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1309840

registered interest
date	16/04/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Young Offender Institutions: Restraint Techniques
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 15 April to Question 179142 on Young Offender Institutions: Restraint Techniques, if he will publish the (a) terms of reference and (b) names of panel members of the independent restraint and behaviour panel established by the Youth Custody Service; and what (i) criteria and (ii) selection process was used to appoint those members.
tabling member constituency	South Shields
tabling member printed	Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
uin	182055
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2021 answer text <p>The terms of reference for the Youth Custody Service Independent Restraint Review Panel are attached. In order to provide the names of the panel members, we would need to obtain individuals’ permission, and therefore I will write to the Honourable Member once this has been received.</p><p>An application has been made by the Ministry of Justice Appointments Team for the Chair to be a direct appointment, subject to ministerial approval, who will lead on the application process for subsequent appointments. The terms of reference have been agreed and signed off by the current panel. A meeting is held fortnightly to review progress.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 21/04/2021 16:33:20 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk attachment 1 file name Youth Custody Service - Independent Restraint Review Panel - Terms of Reference.pdf title Terms of Reference
tabling member	4277 label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

1309851

registered interest
date	16/04/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Contact Tracing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on future uses of the NHS Test and Trace database system.
tabling member constituency	Bolton West
tabling member printed	Chris Green
uin	182062
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2021 answer text <p>No such discussions have taken place.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 26/04/2021 14:45:23 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4398 label Biography information for Chris Green

1309864

registered interest
date	16/04/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Overcrowding
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) tackle overcrowding in prisons and (b) adopt alternative methods to incarceration for low level offenders.
tabling member constituency	Brent Central
tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
uin	182016
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2021 answer text <p><em>Overcrowding in prisons</em></p><p> </p><p>In November 2020, this Government announced that it would commit over £4 billion capital funding to make significant progress in delivering 18,000 additional prison places across England and Wales by the mid-2020s. This includes creating four new prisons over the next six years and expanding another four prisons over the next three years. Construction is well underway on HMP Five Wells, the new prison at Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, and works have started at Glen Parva, Leicestershire. These additional prison places will have a positive impact on lowering the proportion of crowding within the prison estate by providing accommodation that is safe, decent and uncrowded.</p><p> </p><p>The total prison population has also reduced by over 6,000 since the start of the pandemic and, as a result, the total number of prisoners currently held in crowded conditions has reduced. We closely monitor prison population forecasts and the extent to which crowding has reduced in 20/21 will be reflected in the publication of the HMPPS Annual Digest.</p><p> </p><p><em>Alternative Methods to Custody</em></p><p> </p><p>In September 2020 this Government published the Sentencing White Paper, which set out an agenda of reform for punishing and rehabilitating low level offenders, including where those offenders can be effectively managed in the community rather than in prison.</p><p> </p><p>Where these reforms require legislation, relevant measures are contained within the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which is currently before Parliament. Reforms include piloting a problem-solving court approach for certain community and suspended sentence orders, extending the use of electronic monitoring, and increasing the usage and availability of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 21/04/2021 16:32:05 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1309868

registered interest
date	16/04/2021
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	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to support victims and survivors of domestic violence; and what plans the Government has to amend the six month time limit to report those offences.
tabling member constituency	Brent Central
tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
uin	182020
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse. The landmark Domestic Abuse Bill, due to gain Royal Assent this spring, is key to this, as it will raise awareness of different forms of abuse and transform the response of frontline professionals. In support of the Bill, £125m will be provided to fund the new statutory duty for local authorities to provide safe accommodation for women and their children. This will ensure that women continue to access vital support such as therapy, advocacy and counselling in safe accommodation</p><p>In addition, for 2021/22, we are providing more funding to combat domestic abuse, including a £40m package to support survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. We are recruiting 700 more independent sexual violence and domestic abuse advisers (ISVAs/IDVAs) to help support these victims, with a further £11m announced in March.</p><p>On time limits for prosecution, we have considered extending the six-month time limit for starting a prosecution for domestic abuse offences, as recommended by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and supported by the Home Affairs Select Committee. We concluded that there would be limited benefit as there is no time limit for the more serious offences that can be tried in the Crown Court, and where prosecution for less serious offences that can only be tried in a magistrates’ court is time-barred, the range of potential alternative charges made available by the government are in place to ensure that justice can be done.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 21/04/2021 16:36:19 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1309876

registered interest
date	16/04/2021
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether temporary cells were installed in women's prisons since April 2020 as part of the government's plans to limit the spread of covid-19 in prisons.
tabling member constituency	Enfield, Southgate
tabling member printed	Bambos Charalambous
uin	182088
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2021 answer text <p>We expanded the prison estate by introducing temporary accommodation cells to increase space and help reduce the spread of coronavirus. A total of 112 temporary accommodation cells have been installed in the women’s estate at HMP &amp; YOI Drake Hall, HMP &amp; YOI East Sutton Park, HMP Foston Hall and HMP &amp; YOI Askham Grange. This accommodation is part of the quick and decisive action we have taken to limit the spread of the virus across all prison establishments including restricting regimes, minimising inter-prison transfers and compartmentalising our prisons into different units to isolate the sick, shield the vulnerable and quarantine new arrivals.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 21/04/2021 16:34:40 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4610 label Biography information for Bambos Charalambous

1309376

registered interest
date	15/04/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Pre-sentence Reports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the (a) The Target Operating Model for probation services in England and Wales and (b) National Probation Service Operating Model, published on 27 September 2016, what changes will be made to the proportions of court reports targeted to be (i) oral delivery reports completed on the day, (ii) written fast delivery reports and (iii) standard delivery reports completed by (A) Probation Services Officers and (B) Probation Officers.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Ms Lyn Brown
uin	181216
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2021 answer text <p>Pre-Sentence Reports (PSRs) are important tools for the assessment of offenders’ risk and individual needs, and for supporting the independent judiciary to consider the appropriate sentence.</p><p>In February 2021 the government published an updated Target Operating Model for reforms to probation services in England and Wales. The long-term ambition for PSRs once investment and reforms set out in the Target Operating Model are implemented is to increase the proportion of sentences in which PSRs are requested by the judiciary to 75%, with an emphasis on providing more detailed reports on a targeted basis to inform effective sentencing and to support long term desistence from offending. As part of that ambition, the aim is to achieve 10% of PSR delivery as Standard Delivery Reports, 40% as written Short format reports and 50% delivered in Oral format. This compares to equivalent proportions of 10%, 30% and 60% under the 2016 NPS operating model.</p><p>Recognising the experience of disproportionality in the Criminal Justice System as a whole for women and individuals from an ethnic minority background, the intention is that higher proportions of more detailed reports will be completed for these cohorts, together with individuals at risk of a short-term custodial sentence for whom a community sentence might still be appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 23/04/2021 13:47:22 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1309377

registered interest
date	15/04/2021
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) number of front-line staff and prisoners across (i) public and (ii) contracted-out custodial estates who have been eligible for a covid-19 test and (b) rate of covid-19 testing take-up among those eligible for each estate since 6 November 2020.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Ms Lyn Brown
uin	181217
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2021 answer text <p>The safety of our staff and those under our supervision remains a top priority, and testing is an important element of our overall set of measures to limit the importation of infection into and between prisons. We have therefore been working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, the NHS, and health authority colleagues in England and Wales since last summer on providing access to Covid-19 tests in both publicly and privately-run prisons.</p><p> </p><p>Over the course of the pandemic we have expanded the use of testing based on public health recommendations, and we now offer testing routinely to all staff and those prisoners who are moving into or within the prison estate. We also conduct mass testing as part of a multi-agency response to outbreaks. We are constantly seeking to harness the benefits that new testing technologies might be able to offer, as soon as they become available, to strengthen our defences against the virus further.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst testing is ultimately voluntary, we continue to strongly encourage the participation of all those who are eligible. The weekly average uptake of PCR testing in March by those eligible was:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>Staff</strong> (weekly routine testing)</p></td><td><p><strong>Prisoners</strong> (at key transition points including reception and transfer)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Private prisons</strong></p></td><td><p>46%</p></td><td><p>76%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Public prisons</strong></p></td><td><p>43%</p></td><td><p>82%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>We have been delivering this testing within a dynamic context, making use of existing resources wherever possible, and through collaboratively working with a wide range of partners including local health teams. It has therefore not been possible to determine a current costed model of operation.</p><p> </p><p>As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will continue to work closely with PHE and PHW to determine the appropriate testing regime in prisons, including any changes due to the effect of vaccination.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 181218 181219 question first answered 23/04/2021 13:48:11 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1309378

registered interest
date	15/04/2021
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the monthly cost was of covid-19 testing across (a) public and (b) contracted-out custodial estates since 6 November 2020.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Ms Lyn Brown
uin	181218
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2021 answer text <p>The safety of our staff and those under our supervision remains a top priority, and testing is an important element of our overall set of measures to limit the importation of infection into and between prisons. We have therefore been working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, the NHS, and health authority colleagues in England and Wales since last summer on providing access to Covid-19 tests in both publicly and privately-run prisons.</p><p> </p><p>Over the course of the pandemic we have expanded the use of testing based on public health recommendations, and we now offer testing routinely to all staff and those prisoners who are moving into or within the prison estate. We also conduct mass testing as part of a multi-agency response to outbreaks. We are constantly seeking to harness the benefits that new testing technologies might be able to offer, as soon as they become available, to strengthen our defences against the virus further.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst testing is ultimately voluntary, we continue to strongly encourage the participation of all those who are eligible. The weekly average uptake of PCR testing in March by those eligible was:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>Staff</strong> (weekly routine testing)</p></td><td><p><strong>Prisoners</strong> (at key transition points including reception and transfer)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Private prisons</strong></p></td><td><p>46%</p></td><td><p>76%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Public prisons</strong></p></td><td><p>43%</p></td><td><p>82%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>We have been delivering this testing within a dynamic context, making use of existing resources wherever possible, and through collaboratively working with a wide range of partners including local health teams. It has therefore not been possible to determine a current costed model of operation.</p><p> </p><p>As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will continue to work closely with PHE and PHW to determine the appropriate testing regime in prisons, including any changes due to the effect of vaccination.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 181217 181219 question first answered 23/04/2021 13:48:11 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1309379

registered interest
date	15/04/2021
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether routine covid-19 tests will be required in (a) public and (b) contracted-out custodial estates where a high proportion of staff and prisoners have been vaccinated.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Ms Lyn Brown
uin	181219
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2021 answer text <p>The safety of our staff and those under our supervision remains a top priority, and testing is an important element of our overall set of measures to limit the importation of infection into and between prisons. We have therefore been working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, the NHS, and health authority colleagues in England and Wales since last summer on providing access to Covid-19 tests in both publicly and privately-run prisons.</p><p> </p><p>Over the course of the pandemic we have expanded the use of testing based on public health recommendations, and we now offer testing routinely to all staff and those prisoners who are moving into or within the prison estate. We also conduct mass testing as part of a multi-agency response to outbreaks. We are constantly seeking to harness the benefits that new testing technologies might be able to offer, as soon as they become available, to strengthen our defences against the virus further.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst testing is ultimately voluntary, we continue to strongly encourage the participation of all those who are eligible. The weekly average uptake of PCR testing in March by those eligible was:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>Staff</strong> (weekly routine testing)</p></td><td><p><strong>Prisoners</strong> (at key transition points including reception and transfer)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Private prisons</strong></p></td><td><p>46%</p></td><td><p>76%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Public prisons</strong></p></td><td><p>43%</p></td><td><p>82%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>We have been delivering this testing within a dynamic context, making use of existing resources wherever possible, and through collaboratively working with a wide range of partners including local health teams. It has therefore not been possible to determine a current costed model of operation.</p><p> </p><p>As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will continue to work closely with PHE and PHW to determine the appropriate testing regime in prisons, including any changes due to the effect of vaccination.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 181217 181218 question first answered 23/04/2021 13:48:11 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1309475

registered interest
date	15/04/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Ministry of Justice: Business Interests
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish details of any cases in which officials in his Department receive remuneration for paid work for organisations or companies outside of government.
tabling member constituency	Tottenham
tabling member printed	Mr David Lammy
uin	181183
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2021 answer text <p>On 23 April, the Cabinet Secretary wrote to the Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the management of outside interests in the Civil Service.</p><p> </p><p>The Committee published this letter on 26 April. It can be found here: <a href="https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/5623/documents/55584/default/" target="_blank">https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/5623/documents/55584/default/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Cabinet Secretary’s letter sets out a series of steps to improve processes. This programme of work will also take account of any recommendations that emerge from Nigel Boardman’s review.</p><p> </p><p>The Civil Service Management Code sets out, at paragraph 4.3.4, the requirement that civil servants must seek permission before accepting any outside employment which might affect their work either directly or indirectly. The applicable principles are those set out in the Business Appointment Rules. The Civil Service Management Code is published here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-servants-terms-and-conditions" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-servants-terms-and-conditions</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Where the civil servant is a member of the departmental board any outside employment, as well as other relevant interests will be published as part of the Annual Report and Accounts or other transparency publication.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 29/04/2021 12:01:59 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	206 label Biography information for Mr David Lammy