The Government is committed to the protection of the public and the effective management of offenders. Prisoners serving indeterminate sentences, both those serving life and Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP), who have completed their tariff will be released only when the Parole Board concludes that it is no longer necessary on the grounds of public protection for them to remain confined. Where the Parole Board decide not to release the prisoner, the prisoner\u2019s suitability for release must be considered at least every two years thereafter.<\/p>
In line with the Justice Select Committee\u2019s report into the continued existence of the IPP sentence, the Government committed to update and refresh the HM Prison and Probation Service\u2019s IPP Action Plan, to which may be attributed the very significant numbers of IPP prisoners released for the first time in each year since 2016. The Action Plan already mandates a formal case review led by HMPPS Psychology Services for every IPP prisoner who has spent five years in prison following tariff expiry and has never been released.<\/p>
The Action Plan remains the embodiment of the Government\u2019s aim to reduce the total IPP prisoner population \u2013 that is the combined figure of those who have never been released and those returned to prison following recall. Specifically, by way of response to the Committee\u2019s assertion that offenders serving an IPP sentence on licence in the community are being recalled unnecessarily, the Government has requested that the Chief Inspector of Probation carry out an independent thematic inspection on the proportionality of recall decisions made. In cases where \u2018other\u2019 is listed as a reason for recall, there is always at least one additional, specific reason as recorded in the published recall statistics.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4941", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bellamy"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bellamy"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL5679"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-03-06T12:39:49.593Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-02-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prison Sentences"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to reduce the number of persons imprisoned for reasons of public protection; if so, how they will achieve this; and whether they will require that reasons for recalls to prison need additional detail rather than being classified as \u201cother\u201d.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL5681"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1416643", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1416643/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government recognises that the pressure households are facing on their finances is being felt across the whole of the UK.<\/p>
<\/p>
The government is providing support worth around £12 billion this financial year and next to help families with the cost of living. Much of the support in place that will help ease these pressures is UK-wide, for example the increase to the National Living Wage, the change to the Universal Credit taper rate and increase to the Work Allowance, as well as freezes to alcohol duty and fuel duty.<\/p>
<\/p>
Many powers relevant to addressing the increases in the cost of living are devolved; the devolved administrations receive funding and have revenue raising powers and make their own spending decisions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4726", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Penn"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Penn"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-02-03T12:10:34.017Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-01-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cost of Living: Scotland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the comparative cost of living between Scotland and England.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4130", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick"} ], "uin" : "HL5681"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1203546", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1203546/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK remains concerned about the violent conflict in Libya, the impact this has on the humanitarian situation and implications for COVID-19 response. The UK is supporting the COVID-response in Libya, including through support for online information dissemination; supporting Social Peace Partnerships in over 12 municipalities to deliver awareness-raising campaigns, mobilise production of face masks and personal protective equipment (PPE), and delivery of food to vulnerable families; and supporting reporting and analysis on the COVID-19 situation.<\/p>
We continue to work closely with WHO and the humanitarian community in Libya to ensure that international funding and expertise are effectively deployed during the COVID-19 outbreak.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-06-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-06-29T16:22:59.253Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-06-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Libya: Coronavirus"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken in response to the appeal by the Libyan National Centre for Disease Control for ventilators and other medical supplies to counter COVID-19.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL5681"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/845481", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/845481/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
While we have not made an assessment of this issue, the UK strongly condemns all forms of violence, including any incidence of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians. We also deplore incitement and comments that could stir up hatred and prejudice. We welcome the efforts of Israeli authorities to tackle settler violence, and urge them to thoroughly investigate every instance, and bring those responsible to justice. We have also stressed the importance of the Israel security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population. We have a regular dialogue with both the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel in which we reiterate the need for both sides to prepare their populations for peaceful coexistence, including by promoting a more positive portrayal of each other.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-06T15:51:07.13Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-02-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Israel: Palestinians"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Yesh Din's December 2017 annual data sheet on law enforcement on Israeli civilians suspected of ideologically motivated crime against Palestinians in the West Bank, particularly with regard to the finding that only three per cent of investigations of such crimes have resulted in a conviction.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/200", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Tonge"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Tonge"} ], "uin" : "HL5681"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/705851", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/705851/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
There has been a decline in the number of European Union nurses (excluding the United Kingdom) joining the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register since July 2016 but the Department does not believe that it is currently possible to attribute this solely to the UK\u2019s decision to exit the EU, other factors such as increased language testing introduced in July 2016 may play a significant part.<\/p>
However, there has not been a decrease in the number of EU nurses (excluding the UK) working in the National Health Service since the referendum vote in June 2016.<\/p>
The latest published figures from NHS Digital suggest that the total number of EU nurses including health visitors employed within NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups who declared their nationality as other EU nationals, excluding the UK, increased from 21,826 to 22,394 in the four months to October 2016.<\/p>
The Department, together with key stakeholders including the Home Office, NHS England, NHS Improvement and Health Education England, will continue to monitor the situation to ensure the NHS has access to the workforce they require.<\/p>
NHS Digital publishes data on the nationality of staff working in the NHS in England. Nationality is self-reported within the NHS human resources and payroll system, the electronic staff record.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4545", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord O'Shaughnessy"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord O'Shaughnessy"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-03-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL5680"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-03-13T13:09:51.737Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Nurses: Migrant Workers"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government, further to the answer by Lord O\u2019Shaughnessy on 22 February (HL Deb, col 326), why it was said that \"there has not been a drop-off in the number of EU nationals joining the NHS workforce since the referendum\" when the Nursing and Midwifery Council has reported a significant reduction in the number of EU nurses admitted to the register since the referendum.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2507", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord MacKenzie of Culkein"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord MacKenzie of Culkein"} ], "uin" : "HL5681"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/449171", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/449171/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The British Government was encouraged by the successful passage of the Safe Abortion Bill through the Sierra Leone Parliament last December. We are disappointed that interventions from stakeholders outside Parliament meant that the Bill was not signed into law and is undergoing further consultation.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-02-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-02-15T14:56:57Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2016-02-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sierra Leone: Abortion"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what representations they have made to the government of Sierra Leone regarding the Safe Abortion Act 2015.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/200", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Tonge"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Tonge"} ], "uin" : "HL5681"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/227042", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/227042/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Mr Juncker's statement was not approved by the EU Member States. The UK remains firmly opposed to centralised EU command or control over military forces, which remains a Member State competence, and has successfully kept the EU focused on strengthening its co-operation with NATO which holds primacy in defence matters.<\/p>
The Prime Minister made this clear at the December 2013 European Council where strengthened EU-NATO partnership was agreed to be one of the key deliverables. It will be raised again as a fundamental agenda item at the June 2015 European Council where EU Member States will look for ways to further enhance collaboration between the two institutions.<\/p>
The Government ' s views on this matter have been consistent and transparent and any attempt to form an 'EU army' would be blocked by the UK. We will continue to emphasise our views to partners and will remain vigilant on the issue.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3428", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Astor of Hever"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Astor of Hever"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-19T15:58:50.313Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "EU Defence Policy"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what is their response to European Commission President Juncker's call for the formation of a European Union army.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Rogan"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Rogan"} ], "uin" : "HL5681"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/40536", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/40536/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Of the 13 questions to the Ministry of Justice that remained unanswered after 10 working days on 27 February, all but one have now been answered. <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4144", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hill of Oareford"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Hill of Oareford"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-03-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-03-13T12:00:00.00Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "92"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : ""}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : ""}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Leader of the House what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Ministry of Justice with regard to the 13 questions asked of that department out of the 27 which remained unanswered after 10 working days on 27 February.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/883", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Jopling"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Jopling"}
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I take the matter of late answers to Questions for Written Answer very seriously. My office reviews the ‘Questions unanswered after 10 working days’ in House of Lords Business <\/em>every day. As soon as a question appears in this section of House of Lords Business<\/em>, my office contacts the relevant department’s Parliamentary Team, and they remain in contact with the Parliamentary Team and the Minister’s Private Office until the question is answered.
I have also recently taken the opportunity to discuss the need for timely answers with members of the front bench in this House.<\/p>