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1282732

registered interest
date	02/02/2021
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: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What support his Department is providing to HM Courts and Tribunals Service in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Southport
tabling member printed	Damien Moore
uin	911696
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>To ensure the safety of the physical estate and continue our efforts to tackle demand on the system we invested £142m in court buildings and facilities, and a further £110m to make the estate Covid-secure, recruit 1,600 additional staff, and create more Nightingale Courts.</p><p> </p><p>This funding – the largest investment in justice for decades – helped the system to turn a corner in December 2020 so that we were closing the same number of cases as before the pandemic in almost all jurisdictions, including Crown Courts.</p><p> </p><p>There is further to go, and through our Spending Review settlement, we have secured significant additional funding next financial year to recover our courts and tribunals system.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 02/02/2021 17:56:07 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4669 label Biography information for Damien Moore

1282733

registered interest
date	02/02/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Crime
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps his Department is taking to reduce crime in prisons.
tabling member constituency	Rother Valley
tabling member printed	Alexander Stafford
uin	911699
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>Reducing crime in prisons remains a key priority. HMPPS works closely with law enforcement agencies so that crimes committed in prison are dealt with effectively. We are delivering on our commitment to invest £100m in prison security.</p><p> </p><p>This includes X-ray body scanners that have been installed at 40 prisons across England and Wales. These detect drugs and contraband that fuel crime in prisons, with over 2,300 illegal items observed and prevented from entering our estate.</p><p> </p><p>This investment will also strengthen staff resilience to corruption and target organised criminals who exploit prisons as a lucrative market.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 02/02/2021 18:21:04 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4866 label Biography information for Alexander Stafford

1282734

registered interest
date	02/02/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners: Parents
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What support his Department is providing to new parents who are in the prison system.
tabling member constituency	South Northamptonshire
tabling member printed	Andrea Leadsom
uin	911701
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>We know that there is an impact on families and children when a parent is imprisoned. Prisons run a variety of parenting courses that are commissioned by individual establishments to suit the needs of their particular population.</p><p> </p><p>Mother and Baby Units have operated in women’s prisons for a number of years, they enable mothers to have their children with them in prison during an important period of bonding. The units are often praised in HMIP reports.</p><p> </p><p>There are also many ad hoc provisions such as Storybook Dads which help to maintain contact with younger children.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 02/02/2021 18:22:55 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom

1282735

registered interest
date	02/02/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Domestic Abuse: Victim Support Schemes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps his Department is taking to support victims of domestic abuse.
tabling member constituency	Milton Keynes North
tabling member printed	Ben Everitt
uin	911705
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>Supporting and protecting victims of domestic abuse has been a central priority of this Government, backed by major additional investment.</p><p> </p><p>The latest commitment of £40m for victims’ services includes £9.7m for local community-based DA support, plus £8m for new independent domestic violence advisors (IDVAs).</p><p> </p><p>We will pass the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill which creates new domestic abuse protection orders, institutes a new Domestic Abuse Commissioner, and empowers domestic abuse complainants to give their best evidence in court.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 02/02/2021 17:50:16 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4836 label Biography information for Ben Everitt

1282736

registered interest
date	02/02/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Sentencing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps his Department is taking to reform the sentencing system.
tabling member constituency	Rugby
tabling member printed	Mark Pawsey
uin	911706
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>The Sentencing White Paper I published in September 2020 set out my plans for a new, smarter approach to sentencing. A system that protects the public, as well as one which the public understand and have confidence in.</p><p>These reforms will ensure dangerous criminals are kept in prison for longer, while new measures aim to tackle the underlying causes of criminal behaviour and improve the rehabilitation and supervision of offenders in the community.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 02/02/2021 17:56:58 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4052 label Biography information for Mark Pawsey

1282737

registered interest
date	02/02/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons and Young Offender Institutions: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps his Department has taken to control the spread of covid-19 in (a) prisons and (b) young offenders institutions; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Lichfield
tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
uin	911707
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>Since March, we have acted decisively to protect our staff, prisoners and the wider community from outbreaks in prisons and the youth estate. Our compartmentalisation strategy allows us to quarantine new arrivals, isolate those with symptoms, and shield vulnerable prisoners.</p><p>We have introduced routine testing of staff, and testing of prisoners on reception and transfer, in all prisons and YOIs. Whilst every death is a tragedy, thanks to the hard work of our dedicated prison staff, we have managed to limit deaths from Covid in the prison estate to far below PHE predictions.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 02/02/2021 18:24:11 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant

1282738

registered interest
date	02/02/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Ministry of Justice: UK Relations with EU
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What assessment he has made of the effect of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement on his Department’s responsibilities.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire North
tabling member printed	Gavin Newlands
uin	911708
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) fully delivers on what the British public voted for in the referendum and in last year’s General Election. It takes back control of our laws, borders, money and fisheries, and ends any role for the European Court. Our deal is based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals, centred on free trade and inspired by our shared history and values.</p><p> </p><p>We have successfully negotiated unprecedented provisions for legal services that go beyond what the EU has included in any other FTA. The agreement will improve the clarity and certainty of market access for UK lawyers after the transition period.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 02/02/2021 17:51:46 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4420 label Biography information for Gavin Newlands

1282739

registered interest
date	02/02/2021
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	What assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on support for women leaving prison.
tabling member constituency	Swansea East
tabling member printed	Carolyn Harris
uin	911712
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>We have taken quick and decisive action, backed by Public Health England and Wales, to limit the spread of the virus across all prison establishments, including the women’s estate. This has included restricting regimes, minimising inter-prison transfers and compartmentalising prisons into different units to isolate the sick, shield the vulnerable and quarantine new arrivals. A comprehensive regular testing regime of both staff and prisoners is in place and is key in helping to prevent the spread of the virus. Our evidence gathering indicates these measures have had a positive impact on limiting deaths and the transmission of the virus in prisons. We are now working closely with the NHS to support the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccinations for eligible groups in custody.</p><p> </p><p>On 31 March 2020 the Government announced that it would be considering pregnant women and women on Mother and Baby Units for early release from prison, as part of a wider plan to protect the NHS and save lives during the Covid-19 pandemic. Prison Governors/Directors are able to consider eligible women for early release based on thorough risk assessment, and subject to secure healthcare pathways and appropriate accommodation, in consultation with partners in community support services. This scheme remains active, and the most recent release was in January 2021.</p><p> </p><p>To support its COVID-19 response, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has set up Homelessness Prevention Taskforces (HPT) in all probation regions to help find accommodation for offenders upon release. These have been very successful in securing improved accommodation outcomes. We are exploring how the regional HPTs might be a feature of the future probation landscape, ensuring that the specific needs of women are fully considered.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, measures have been put in place across the women’s estate to help reduce the impact of COVID-19 for women in custody and to help plan for their release. Some of these measures, include; additional phone credit per week, enabling contact with their support networks, Through the Gate providers are working to Exceptional Delivery Models offering phone support to all prisoners pre-release.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 02/02/2021 18:39:43 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4480 label Biography information for Carolyn Harris

1282740

registered interest
date	02/02/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Sexual Offences Act 2003
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What the Government's timetable is for the review of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and the definition of positions of trust over children.
tabling member constituency	Rotherham
tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
uin	911713
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>We are currently studying the findings of our review on the legislative provisions on positions of trust and considering next steps with both pace and care. I hope and expect to be in a position to update the House on this work shortly.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 02/02/2021 17:52:51 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1282741

registered interest
date	02/02/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Lugano Convention
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What progress the Government has made on the UK's accession to the Lugano Convention 2007.
tabling member constituency	Orkney and Shetland
tabling member printed	Mr Alistair Carmichael
uin	911741
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>The UK applied to re-join the Lugano Convention on 8 April 2020. The next steps are for the existing contracting parties to consider the UK’s application and to provide their unanimous agreement. Switzerland has already agreed to the UK’s accession and Norway and Iceland publicly declared their support over a year ago.</p><p> </p><p>UK participation in Lugano is in the mutual interest of the UK and the EU. It establishes clear rules around which country’s courts will hear a case and enables the recognition and enforcement of judgments between different countries’ courts in civil commercial and family maintenance cases.</p><p> </p><p>Now that negotiations have successfully concluded, we encourage the EU to approve the UK’s application with all appropriate urgency.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 02/02/2021 17:54:36 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	1442 label Biography information for Mr Alistair Carmichael