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1005865

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prison Officers: Recruitment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many new Officer Certificates under Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 have been issued by his Department in each month since January 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	190560
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>With regards to when the Ministry of Justice stopped holding data on the number of certified staff and the reasons for doing so, it may help if I explain that the MoJ has never collected this information. Whilst Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 confirms that a Prison Custody Officer (PCO) is approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of performing escort and custodial duties, it does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish the information requested.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State approves PCOs for the purpose of performing escort functions or custodial duties or both and PCO’s are accordingly authorised to perform them. However, there is not a process in place whereby the Secretary of State formally issues certificates to new PCOs, and as mentioned previously, Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish such information.</p><p> </p><p>All staffing matters, including the responsibility for ensuring the availability of sufficiently trained and experienced staff to maintain safe and decent prisons, lies with contractors. There is no requirement in the contracts to agree staffing levels with the Ministry of Justice. Therefore, all staff working in privately managed prisons are fully certified and, as such, the figures we hold, and have provided on several occasions, include the funded posts for fully certified staff.</p><p>As you know, each privately managed prison has a full-time on-site Controller employed by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The Controller has regular review meetings with the contractor against a range of performance indicators that will reflect numbers of staff in post, recruitment, training, sickness, and attrition. Any concerns in relation to these performance indicators are discussed at these meetings. Where action is needed, progress is monitored by the Controller and escalated within HMPPS where appropriate action can be taken in accordance with the contract. This may include a requirement for urgent improvement and/or financial deductions.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart grouped question UIN 190556 190557 190561 190939 question first answered 21/11/2018 17:05:17 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart previous answer version 86233 answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1005866

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prison Officers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many officer certificates under Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 have been withdrawn by his Department in each month since January 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	190561
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>With regards to when the Ministry of Justice stopped holding data on the number of certified staff and the reasons for doing so, it may help if I explain that the MoJ has never collected this information. Whilst Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 confirms that a Prison Custody Officer (PCO) is approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of performing escort and custodial duties, it does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish the information requested.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State approves PCOs for the purpose of performing escort functions or custodial duties or both and PCO’s are accordingly authorised to perform them. However, there is not a process in place whereby the Secretary of State formally issues certificates to new PCOs, and as mentioned previously, Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish such information.</p><p> </p><p>All staffing matters, including the responsibility for ensuring the availability of sufficiently trained and experienced staff to maintain safe and decent prisons, lies with contractors. There is no requirement in the contracts to agree staffing levels with the Ministry of Justice. Therefore, all staff working in privately managed prisons are fully certified and, as such, the figures we hold, and have provided on several occasions, include the funded posts for fully certified staff.</p><p>As you know, each privately managed prison has a full-time on-site Controller employed by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The Controller has regular review meetings with the contractor against a range of performance indicators that will reflect numbers of staff in post, recruitment, training, sickness, and attrition. Any concerns in relation to these performance indicators are discussed at these meetings. Where action is needed, progress is monitored by the Controller and escalated within HMPPS where appropriate action can be taken in accordance with the contract. This may include a requirement for urgent improvement and/or financial deductions.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart grouped question UIN 190556 190557 190560 190939 question first answered 21/11/2018 17:05:18 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart previous answer version 86234 answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1006015

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Private Sector
	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 18 September 2018 to Question 172523 on Prisons: Private Sector, what information his Department holds on individual prison custody officers approved under Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	190939
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>With regards to when the Ministry of Justice stopped holding data on the number of certified staff and the reasons for doing so, it may help if I explain that the MoJ has never collected this information. Whilst Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 confirms that a Prison Custody Officer (PCO) is approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of performing escort and custodial duties, it does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish the information requested.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State approves PCOs for the purpose of performing escort functions or custodial duties or both and PCO’s are accordingly authorised to perform them. However, there is not a process in place whereby the Secretary of State formally issues certificates to new PCOs, and as mentioned previously, Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish such information.</p><p> </p><p>All staffing matters, including the responsibility for ensuring the availability of sufficiently trained and experienced staff to maintain safe and decent prisons, lies with contractors. There is no requirement in the contracts to agree staffing levels with the Ministry of Justice. Therefore, all staff working in privately managed prisons are fully certified and, as such, the figures we hold, and have provided on several occasions, include the funded posts for fully certified staff.</p><p>As you know, each privately managed prison has a full-time on-site Controller employed by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The Controller has regular review meetings with the contractor against a range of performance indicators that will reflect numbers of staff in post, recruitment, training, sickness, and attrition. Any concerns in relation to these performance indicators are discussed at these meetings. Where action is needed, progress is monitored by the Controller and escalated within HMPPS where appropriate action can be taken in accordance with the contract. This may include a requirement for urgent improvement and/or financial deductions.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart grouped question UIN 190556 190557 190560 190561 question first answered 21/11/2018 17:05:18 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1019486

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Parole
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions parole was (a) granted and (b) refused after the submission of a defence psychology report in 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	198348
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The information is not held centrally and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><p>We are carrying out a full review of the Parole Board Rules, which will build on the work we have already done to increase transparency and ensure victims are better supported.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 10/12/2018 15:56:51 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1019487

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Parole
	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 potential merits of enabling victims to challenge Parole Board decisions to recommend a prisoner's (a) release and (b) transfer to an open prison.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	198349
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>In April this year, the Secretary of State announced a public consultation on the possible reconsideration of parole decisions. The consultation closed on 28 July and we have considered the responses, including the issue of which types of parole decisions should be in scope for any reconsideration mechanism. We will publish the Government’s response in due course alongside the review of the Parole Board Rules which the Secretary of State committed to undertake this year.</p><p> </p><p>I have enormous sympathy for victims of crime, especially where they have been subject to the types of serious offending that often feature in parole cases. I agree that victims need a way to challenge parole decisions which they believe may be flawed without having to take the onerous step of seeking a judicial review. That is why the Government has proposed the creation of a reconsideration mechanism. We must ensure that any approach is fair and proportionate, and avoids creating unnecessary delays and uncertainty for both prisoners and victims.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 10/12/2018 15:56:20 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1019489

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Reoffenders
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Serious Further Offence investigations in which the supervising body was (a) the National Probation Service and (b) a Community Rehabilitation Company there were in each of the last four years.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	198351
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>A Serious Further Offence (SFO) review is undertaken where an offender under statutory supervision in the community is charged with a qualifying offence – a “notification”. Not every offender charged with an SFO will eventually be convicted of an SFO.</p><p> </p><p>Serious further offences are rare. Fewer than 0.5% of offenders under statutory supervision are convicted of serious further offences. Nonetheless, every single serious further offence is taken extremely seriously, and in all cases a review is carried out to identify any lessons for the better management of future cases.</p><p> </p><p>The table below provides the number of serious further offences (SFOs) investigations (reviews) in which the supervising body was (a) the National Probation Service (NPS) and (b) a Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) completed between April 2015 and November 2018</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>2015-2016</p></td><td><p>2016-2017</p></td><td><p>2017-2018</p></td><td><p>2018-2019 (YTD)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>NPS</p></td><td><p>285</p></td><td><p>281</p></td><td><p>358</p></td><td><p>184</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>CRCs</p></td><td><p>222</p></td><td><p>234</p></td><td><p>269</p></td><td><p>129</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p><strong>507</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>515 </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>627 </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>313 </strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>1. The numbers for 2016-2017 differ slightly from those published in PQ 2737. Since we produced the data for that PQ, there have been updates recorded on the database e.g. as a result of quality assurance which can result in clarification that the case did not meet the SFO criteria or revision and resubmission of reviews on a different date.</p><p>2. We are unable to provide data for 2014-15 in this format as the data includes reviews completed by the former Probation Trusts.</p><p> </p><p>The findings of SFO reviews are made available to victims or the families of victims following conviction for the most serious offences</p><p> </p><p>SFO reviews completed on cases notified on or after 1 April 2018 are shared in full including conclusions and recommendations, with a) the victim and b) the families of a victim of homicide. Minor redactions may be required - for example, to protect third party data.</p><p> </p><p>Conclusions and recommendations from SFO reviews notified prior to 1 April 2018 are shared in a Victim Summary Report (VSR) which reflects the findings of the full review.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart grouped question UIN 198352 question first answered 11/12/2018 16:44:59 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1019490

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Reoffenders: Homicide
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the (a) conclusions and (b) recommendations from Serious Further Offence investigations are made available to (a) the victim and (b) families of a victim of homicide.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	198352
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>A Serious Further Offence (SFO) review is undertaken where an offender under statutory supervision in the community is charged with a qualifying offence – a “notification”. Not every offender charged with an SFO will eventually be convicted of an SFO.</p><p> </p><p>Serious further offences are rare. Fewer than 0.5% of offenders under statutory supervision are convicted of serious further offences. Nonetheless, every single serious further offence is taken extremely seriously, and in all cases a review is carried out to identify any lessons for the better management of future cases.</p><p> </p><p>The table below provides the number of serious further offences (SFOs) investigations (reviews) in which the supervising body was (a) the National Probation Service (NPS) and (b) a Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) completed between April 2015 and November 2018</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>2015-2016</p></td><td><p>2016-2017</p></td><td><p>2017-2018</p></td><td><p>2018-2019 (YTD)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>NPS</p></td><td><p>285</p></td><td><p>281</p></td><td><p>358</p></td><td><p>184</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>CRCs</p></td><td><p>222</p></td><td><p>234</p></td><td><p>269</p></td><td><p>129</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p><strong>507</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>515 </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>627 </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>313 </strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>1. The numbers for 2016-2017 differ slightly from those published in PQ 2737. Since we produced the data for that PQ, there have been updates recorded on the database e.g. as a result of quality assurance which can result in clarification that the case did not meet the SFO criteria or revision and resubmission of reviews on a different date.</p><p>2. We are unable to provide data for 2014-15 in this format as the data includes reviews completed by the former Probation Trusts.</p><p> </p><p>The findings of SFO reviews are made available to victims or the families of victims following conviction for the most serious offences</p><p> </p><p>SFO reviews completed on cases notified on or after 1 April 2018 are shared in full including conclusions and recommendations, with a) the victim and b) the families of a victim of homicide. Minor redactions may be required - for example, to protect third party data.</p><p> </p><p>Conclusions and recommendations from SFO reviews notified prior to 1 April 2018 are shared in a Victim Summary Report (VSR) which reflects the findings of the full review.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart grouped question UIN 198351 question first answered 11/12/2018 16:44:59 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1020624

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Private Sector
	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 prison officers working in each prison were employed by the private sector in each of the last eight years.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	199897
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>HM Prison and Probation workforce statistics (which contains staffing figures in public sector prisons but not in privately managed prisons) are published quarterly. The latest publication can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hm-prison-and-probation-service-workforce-quarterly-september-2018</p><p> </p><p>I have attached tables showing the number of funded posts at each privately managed prison and the number of Prison Officers present in Public Sector Prisons. It should be noted that as with all HR databases, extracts are taken at a fixed point in time to ensure consistency of reporting. However, the database itself is dynamic and where updates to the database are made late, subsequent to the taking of the extract, these updates will not be reflected in figures produced by the extract. For this reason, HR data are unlikely to be precisely accurate.</p><p> </p><p>Prison officer numbers are at their highest in five years, which is vital to ensuring prisons are safe, secure and decent. We now have over 4,300 additional staff in post compared to October 2016. The recruitment drive will continue until we reach required levels across the prison estate, ensuring prisons can fulfil their purpose - protecting the public, reducing reoffending and crucially, rehabilitating offenders.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 11/12/2018 12:05:04 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart attachment 1 file name PQ 199897 Prison Officers.xlsx title Table
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1020625

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Crimes of Violence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the different categories of assaults that occur in prisons.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	199898
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>We publish extensive data about assaults. The most recent can be seen in <em>Assaults in prison custody 2000 to 2017</em>, at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/safety-in-custody-quarterly-update-to-june-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/safety-in-custody-quarterly-update-to-june-2018</a>.</p><p>That spreadsheet includes breakdowns by seriousness, assailant/victim type, weapons used and injuries sustained, as well as various demographic and offence and sentence-related factors. It also provides figures for each prison.</p><p> </p><p>In order to improve safety, we have recruited 4,300 new prison officers over the last two years, with 1,400 more due to begin training soon. We are investing an extra £70 million to improve safety, security and decency, and we are equipping officers with PAVA incapacitant spray to help prevent serious harm to staff and prisoners when dealing with violent incidents. We are also tackling the drugs that we know are fuelling much of the violence in custody. This includes spending on new x-ray scanners, drug-detection dogs, phone-blocking technology and dedicated search teams.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Government supported the recent Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act, which increases sentences for those who attack emergency workers, including prison officers.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 11/12/2018 13:39:27 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1020626

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Crimes of Violence
	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 21 November 2018 to Question 186964 on Prisons: Crimes of Violence and Self-harm, how many incidents of violence per 100 prisoners there were in each prison in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	199899
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>Figures for the rates of all violent incidents can be obtained by adding the figures given in the Answer to Question 186964 for rates of assaults on staff to those for rates of assaults on prisoners. In a limited number of cases an incident will have involved assault on both a member of staff and a prisoner, so those totals may slightly exceed the totals that would be produced by using the published numbers of assaults for the years in question.</p><p> </p><p>In order to improve safety, we have recruited 4,300 new prison officers over the last two years, with 1,400 more due to begin training soon. We are investing an extra £70 million to improve safety, security and decency, and we are equipping officers with PAVA incapacitant spray to help prevent serious harm to staff and prisoners when dealing with violent incidents. We are also tackling the drugs that we know are fuelling much of the violence in custody. This includes spending on new x-ray scanners, drug-detection dogs, phone-blocking technology and dedicated search teams.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Government supported the recent Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act, which increases sentences for those who attack emergency workers, including prison officers.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 11/12/2018 16:46:14 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts