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1218123

registered interest
date	25/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Women's Centres
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government which Women’s Centres for women who have offended, or who are at risk of offending, are currently functioning; where those centres are located; who provides funds to those centres; and what assessment they have made of the success of such centres in preventing (1) offending, and (2) re-offending.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL6166
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises the important role played by women’s centres regarding women in contact with or at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system. These holistic services work to support women to address the often complex needs that underlie their offending behaviour.</p><p>Women’s centres are spread across England and Wales and receive funding from different sources. Following the publication of the Female Offender Strategy, the Government invested £5.1 million over two years in women’s community sector organisations, including women’s centres. Thirty different organisations across England and Wales received funding, which included the creation of six new women’s centres. On 5 May, the Government announced further funding of £2.5 million for the sector.</p><p>However, the detailed information requested about the number of women’s centres that are currently functioning and how they are funded is not held or collected centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 09/07/2020 16:31:46 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1203490

registered interest
date	15/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Recycling Lives
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the work of Recycling Lives, in particular in regard to the steps it has taken in relation to (1) training and employment for ex-offenders, and (2) food poverty; and what plans they have to extend such schemes to more prisons.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL5678
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2020 answer text <p>The New Futures Network, which brokers partnerships between prisons and employers, supports Recycling Lives to build partnerships with prisons, with the objective of securing work opportunities for individuals serving sentences in custody and those leaving prison. Sustainable employment and suitable educational opportunities are key factors to reducing reoffending and in turning offenders’ lives around.</p><p>The potential for any extension of such schemes will be dependent on a positive assessment of their practicality and contractual feasibility.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 29/06/2020 16:03:25 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1199228

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reintroduce legal aid for refugee family reunion cases.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL4994
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>Legal aid for refugee family reunion may be available under the Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) scheme, where failure to provide legal aid would mean there is a breach or a risk of breach of the individual’s human rights, and subject to means and merits tests.</p><p>Last year we amended the scope of legal aid so that separated migrant children are able to receive civil legal aid for applications by their family members and extended family members. This includes entry clearance, leave to enter, or leave to remain in the UK, made under the immigration rules or outside the rules on the basis of exceptional circumstances or compassionate and compelling circumstances.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 16/06/2020 16:46:18 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1199326

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners' Release: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to release all (1) remand prisoners, and (2) prisoners over the age of 70, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL4997
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>This Government is not going to release all remand prisoners or all prisoners over the age of 70, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.</p><p>On 4 April, this Government announced the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme (ECTR). This scheme enables risk-assessed prisoners, who are within two months of their release date, to be temporarily released from custody, as part of the national approach to managing public services during this challenging period. No high-risk offenders, including those convicted of violent or sexual offences, anyone of national security concern or a danger to children, will be considered for release, nor any prisoners who have not served at least half their custodial term. This scheme only applies to prisoners serving standard determinate sentences with an automatic release point and those committed to custody for fine default or contempt, which also excludes remand prisoners. However, good progress has been made in reducing the number on remand and we are grateful to the Judiciary in their assistance in prioritising these cases.</p><p>For those who remain in custody, including prisoners over the age of 70, further operational guidance has been issued across the prison estate updating national policies on regime management following the Government steer on social distancing, shielding and household isolation. We have introduced cohorting arrangements in prisons endorsed by Public Health England to create safe environments for social distancing and household isolation. This involves isolating those with symptoms, shielding those most at vulnerable and quarantining new admissions in isolation from the rest of the prison for 14 days in Reverse Cohort Units to reduce the risk of infection.</p><p>In addition, pregnant women, prisoners living in Mother and Baby Units and those identified as ‘extremely vulnerable’ as defined in the NHS guidelines will merit consideration for release on temporary licence on compassionate grounds during the Covid-19 pandemic.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 16/06/2020 15:07:33 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1199327

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners' Transfers
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners were transferred to (1) psychiatric hospitals, (2) psychiatric wings of prisons, and (3) other hospitals, in each of the last 12 months.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL4998
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>From the data held centrally, we are unable to differentiate between transfers to (1) psychiatric and (3) other hospitals. Further, for (2) prisons do not have psychiatric wings, and data on occupancy of dedicated residential healthcare facilities in prisons are not collected centrally.</p><p> </p><p>We can provide the total number of prisoners who have been transferred to hospital under sections 47 (sentenced prisoners) or 48 (remand prisoners/immigration detainees) of the Mental Health Act 1983 in the last 12 months and this is set out below:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-2019</p></td><td><p>94</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-2019</p></td><td><p>81</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-2019</p></td><td><p>74</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-2019</p></td><td><p>72</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-2019</p></td><td><p>91</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-2019</p></td><td><p>73</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-2019</p></td><td><p>72</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-2020</p></td><td><p>66</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-2020</p></td><td><p>83</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-2020</p></td><td><p>79</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-2020</p></td><td><p>71</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-2020</p></td><td><p>75</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.</p><p>Information is collected on the number of transfers, not the number of individual prisoners who are transferred. An individual prisoner may be transferred more than once in any given time period.</p><p>We take the mental health of prisoners extremely seriously, which is why we have increased the support available to vulnerable offenders - especially during the first 24 hours in custody - and invested more in mental health awareness training for prison officers.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 16/06/2020 15:48:53 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1195332

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners: Health
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to safeguard the physical and mental health of prisoners, in particular those subject to (1) long periods of being locked in cells, (2) the suspension of all visits, and (3) overcrowded cells.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL4335
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government takes the health and wellbeing of prisoners very seriously. We work closely with health partners to provide a standard of healthcare in prisons equivalent to that available in the community. COVID-19, however, presents a unique set of challenges that we must address to keep prisoners safe. To mitigate these, we are operating a National Response Model in prisons, and working very closely with public health authorities to ensure our approach is based on the best scientific advice available.</p><p>This does, unfortunately, mean that visits have been suspended and people in prison are spending more time in their cells. They are, however, being given access to services including telephone contact with loved ones, access to health services and where possible time in the open air. Additionally, following a successful trial at HMP Berwyn, we are rolling out secure video calling to 10 prisons with a wider roll out in the coming weeks. We continue to make the Samaritans phone service available, and are working with the Samaritans to ensure that the Listener peer support scheme continues to function effectively. We are also providing distraction packs and in cell activities to support mental and physical wellbeing.</p><p>We are continuing to provide care and support to people at risk of self-harm or suicide through ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork) case management. For those with severe mental health issues, we are doing everything we can to ensure that the process for transfer to hospital continues in as normal a way as possible.</p><p>Measures are also being taken to safeguard prisoners with particularly vulnerable physical health from COVID-19 and to satisfy requirements for social distancing. Since February, we have managed to move 4,000 people out of double cells, and work is being taken forward to create extra cells and increase the capacity of the prison estate. Meanwhile, prisoners identified in accordance with NHS guidance as being ‘extremely vulnerable’ to COVID-19 are being proactively considered for release from custody under existing Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) provisions. Where a prisoner falling within this category is considered not suitable for release, they will continue to be appropriately shielded within custody.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 27/05/2020 15:21:16 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1195333

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Young Offenders: Health and Rehabilitation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to safeguard the well-being and rehabilitation of young offenders in custody
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL4336
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/05/2020 answer text <p>The safety and wellbeing of the children and young people in custody remains our priority during this unprecedented period. The Youth Custody Service (YCS) has been adapting its approach to delivery in order to meet the needs of children whilst complying with wider guidance around physical distancing. There is a focus on delivering essential activities and ensuring that children remain engaged and stimulated. This includes regular phone calls (additional phone credit has been allocated), access to showers and education materials and time in the fresh air. Establishments are working to create activities that children can undertake in small groups or in their rooms, including workouts and greater access to television, entertainment and in room activity material.</p><p>‘Secure Stairs’ is the framework for integrated care jointly led by NHS England, NHS Improvement and the YCS, which provides the foundations as to how youth secure establishments work with children. An enhanced ‘Secure Stairs’ team has come together to support staff and children, focusing on an approach that encourages interaction and protects the physical and mental health of young people whilst ensuring compliance with physical distancing requirements.</p><p>HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) recently published a report following short scrutiny visits to Cookham Wood, Parc and Wetherby Young Offender Institutions on 21 April. The report was acknowledged by HMIP as being generally positive, referencing the ‘swift actions taken to keep children safe, as well as the creativity of staff and managers in providing opportunities for children to receive meaningful interaction’. They also noted that all the sites were calm and well ordered, with self-harm reduced at Parc and Wetherby and stable at Cookham Wood.</p><p>Separately, the YCS conducted the internal review of safeguarding across youth custody, ‘Youth Custody Service Safeguarding Review’ which was published on Gov.uk last October. The recommendations of this report are being considered and taken forward by the newly-created ‘YCS National Head of Safeguarding’ to further enhance safeguarding of children within secure settings.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 27/05/2020 14:21:30 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1193926

registered interest
date	06/05/2020
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bethell on 4 May (HL3394), whether any prisoners have yet been tested for COVID-19; when they expect testing will begin in a systematic way; what plans they have to prioritise the most overcrowded prisons; and how many COVID-19 (1) cases, and (2) deaths, have been reported among (1) prison staff, and (2) prisoners.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL4118
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2020 answer text <p>COVID-19 testing is ongoing in prisons and is being conducted by internal or external healthcare practitioners on some symptomatic prisoners on site. The testing capacity is dependent on local commissioning services, therefore the numbers of those tested varies by establishment. However, prisoners that require hospital care are being transferred to hospital and may also be tested there. We are working with the Department of Health and Social Care to consider next steps for testing in prisons.</p><p>As of 17:00 on Sunday 17 May, 411 prisoners and 540 prison staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. This is an accumulative total and does not represent the number of live cases. Some of those that previously tested positive will have now made a full recovery.</p><p>Sadly, as of Friday 15 May, 21 prisoners and 8 members of prison staff have died. These figures represent cases where it was known that the individual had tested positive for the virus. It is a matter for coroners to determine a cause of death.</p><p>HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is containing the spread of COVID-19 within jails using an approach known as ‘compartmentalisation’. Through this approach, staff have isolated those with symptoms, and many prisons have been able to shield the vulnerable and quarantine new arrivals. Modelling by HMPPS and Public Health England indicates that jails are successfully limiting deaths and the transmission of the virus within the estate.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 21/05/2020 16:16:21 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1193927

registered interest
date	06/05/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prison Visitors
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they estimate they will permit family visits to prisoners to resume.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL4119
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2020 answer text <p>As of 24 March, social visits in prisons in England and Wales are temporarily suspended to enable us to ensure the safe and secure functioning of our prisons, while enforcing social distancing. These measures are part of the nationwide efforts to fight coronavirus and we will review the restrictions in line with updates to public health advice.</p><p>In recognition of the importance of continued contact with family and to ensure stability in our jails, the Government has moved quickly to keep prisoners in touch with their family members. This includes the provision of 900 locked mobile phones to establishments that do not yet have in-cell telephony.</p><p>Additionally, on 15 May, the Government announced that secure video calls will be introduced to prisons and young offender institutions (YOIs) across England and Wales to maintain vital family contact for prisoners and young offenders during the coronavirus pandemic.</p><p>Following a successful trial at HMP Berwyn, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is installing the technology at 10 institutions with a wider rollout in the coming weeks.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 21/05/2020 14:26:01 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1189882

registered interest
date	23/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners' Release: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners they have so far released, temporarily or permanently, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; how many were pregnant women; and what is their response to the Prison Governors Association’s call for the release of 15,000 prisoners.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL3393
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>On 31 March, we announced that pregnant women and prisoners with their babies in custody will be considered for Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) on compassionate grounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Friday 1 May, 21 pregnant women and mothers with babies in custody have been released.</p><p> </p><p>On 4 April, we announced the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme. This scheme enables risk-assessed prisoners, who are within two months of their release date, to be temporarily released from custody, as part of the national approach to managing public services during this challenging period. As of Friday 1 May, 30 offenders have been released under this scheme.</p><p> </p><p>Policy and guidance for both the End of Custody Temporary Release and COVID-19: Use of Compassionate ROTL can be found on gov.uk and is attached with this answer.</p><p><br> HMPPS took decisive action in March to restrict regimes and minimise movements between jails to save lives. Strong further measures were introduced to ease pressure on prisons with the early release of <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/measures-announced-to-protect-nhs-from-coronavirus-risk-in-prisons" target="_blank">low-risk offenders</a>, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prison-estate-expanded-to-protect-nhs-from-coronavirus-risk" target="_blank">temporary expansion of the estate</a>, and work to reduce the number of those held on remand.</p><p>Latest modelling informed by new Public Health England advice shows that creating headroom of c. 5,000 could be effective in limiting the spread of the virus. The population has already reduced by almost 3,000 over a seven-week period. Combining a reduction in the prison population, creating additional headroom in the estate, and managing prisoners through ‘compartmentalisation’, HMPPS can continue to protect life.</p><p>The modelling can be found on gov.uk and is also attached with this answer.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie attachment 1 file name covid-19-population-management-strategy-prisons.pdf title covid-19-population-management-strategy-prisons 2 file name covid19-use-compassionate-rotl.pdf title covid19-use-compassionate-rotl grouped question UIN HL3396 question first answered 11/05/2020 11:08:17 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton