><p>The time has been measured from the date at which the Ministry of Justice is provided with a complete application for a transfer warrant - indicating transfer is appropriate - to the actual date of admission to hospital. The Ministry of Justice has a target of 24 hours within which to provide a transfer warrant, once the assessments are complete and the two required medical reports and all other relevant information is received. This target is met in 95% of cases.</p><p> </p><p>This average time information is not published. The measure has 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><p> </p><p>We take the mental health of prisoners extremely seriously, which is why we have increased the support available to vulnerable offenders - especially during the first 24 hours in custody - and invested more in mental health awareness training for prison officers.</p><p> </p><p>But we recognise that more can be done and continue to work in partnership with HMPPS, NHS England and Public Health England to improve mental health services for offenders at all points of the criminal justice system.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 25/06/2018 14:25:31 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger