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1695449

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Coventry
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 help increase access to legal aid for immigration cases in Coventry.
tabling member constituency	Coventry North West
tabling member printed	Taiwo Owatemi
uin	18304
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2024 answer text <p>The commissioning and monitoring of civil legal aid services are done by Procurement Area rather than by individual town or city, with Procurement Areas differing for different categories of law. The commissioning standard is to have at least one immigration provider per Procurement Area. Coventry falls within the Midlands and East of England Procurement Area. There are currently 45 immigration and asylum providers operating out of 55 offices within this procurement area. Information about number of legal aid offices undertaking work, broken down by region, legal aid scheme and category of law are published as part of the Legal Aid Agency (LAA)’s <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6582bea2fc07f3000d8d4556/legal-aid-statistics-tables-jul-sep-2023.ods" target="_blank">official statistics</a> [see tables 9.1-9.8].</p><p>The LAA recently tendered for new contracts that will start on 1 September 2024 and is in the process of assessing the bids. There will also be a further tender opportunity commencing on 18 March. These procurement exercises provide opportunities for new providers to obtain a contract to deliver legal aid services and existing contract holders to deliver additional services in other categories of law with a view to maximising available provision.</p><p>Across England and Wales, we have taken a number of steps to help increase access to legal aid for immigration and asylum cases. For example, we are providing up to £1.4 million of funding in 2024 for accreditation and reaccreditation of senior caseworkers to conduct immigration and asylum legal aid work.</p><p>The ongoing Review of Civil Legal Aid is considering the broader economic context of the civil legal aid market as a whole, including for immigration cases, so that it can operate sustainably in the long-term; the Green Paper consultation is expected in July 2024.</p><p>The Ministry of Justice does not have data on the number and proportion of asylum seekers that have not had access to a local immigration and asylum legal aid provider in the last 12 months. At a national level, the LAA monitors capacity across its legal aid contracts on an ongoing basis and, where demand is greater than the available supply, takes action to secure additional provision to ensure the continuity of legal aid-funded services.</p><p>The LAA regularly engages with provider representative groups, including on the provision of immigration and asylum services, via forums such as the Civil Contract Consultative Group.</p><p>The Ministry of Justice has not made an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of immigration and asylum legal aid provision on the success rate of asylum appeals in Coventry in the last 12 months. We do publish data on tribunal outcomes as a part of the published statistics – see tab FIA3 in the main tables (Tribunals statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 18305 18306 question first answered 20/03/2024 17:10:48 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4779 label Biography information for Taiwo Owatemi

1695450

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Asylum
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an estimate of the number and proportion of asylum seekers that have not had access to a local immigration and asylum legal aid provider in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Coventry North West
tabling member printed	Taiwo Owatemi
uin	18305
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2024 answer text <p>The commissioning and monitoring of civil legal aid services are done by Procurement Area rather than by individual town or city, with Procurement Areas differing for different categories of law. The commissioning standard is to have at least one immigration provider per Procurement Area. Coventry falls within the Midlands and East of England Procurement Area. There are currently 45 immigration and asylum providers operating out of 55 offices within this procurement area. Information about number of legal aid offices undertaking work, broken down by region, legal aid scheme and category of law are published as part of the Legal Aid Agency (LAA)’s <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6582bea2fc07f3000d8d4556/legal-aid-statistics-tables-jul-sep-2023.ods" target="_blank">official statistics</a> [see tables 9.1-9.8].</p><p>The LAA recently tendered for new contracts that will start on 1 September 2024 and is in the process of assessing the bids. There will also be a further tender opportunity commencing on 18 March. These procurement exercises provide opportunities for new providers to obtain a contract to deliver legal aid services and existing contract holders to deliver additional services in other categories of law with a view to maximising available provision.</p><p>Across England and Wales, we have taken a number of steps to help increase access to legal aid for immigration and asylum cases. For example, we are providing up to £1.4 million of funding in 2024 for accreditation and reaccreditation of senior caseworkers to conduct immigration and asylum legal aid work.</p><p>The ongoing Review of Civil Legal Aid is considering the broader economic context of the civil legal aid market as a whole, including for immigration cases, so that it can operate sustainably in the long-term; the Green Paper consultation is expected in July 2024.</p><p>The Ministry of Justice does not have data on the number and proportion of asylum seekers that have not had access to a local immigration and asylum legal aid provider in the last 12 months. At a national level, the LAA monitors capacity across its legal aid contracts on an ongoing basis and, where demand is greater than the available supply, takes action to secure additional provision to ensure the continuity of legal aid-funded services.</p><p>The LAA regularly engages with provider representative groups, including on the provision of immigration and asylum services, via forums such as the Civil Contract Consultative Group.</p><p>The Ministry of Justice has not made an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of immigration and asylum legal aid provision on the success rate of asylum appeals in Coventry in the last 12 months. We do publish data on tribunal outcomes as a part of the published statistics – see tab FIA3 in the main tables (Tribunals statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 18304 18306 question first answered 20/03/2024 17:10:48 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4779 label Biography information for Taiwo Owatemi

1695451

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Coventry
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of immigration and asylum legal aid provision on the success rate of asylum appeals in Coventry in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Coventry North West
tabling member printed	Taiwo Owatemi
uin	18306
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2024 answer text <p>The commissioning and monitoring of civil legal aid services are done by Procurement Area rather than by individual town or city, with Procurement Areas differing for different categories of law. The commissioning standard is to have at least one immigration provider per Procurement Area. Coventry falls within the Midlands and East of England Procurement Area. There are currently 45 immigration and asylum providers operating out of 55 offices within this procurement area. Information about number of legal aid offices undertaking work, broken down by region, legal aid scheme and category of law are published as part of the Legal Aid Agency (LAA)’s <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6582bea2fc07f3000d8d4556/legal-aid-statistics-tables-jul-sep-2023.ods" target="_blank">official statistics</a> [see tables 9.1-9.8].</p><p>The LAA recently tendered for new contracts that will start on 1 September 2024 and is in the process of assessing the bids. There will also be a further tender opportunity commencing on 18 March. These procurement exercises provide opportunities for new providers to obtain a contract to deliver legal aid services and existing contract holders to deliver additional services in other categories of law with a view to maximising available provision.</p><p>Across England and Wales, we have taken a number of steps to help increase access to legal aid for immigration and asylum cases. For example, we are providing up to £1.4 million of funding in 2024 for accreditation and reaccreditation of senior caseworkers to conduct immigration and asylum legal aid work.</p><p>The ongoing Review of Civil Legal Aid is considering the broader economic context of the civil legal aid market as a whole, including for immigration cases, so that it can operate sustainably in the long-term; the Green Paper consultation is expected in July 2024.</p><p>The Ministry of Justice does not have data on the number and proportion of asylum seekers that have not had access to a local immigration and asylum legal aid provider in the last 12 months. At a national level, the LAA monitors capacity across its legal aid contracts on an ongoing basis and, where demand is greater than the available supply, takes action to secure additional provision to ensure the continuity of legal aid-funded services.</p><p>The LAA regularly engages with provider representative groups, including on the provision of immigration and asylum services, via forums such as the Civil Contract Consultative Group.</p><p>The Ministry of Justice has not made an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of immigration and asylum legal aid provision on the success rate of asylum appeals in Coventry in the last 12 months. We do publish data on tribunal outcomes as a part of the published statistics – see tab FIA3 in the main tables (Tribunals statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 18304 18305 question first answered 20/03/2024 17:10:48 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4779 label Biography information for Taiwo Owatemi

1695498

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Wandsworth Prison
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of conditions in Wandsworth prison on the health of (a) prisoners and (b) staff.
tabling member constituency	Tooting
tabling member printed	Dr Rosena Allin-Khan
uin	18221
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>The Prison Group Director for London is taking active measures to support the health and well-being of staff and prisoners at HMP Wandsworth. He conducts regular visits to assess and monitor conditions at the prison. Accompanied by lead representatives for Health, Safety and Wellbeing at His Majesty’s Prison &amp; Probation Service, he meets regularly with the Governor to discuss any actions that need to be taken to address identified concerns.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, monthly tripartite meetings are held between Regional Estates, Finance and Health and Safety representatives, where decency is a standing agenda item. A Senior Safety Lead has recently been appointed to support local initiatives and work to improve safety outcomes for prisoners. A Task and Finish Group has recently been set up to address concerns about the physical environment of the in-patient unit at HMP Wandsworth, to improve infection prevention and control.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 18222 question first answered 18/03/2024 12:44:01 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4573 label Biography information for Dr Rosena Allin-Khan

1695499

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Wandsworth Prison: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he has taken to monitor the effects of conditions in HMP Wandsworth on the health and well-being of prisoners and staff.
tabling member constituency	Tooting
tabling member printed	Dr Rosena Allin-Khan
uin	18222
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>The Prison Group Director for London is taking active measures to support the health and well-being of staff and prisoners at HMP Wandsworth. He conducts regular visits to assess and monitor conditions at the prison. Accompanied by lead representatives for Health, Safety and Wellbeing at His Majesty’s Prison &amp; Probation Service, he meets regularly with the Governor to discuss any actions that need to be taken to address identified concerns.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, monthly tripartite meetings are held between Regional Estates, Finance and Health and Safety representatives, where decency is a standing agenda item. A Senior Safety Lead has recently been appointed to support local initiatives and work to improve safety outcomes for prisoners. A Task and Finish Group has recently been set up to address concerns about the physical environment of the in-patient unit at HMP Wandsworth, to improve infection prevention and control.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 18221 question first answered 18/03/2024 12:44:01 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4573 label Biography information for Dr Rosena Allin-Khan

1695501

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Wandsworth Prison: Death
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many deaths have been recorded at HMP Wandsworth since 30 June 2023.
tabling member constituency	Tooting
tabling member printed	Dr Rosena Allin-Khan
uin	18224
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>Deaths recorded by prison are published as part of our Safety in Custody statistics, updated quarterly, and available in the Deaths Data Tool at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/safety-in-custody-quarterly-update-to-september-2023" target="_blank">Safety in custody: quarterly update to September 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).</a></p><p>Please note that deaths at Wandsworth are currently published from 30 June 2023 – end of December 2023. Figures to the end of March 2024 are not due for publication until April 2024 and cannot be released at this time.</p><p>Deaths in prison custody figures include all deaths of prisoners arising from incidents during prison custody. They include deaths of prisoners while released on temporary license (ROTL) for medical reasons but exclude other types of ROTL where the state has less direct responsibility.</p><p>In addition to deaths in prison custody which occur in hospitals, hospices or nursing homes, a small proportion will occur while in an ambulance on the way to hospital, while the prisoner is under escort.</p><p>Every death in custody is a tragedy and we continue to do all we can to improve the safety of prisoners.</p><p>We have implemented a revised version of the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) case management approach across the prison estate. Revisions in ACCT v6 include a stronger emphasis on taking a person-centred approach; better multi-disciplinary team working; a consistent quality assurance process and an improved focus on identifying and addressing an individual’s risks, triggers and protective factors.</p><p>We are implementing a new safety training package for staff. It brings together related safety topics, including suicide and self-harm prevention and understanding risks, triggers and protective factors.</p><p>We fund Samaritans through a grant providing total funding of just under £2 million between 2022 and 2025. This is primarily for the delivery of the Listener scheme (through which selected prisoners are trained to provide support to fellow prisoners in emotional distress).</p><p>We have also worked with Samaritans to develop a postvention response to providing support in the period following a self-inflicted death in order to reduce the risk of further deaths. This has been successfully piloted and the renewed grant includes funding for this service to be maintained until March 2025.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 18/03/2024 14:57:58 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4573 label Biography information for Dr Rosena Allin-Khan

1695502

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prison Service: Productivity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department plans to take to measure productivity in the prison service.
tabling member constituency	Tooting
tabling member printed	Dr Rosena Allin-Khan
uin	18225
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>Across the Ministry of Justice, we are focused on improving productivity through streamlining and strengthening key processes and funding innovative schemes that will drive down reoffending, delivering better value for taxpayers and a more efficient justice system. The Office for National Statistics publishes estimates for productivity across the public sector, and my officials are working with them to improve the way that productivity is measured for the justice sector. HMPPS is also in the process of refreshing the staffing resource model for prisons, which will support productivity by refining how we attribute target staffing to delivery outcomes, and support prioritisation of resources at both a local and national level.</p><p> </p><p>We are also investing in digital and technological initiatives in prisons, which will increase staff productivity by reducing administrative burden on staff. This means staff time can be spent more meaningfully on core, purposeful tasks, such as running the regime, building on staff-prisoner relationships, and engaging more effectively with vulnerable prisoners.</p><p> </p><p>I welcome the Chancellor’s public sector productivity review and, as part of this, the Ministry of Justice has been working to identify new opportunities for improving productivity across HMPPS and the MoJ. As announced in the Spring Budget, the Government is investing £170m into the justice system over the next four years to improve productivity and deliver a justice system fit for the modern era. This includes a £6m investment to accelerate the development of digital services to replace legacy systems and improve productivity, and £16m to increase prison workshop activity to boost employability and focus resources on rehabilitative activities.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 18/03/2024 12:45:39 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4573 label Biography information for Dr Rosena Allin-Khan

1695547

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Offensive Weapons
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether prison canteens are permitted to sell materials that could be used to manufacture offensive weapons that could cause serious facial disfigurement.
tabling member printed	Earl Attlee
uin	HL3197
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2024 answer text <p>Many everyday necessities can be adapted and misused as weapons. Deciding which items should be made available therefore involves striking a balance between considerations of safety and decency.</p><p>Establishments select their local canteen list from items in the National Product List. They make their selection on the basis of a dynamic local risk assessment, taking into account a range of factors, notably security, safety, and prisoner needs.</p><p>The Government is committed to making prisons a safe place to work and recognises the risks associated with prisoners’ access to everyday items, including wet-shave razors. In our 2021 Prisons Strategy White Paper, we committed ourselves to trialling alternatives to wet-shave razors in prisons, to determine whether a change in approach might lead to a safer environment for both prisoners and staff. Throughout 2022 and 2023, six pilots have been carried out in the male estate and one in the female estate. Testing at all sites has now concluded and the results are being evaluated. The evaluation, which is nearing completion, will enable us to make informed recommendations on future shaving provision in prison establishments.</p> answering member printed Lord Bellamy question first answered 21/03/2024 17:37:02 answering member 4941 label Biography information for Lord Bellamy
tabling member	3425 label Biography information for Earl Attlee

1695564

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Hunting and Poaching: Prosecutions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many prosecutions for poaching in England were successful under the Game Act 1831, the Hunting Act 2004 and the Night Poaching Act 1828 in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, (4) 2022, and (5) 2023.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
uin	HL3214
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2024 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes information on prosecutions, convictions, and sentencing outcomes for poaching offences. The latest data available, until year ending June 2023, can be obtained through the Outcomes by Offence data tool in the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-june-2023" target="_blank">Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: June 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p>A further breakdown of the published data is required to extract figures specific to poaching offences under the Game Act 1831, the Hunting Act 2004, and the Night Poaching Act 1828. Prosecutions and convictions for all years requested, from January 2019 until data is available up to June 2023, has been provided in Table 1 on a principal offence basis. The full calendar year for 2023 will be available in the next update of the Outcomes by Offence tool, expected in May 2024.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bellamy question first answered 21/03/2024 17:52:39 answering member 4941 label Biography information for Lord Bellamy attachment 1 file name 2024-03-26 PQ HL3214 table.xlsx title HL3214_table
tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1695566

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Birds: Eggs
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many prosecutions for stealing protected wild birds' eggs in England were successful in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, (4) 2022, and (5) 2023.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
uin	HL3216
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2024 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice holds information on prosecutions, convictions, and sentencing outcomes for summary offences in relation to nests and eggs of birds under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (HO offence code 19002). The latest data available, until year ending June 2023, can be obtained through the Outcomes by Offence data tool in the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-june-2023" target="_blank">Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: June 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p> </p><p>A further breakdown of the published data is required to extract figures specific to stealing the eggs of protected wild birds, for the offences ‘Take eggs of Schedule 1 wild bird’ and ‘Take eggs of non-Schedule 1 wild bird’, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Between 2019 and June 2023, there was one prosecution and one conviction in 2021 on a principal offence basis, relating to the eggs of a non-schedule 1 wild bird. Figures for the rest of 2023 will be available in the next update of the Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly publication, expected in May 2024.</p> answering member printed Lord Bellamy question first answered 21/03/2024 17:52:51 answering member 4941 label Biography information for Lord Bellamy
tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans