This Government will always ensure that we have enough prison places for those sent to us by the courts and we continue to modernise the prison estate so that it delivers best value for the taxpayer.<\/p>
<\/p>
We have a long term strategy for managing the prison estate which will provide more adult male prison capacity than we inherited from the previous Government. We also have a range of contingencies available to manage temporary or unexpected increases in the population.<\/p>
<\/p>
Four new house-blocks (which will be completed by May 2015) consisting of a total of 1,250 new places are being delivered at HMPs Thameside, The Mount, Parc and Peterborough. These places will open when they are required.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are also delivering around 500 places by April 2015 through small scale investments at the following prisons:<\/p>
Cardiff<\/p>
Chelmsford<\/p>
Deerbolt<\/p>
Hatfield<\/p>
Hewell<\/p>
Hollesley Bay<\/p>
Humber<\/p>
Kirkham<\/p>
Lancaster Farms<\/p>
Littlehey<\/p>
The Mount<\/p>
Norwich<\/p>
Standford Hill<\/p>
Stoke Heath<\/p>
Swansea<\/p>
Thorn Cross<\/p>
Wandsworth<\/p>
Warren Hill<\/p>
Wymott<\/p>
<\/p>
We are also constructing a new, modern 2,106 place prison for North Wales in Wrexham, to be opened in 2017.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1453", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Selous"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Bedfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Selous"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-15T13:50:06.623Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prison Accommodation"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what new additional capacity in the adult prison estate is (a) planned or (b) under construction; which prisons are so affected; how many additional units are being created through such work; and when each additional space will come on stream.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1577", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sadiq Khan"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tooting"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sadiq Khan"} ], "uin" : "220452"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172819", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172819/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The 24 month time period was set out in the Civil Legal Aid (Procedure) Regulations 2013 which came into force on 1 April 2013.<\/p>
<\/p>
This Government is absolutely clear that victims of domestic violence should receive legal aid where it is needed to help break free from abusive relationships. Since the reforms were introduced last year thousands of people have successfully applied for legal aid where domestic violence is involved.<\/p>
<\/p>
The 24 month time limit for evidence does not exclude victims where the abuse occurred over two years ago. The time limit relates to the date the evidence was obtained, not the date of the abuse itself. Some forms of evidence can be obtained several months or even years after the abuse has been experienced.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1496", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Shailesh Vara"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Cambridgeshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Shailesh Vara"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-13T14:15:38.307Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Domestic Abuse"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on what date the Legal Aid Agency introduced a prescribed time period of 24 months for evidence relating to domestic violence cases.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1577", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sadiq Khan"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tooting"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sadiq Khan"} ], "uin" : "220160"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172004", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172004/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Just Solutions International is not a trading body but is part of the National Offender Management Service. It does not therefore make separate profits or losses.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1453", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Selous"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Bedfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Selous"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-08T12:23:38.507Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Just Solutions International"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what Just Solutions International's operating profit or loss has been in each of the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1577", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sadiq Khan"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tooting"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sadiq Khan"} ], "uin" : "219755"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/171660", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/171660/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
By virtue of Section 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (the 1983 Act), the Secretary of State for Justice may, by warrant, direct that a sentenced prisoner be removed and detained in a secure hospital provided that he is satisfied by reports from at least two registered medical practitioners that:<\/p>
· the person is suffering from mental disorder; and<\/p>
· the mental disorder is of a nature or degree which makes it appropriate for him to be detained in hospital for medical treatment; and<\/p>
· appropriate treatment is available for him.<\/p>
The number of prisoners serving custodial sentences who have been admitted to hospital after the issue of a transfer direction under the 1983 Act in each year since 2010 is set out in the table below. Such transfers directions are valid for 14 days. The figures for total admissions include sentenced prisoners admitted to hospital more than once in a given year.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Table One<\/p>
Year Total Admissions<\/p>
2010 446<\/p>
2011 442<\/p>
2012 462<\/p>
2013 457<\/p>
<\/p>
Once a transfer direction has been issued, it is the Secretary of State\u2019s expectation that the prisoner is always transferred to hospital within 14 days.<\/p>
<\/p>
However, there may be exceptional circumstances in which the transfer does not take place or is delayed. Such circumstances may include:-<\/p>
<\/p>
· the proposed hospital bed placement becomes unexpectedly unavailable and the transfer direction expires after 14 days (in which case the Secretary of State will issue a new direction once a new bed placement has been confirmed);<\/p>
· other court proceedings may intervene, with a new court order superseding the transfer direction<\/p>
<\/p>
The number of transfer directions issued under section 47 the Act in respect of prisoners serving custodial sentences in each year since 2010 is set out in the table below.<\/p>
<\/p>
Table Two<\/p>
Year Total of Directions Issued<\/p>
2010 451<\/p>
2011 444<\/p>
2012 458<\/p>
2013 463<\/p>
<\/p>
It should also be noted that as the direction is valid for 14 days, it may be issued in late December one calendar year with the actual admission to hospital not taking place until early January the next calendar year.<\/p>
<\/p>
For the reasons set out above, the number of transfer directions issued in each year will not match exactly the number of hospital admissions in that year. However, the difference between the figures for any given year is small.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Notes<\/p>
1. Table One - These figures include those admitted more than once in the year<\/p>