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1127105

registered interest
date	16/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Extortion: Prosecutions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many successful prosecutions have been brought for the offence of blackmail against people that demanded money to leave sites which they are occupying illegally in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Toby Perkins
uin	255320
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Information regarding prosecutions and convictions for blackmail offences from 2010 to 2018 can be found at the following link –</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802314/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2018.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802314/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2018.xlsx</a></p><p> </p><p>Filter the ‘Offence’ field to ’35 Blackmail’ to obtain these figures. The total number of defendants proceeded against as well as those convicted of blackmail for the 2008-2018 decade will appear in the pivot table.</p><p> </p><p>However, specific information regarding blackmail offences, such as the offence of blackmail against people that demanded money to leave sites which they were occupying illegally, 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.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 21/05/2019 10:40:49 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

1127183

registered interest
date	16/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Mental Health Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of prison officers have received training on when to refer a person for mental health support.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	255325
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Over 14,000 staff have already received the new suicide and self-harm reduction training which includes a module on Mental Health Awareness, in addition to the safer custody training already provided across the estate.</p><p> </p><p>Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT) is a mandatory 12 week programme for all new entrant officers to give them the knowledge and skills they need to carry out their role. There are a number of sessions on Mental Health within this training, including: ‘Introduction to Mental Health’, ‘Introduction to Suicide and Self Harm (SASH) Prevention’ and ‘Personality Disorders.’ This training will enable staff to identify any concerns and submit the appropriate referral to healthcare professionals.</p><p> </p><p>The following e-learning training is also available on Civil Service Learning for all staff working in Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service:</p><ul><li>Mental Health Conditions and Dementia: Support for Customers</li><li>Mental Health at Work</li><li>Wellbeing, Resilience and Stress</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 21/05/2019 15:40:38 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1127184

registered interest
date	16/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners: Death and Self-harm
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 reduce levels of self-harm and deaths in custody among the prison population.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	255326
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Prisons should be places of safety and reform. We recognise that the current level of suicide and self-harm is too high. With this in mind, the Government is taking unprecedented action, including:</p><ul><li>investing in over 4,700 additional staff since October 2015;</li><li>introducing new suicide and self-harm prevention training, which has already reached over 24,000 staff;</li><li>improving support for prisoners in their early days and weeks and rolling out a ‘key worker’ scheme which ensures each prisoner has dedicated support from a particular prison officer;</li><li>funding the Samaritans to provide their valuable Listeners Scheme for a further three years; and</li><li>improving the ACCT case management process for those identified as at risk of self-harm or suicide.</li></ul><p> </p><p>We are also committed to taking action to improve prisoners’ health. Since April 2018, a new National Partnership Agreement has been in place, marking an even stronger level of co-operation and cohesiveness between agencies that influence the policy, commissioning and delivery of prison health services. The agreement sets out how the partnership (DHSC, NHS England, MoJ, HMPPS and Public Health England) will work together to deliver its three core objectives. It agrees ten key priority areas for 2018-2021, including reducing incidents of self-harm and self-inflicted deaths in the adult secure estate.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, NHS England has published a new Service Specification for Integrated Substance Misuse Treatment Services in Prisons in England, which brings greater focus to the treatment of users of psychoactive substances and makes stronger links to mental health.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 21/05/2019 16:11:36 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1126464

registered interest
date	14/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Joseph McCann
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on what date did his officials inform him that Joseph McCann had been released in error.
tabling member constituency	Leeds East
tabling member printed	Richard Burgon
uin	254233
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Joseph McCann has now been charged with a number of serious sexual offences committed on or after 21 April 2019. At the time he was being supervised by the National Probation Service (NPS) on licence, as part of the sentence of imprisonment for public protection which he had received In 2008. The NPS will now review how Mr McCann was managed in the community, in accordance with the Probation Serious Further Offence (SFO) Review Procedures, in order to identify whether there were any deficiencies in practice which must be addressed by means of a formal action plan.</p><p> </p><p>We are looking into the circumstances surrounding his release.He was released on 15 February 2019, in accordance with the sentence of the Court on 25 January 2018, having served half the three-year determinate sentence for burglary which the Court imposed, less time he had already spent on remand.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 21/05/2019 16:16:11 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	4493 label Biography information for Richard Burgon

1126605

registered interest
date	14/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Offences against Children: Extracurricular Activities
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will extend the definition of abuse of positions of trust in the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to cover all adults working with children in extra-curricular activities.
tabling member constituency	Eastbourne
tabling member printed	Stephen Lloyd
uin	254179
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Any sexual activity with a child under 16 is a criminal offence, regardless of whether consent is given. Any non-consensual sexual activity is also a crime, whatever the age of the victim and whatever the relationship between the victim and perpetrator.</p><p> </p><p>I recognise that there are concerns about those who might abuse their position of power over a 16 or 17-year-old to pressure them into engaging in a sexual relationship. Such behaviour is very likely to be caught by the robust laws we already have in place,</p><p> </p><p>However, we remain absolutely committed to protecting children and young people from sexual abuse and we want to ensure that existing offences are being used effectively to tackle this behaviour, and that those working with young people understand their responsibilities and act appropriately.</p><p> </p><p>My department, working closely with colleagues across government, is taking forward a review of the existing law, to check that that it is working effectively and ensuring young people are protected.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 21/05/2019 16:14:27 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	3968 label Biography information for Stephen Lloyd

1126627

registered interest
date	14/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Offenders: Pupil Exclusions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of people convicted of a crime and sentenced to time in prison in each of the last five years had been excluded from their primary school.
tabling member constituency	Camberwell and Peckham
tabling member printed	Ms Harriet Harman
uin	254063
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>This data is held at individual child level and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. Aggregated data that is available about children sentenced to youth custody who have previously been excluded from school can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/understanding-the-educational-background-of-young-offenders-full-report</p><p>In his review of school exclusions published on 7 May 2019, Edward Timpson found that “exclusion is a marker for being at higher risk of becoming a victim or perpetrator of crime”, but that “it would be wrong to suggest that we have evidence that exclusion of any kind causes crime or that preventing the use of exclusion would, in itself, prevent crime.” The review and the government’s response can be found at:<br>https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/school-exclusions-review-call-for-evidence</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 21/05/2019 15:02:11 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland previous answer version 119060 answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	150 label Biography information for Ms Harriet Harman

1126068

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prison Officers: Pepper Spray
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has spent on training prison officers on the use of PAVA spray.
tabling member constituency	Bradford East
tabling member printed	Imran Hussain
uin	253598
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>We do not hold specific training costs for PAVA training. PAVA training is incorporated into Use of Force training, which is mandatory of all prison officers and as such it is not possible to isolate specific training costs.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to the rollout of PAVA to support our hardworking prison officers to do their jobs. PAVA is just one part of our approach to improve prison safety. PAVA spray is explicitly for the protection of staff, the protection of those in our care or to facilitate the safe withdrawal of staff. It will be used in exceptional circumstances where a member of staff is faced with serious violence, or the perceived threat of serious violence.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 21/05/2019 15:40:30 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	4394 label Biography information for Imran Hussain

1126070

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what criteria his Department will use to judge the effectiveness of the Education and Employment Strategy 2018 in improving education for adult prisoners.
tabling member constituency	Bradford East
tabling member printed	Imran Hussain
uin	253600
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Making prison Governors responsible and accountable for the education provision delivered in their individual prisons is a key focus of the strategy. This includes giving them control of their education budgets, deciding on the curriculum to be delivered and playing a role in choosing the provider(s) of their education delivery to best meet the needs of their prisoners.</p><p> </p><p>To measure planned and actual improvements in educational performance, we will assess that the prison infrastructure supports education;</p><ul><li>that prison education is fully integrated into all aspects of prison life;</li><li>that those in custody are assessed at the start and end of their sentences;</li><li>and that providers and their staff work flexibly and collaboratively to deliver high quality educational provision.</li></ul><p>We will also ensure that education is available in every prison; that prisoners all have a personal learning plan linked to their sentence plan; and that provision is suitable to address the needs of the those concerned. Governors will also need to be aware of the needs of their population and commission suitable provision that is linked to local employment needs, so that those released from prison can gain employment.</p><p> </p><p>Progress will be measured via improvements in the Ofsted ratings awarded, ensuring that there is an increase in the percentage of prisons receiving “Good” or “Outstanding” ratings for education delivery.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 21/05/2019 15:42:33 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	4394 label Biography information for Imran Hussain

1126077

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	HM Courts and Tribunals Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference paragraph 7.20 of HM Courts & Tribunals Service response to the consultation paper entitled Fit for the future: transforming the Court and Tribunal Estate, what steps he is taking to determine appropriate capacity utilisation of the HM Courts & Tribunals estate; and what the date is for the completion of that analysis.
tabling member constituency	Bolton South East
tabling member printed	Yasmin Qureshi
uin	253542
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>HM Courts &amp; Tribunals Service is currently investigating how to appropriately evaluate optimum utilisation rates for courts and tribunals, looking at past data on utilisation and performance. We anticipate that this analytical work will be completed prior to the publication of any further proposals regarding the court or tribunal estate.</p><p> </p><p>Maintaining effective access to justice will be the top priority when making decisions about the future of courts and tribunals buildings.</p><p> </p><p>The closure of any court is not taken lightly and, where a service is moved outside the local area, will only follow a full public consultation. To date, courts that have closed have been dilapidated, too close to another or underused. All money raised from the sale of buildings since 2016 has been reinvested back into the justice system.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 21/05/2019 15:42:20 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	3924 label Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi

1126081

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many court buildings in the south west of England were inaccessible to (a) defendants and witnesses, (b) members of the public and (c) court staff with disabilities in the week beginning 6 May 2019; and how many of those buildings were only temporarily inaccessible in that week because of broken lifts; and how many of those courts were inaccessible to at least one of those groups for (i) more than one week and (ii) more than one month in the latest period for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Bolton South East
tabling member printed	Yasmin Qureshi
uin	253543
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>HM Courts &amp; Tribunals Service is committed to ensuring access to courts and tribunals is maintained for staff and service users. We have a reasonable adjustments policy in place to accommodate those with particular access requirements. Disabled access was typically not factored in when many of our court and tribunal buildings were built. However, we have a number of accessible courts that our criminal justice partners are aware of, and these are used to list cases where a defendant might have accessibility needs.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of our buildings were accessible to the user groups listed during the period in question. Of the 40 total courts and tribunals in the South West, none were inaccessible to witnesses, staff or members of the public during the week commencing 6 May 2019, whilst 27 were inaccessible to one very specific user group with disabilities (defendants using custodial facilities).</p><p> </p><p>No buildings were temporarily inaccessible due to broken lifts.</p><p> </p><p>We aim to list cases at suitable venues when there are access needs. Where access issues do arise various mitigations are explored, including video-conferencing from a remote site, the use of judicial or staff lifts, or later start times for those who require longer to travel to court.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2015/16, we have invested more than £114m to improve court buildings and, in last year’s Budget, the Chancellor announced an additional £15m to be spent on improving maintenance and security across the estate.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 21/05/2019 15:39:33 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	3924 label Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi