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1190401

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Domestic Abuse
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What plans he has to ensure that courts are able to respond to increases in domestic abuse cases (a) during and (b) after the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Basingstoke
tabling member printed	Mrs Maria Miller
uin	901941
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2020 answer text <p>Domestic abuse cases are amongst the highest priority work being dealt with by the courts. Domestic Violence Protection Orders and Non-Molestation orders have been placed in the highest category of work in the magistrates’ and family courts, and they continue to be listed for urgent hearings despite the current restrictions.</p><p> </p><p>The magistrates’ courts have been focusing on cases where the defendant is being held in custody, but their work is now being extended to include bail cases where there is a vulnerable victim, such as domestic abuse cases, and these cases are being reviewed by the judiciary.</p><p> </p><p>Domestic abuse cases will continue to be afforded a higher priority as social distancing restrictions are eased after the Covid-19 outbreak.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 27/04/2020 16:49:37 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	1480 label Biography information for Dame Maria Miller

1190402

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What changes are required for the effective operation of courts and tribunals during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Mr Toby Perkins
uin	901942
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Access to justice is an essential part of our lives - and I want to pay tribute to all those involved in keeping the wheels of justice turning - the judges, HMCTS staff, and partners throughout the justice system as well as legal professionals, volunteers and others.</p><p>Our priorities are to maintain access to justice – in particular for the most urgent cases such as bail applications and urgent family hearings – and to protect the safety of all who work in the courts and tribunals. To do this, we have already made changes in 5 broad areas:</p><ul><li>Prioritising cases</li><li>Supporting our staff</li><li>Expanding use of video</li><li>Consolidating courts</li><li>Cleanliness</li></ul><p>Despite the exceptional circumstances, our justice system remained ‘open’ to deal with the most vulnerable in society. In France, for example, courts are closed for all but ‘essential litigation’ and Italy is in full lockdown until 4th May.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 28/04/2020 14:44:24 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

1190403

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps he is taking to ensure that private (a) prisons and (b) probation contractors are taking appropriate measures in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Ilford South
tabling member printed	Sam Tarry
uin	901943
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2020 answer text <p>Some contracted prisons are among our best performing establishments and I would like to thank Directors of private prisons for their resolute cooperation during this challenging time. All public and private prisons are aligned and working together during the COVID-19 pandemic, which gives testament to the good function of a mixed economy in prisons.</p><p> </p><p>As with prisons, contracted probation services are running more streamlined delivery models, aligned with the models used by public probation services during the COVID-19 crisis. And we must not forget the good work of other contracted services such as the Electronic Monitoring Service and Prisoner Escort and Custody Service.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 27/04/2020 16:52:47 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4829 label Biography information for Sam Tarry

1190404

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What assessment he has made of the level of compliance with social distancing measures by (a) criminal and (b) civil courts during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Hitchin and Harpenden
tabling member printed	Bim Afolami
uin	901945
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Levels of compliance with social distancing by criminal and civil courts are high. HMCTS are following PHE guidance to ensure that our courts and tribunals support proper social distancing measures for everyone who uses and works in them.</p><p>Working with the judiciary, we have agreed how to prioritise the most urgent cases. For example, in crime we are prioritising cases in custody, in family we are dealing with cases to protect vulnerable children such as Emergency Protection Orders, Interim Care Orders and Issue Resolution Hearings in care proceedings.</p><p>With the judiciary, we have also moved to hear many more cases remotely by telephone or video wherever possible and appropriate – so that people are able to stay at home.</p><p>Jury trials are currently paused for a short time to put appropriate arrangements in place to maintain social distancing for jurors.</p><p>I also want to thank the judiciary for their continued work in courts and tribunals to keep the wheels of justice turning and keeping the public safe during these unprecedented times.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 28/04/2020 14:35:35 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami

1190405

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps his Department is taking to protect the public in response to the temporary release of prisoners during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Ynys Môn
tabling member printed	Virginia Crosbie
uin	901948
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2020 answer text <p>On 4 April, this Government announced its intention to temporarily release risk-assessed prisoners as part of the national plan to protect the NHS and save lives.</p><p> </p><p>Public protection is our top priority. No high-risk offenders will be considered for release, nor any prisoners who have not served at least half their custodial term. Likewise, no prisoner will be released if they have symptoms of coronavirus or without housing and health support being in place.</p><p> </p><p>Prisoners who pass the stringent criteria for early release will be subject to strict conditions, and will be electronically monitored, including with GPS tags, with the option to recall to prison if necessary.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 27/04/2020 16:54:07 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4859 label Biography information for Virginia Crosbie

1190406

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps his Department is taking to protect the public in response to the temporary release of prisoners during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Redcar
tabling member printed	Jacob Young
uin	901949
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2020 answer text <p>On 4 April, this Government announced its intention to temporarily release risk-assessed prisoners as part of the national plan to protect the NHS and save lives.</p><p> </p><p>Public protection is our top priority. No high-risk offenders will be considered for release, nor any prisoners who have not served at least half their custodial term. Likewise, no prisoner will be released if they have symptoms of coronavirus or without housing and health support being in place.</p><p> </p><p>Prisoners who pass the stringent criteria for early release will be subject to strict conditions, and will be electronically monitored, including with GPS tags, with the option to recall to prison if necessary.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 27/04/2020 16:55:00 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4825 label Biography information for Jacob Young

1190407

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Probation: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What changes his Department plans to make to the operation of probation services during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Warwick and Leamington
tabling member printed	Matt Western
uin	901953
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2020 answer text <p>Probation is operating under an exceptional delivery model which prioritises public protection and offender management in the community.</p><p> </p><p>Probation officers continue supervising in person those who pose the highest risk ensuring the monitoring of high-risk offenders remains as tough as it always is.</p><p> </p><p>At the same time, we are supervising lower-risk offenders using more frequent video and telephone calls.</p><p> </p><p>We have set up Homelessness Prevention Taskforces to support offenders who are being temporarily released from prison as part of efforts to keep prisons safe during this period. These teams are working with the police to carry out the relevant risk assessments, including checks on domestic abuse and safeguarding issues.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 27/04/2020 16:55:47 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4617 label Biography information for Matt Western

1190064

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Parole: Remote Hearings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that parole board hearings can be heard by video link so that offenders in custody, of whom a probation recall report recommends release, can have their cases resolved without further delay; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Christchurch
tabling member printed	Sir Christopher Chope
uin	39471
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2020 answer text <p>The Parole Board is ensuring, where appropriate, that the conclusion of all parole cases can continue via a remote telephone or video hearing; or via an intensive paper review.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 29/04/2020 16:45:22 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

1190133

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Remote Hearings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps are being taken to initiate virtual court hearings for serious criminal cases during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Newport East
tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
uin	39516
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2020 answer text <p>We are working closely with the courts and judiciary to ensure that cases progress through the system. We introduced emergency legislation which enables courts to make greater use of audio and video hearings where appropriate. Magistrates’ court trials are now being listed wherever it is safe to do so and every effort is being made to resume Crown Court trials. Representatives from across the criminal justice system are working at pace to agree the best way of doing this safely.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 29/04/2020 12:28:47 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1190146

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Reading Prison
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what due diligence process the Department followed to assess the preferred bidder for Reading Gaol; and whether Departmental staff or contactors undertook that process.
tabling member constituency	Reading East
tabling member printed	Matt Rodda
uin	39751
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2020 answer text <p>Departmental staff and the Department’s real estate advisors were involved in the evaluation of all bids received for Reading prison. The evaluation process covered a range of factors in assessing which bid represented the best value for the Department and the taxpayer.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 29/04/2020 16:45:55 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4654 label Biography information for Matt Rodda