Prison Capacity
(Liverpool Walton) (Lab)
1. What steps her Department is taking to increase prison
capacity.(900355)
(Wrexham) (Lab)
16. What steps her Department is taking to increase prison
capacity.(900370)
The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice ()
Today is the day that those on the Opposition Benches always knew
was coming. The legacy of the previous Government was a prison
system on the brink of collapse, which left us with no choice.
Today, around 1,700 offenders have had to be released a few weeks
or months early by changing their automatic release point from
50% to 40% of their sentence. Had we not done so, we faced courts
unable to hold trials, police unable to make arrests and a total
breakdown of law and order. This is not the long-term
solution—there is more that we must do—but it was the necessary
first step that we had to take following the disgraceful
dereliction of duty of the previous Government.
I refer hon. Members to my entry in the Register of Members'
Financial Interests. One way to reduce pressure on numbers is to
treat more offenders with drug and alcohol addictions outside the
prison estate. That reduces prisoner numbers and reduces
reoffending, which means fewer victims and fewer people returning
to prison. Such a system is operating successfully in many parts
of the country, but it requires the highest quality treatment. It
also requires probation to work well, otherwise magistrates are
limited in their choices. May I encourage the Secretary of State
to get hold of Dame Carol Black's internal review of treatment
and recovery of drug-dependent people in the secure estate if she
has not already done so? I have not seen it, obviously, but I am
certain that it will contain many excellent recommendations.
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. He is right: good
quality work on rehabilitation to reduce reoffending and deal
with drug and alcohol issues is critical to dealing with not just
the rehabilitation of offenders, but the prison system. He will
know that nearly 80% of offending is reoffending, which is far
too high. The situation at the moment is that it is impossible to
do good-quality, rehabilitative work in prisons that are more
than 99% full, with prisoners locked up for 23 hours a day, so
the first step is to address capacity. Once we have done so, we
will be able to build on recommendations made by experts in this
area to make sure that we do everything we can to reduce
reoffending.
I thank the Secretary of State for her answer. My constituency of
Wrexham is home to one of the UK's largest prisons. It is well
known that if an offender has fixed and secure accommodation to
go to, they are less likely to reoffend. What steps is she taking
to ensure that those released today under SDS40 will have
accommodation on release, including in Wrexham?
We are working closely with colleagues from the Ministry of
Housing, Communities and Local Government to understand the
impact on the housing sector, but, as is the case any time a
prisoner is released, probation staff are working hard to prepare
release plans, including permanent and temporary accommodation.
If an offender is at risk of homelessness on release, they will
be housed in community accommodation. We expect to provide
housing for the majority of offenders using existing provision,
but, should there not be enough, I have authorised probation
directors to make use of alternative arrangements, including
budget hotels, as a temporary measure for the cases that we will
see in the next few weeks.
(Witham) (Con)
During the debate on early prisoner release in July, the impact
assessment produced suggested that there would be 5,500 fewer
prison places than planned for because of the need to meet the
capital savings that were discussed at the time. When I raised
that with the Secretary of State, she said that this matter would
be under review. Can she now confirm that it is the Government's
intention to cut back prison places by 5,500 over the medium and
long term?
The right hon. Lady will know that I have committed to publishing
a 10-year capacity strategy. There are also live discussions as
part of the Budget and spending review process. We have committed
to delivering the shortfall of 14,000 places in our prison
system, which the previous Government failed to do. That is a
commitment that we have given. Those conversations are live
conversations and I will report to the House in due course, but
we will publish that 10-year capacity strategy before the end of
the year.
(Boston and Skegness)
(Reform)
Can the Secretary of State explain why, when some 10,000 foreign
criminals are blocking up space in our jails, they are not being
removed and deported, which would simultaneously save the British
taxpayer billions of pounds every year and have the support of
millions of British voters?
They are being deported, and they will continue to be deported.
Nothing will change as far as the deportation of foreign national
offenders is concerned, but the inheritance we received from the
previous Government meant we had to take additional measures. The
answer will not come from the deportation of foreign national
offenders alone, but it is very much part of the picture.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Melton and Syston) (Con)
Under the early release scheme starting today, the detail of
which was designed by the Secretary of State, how many people
will be eligible to be released at the 40% point who have been
sentenced, for example, for offences under section 20, grievous
bodily harm, and section 47, actual bodily harm, of the Offences
against the Person Act 1861, both of which carry a maximum
sentence of five years, but for which more often a sentence will
be awarded that is less than five years?
The shadow Lord Chancellor will know that we have made important
exclusions in the design of the policy and that all those who
have committed serious offences and have been sentenced to four
years or more will be excluded from it. I will not be able to
give details on the specific mix of offences per offender, but
those offences that would otherwise be included, but that relate
to serious violence or sexual offences, have been excluded from
the policy.
I am grateful to the Secretary of State, but I have the statutory
instrument and the list of exclusions in the schedule here, and
those offences are not specifically included in that list of
exclusions. My fear is—and this would be deeply
disappointing—that many domestic abusers who were convicted for
those offences but received fewer than five years may be eligible
for early release and be considered for it, because her scheme
does not explicitly exclude those offences. Given that, the
reality is that the Government's claim that domestic abusers will
not be eligible to benefit from the scheme will ring very hollow
to victims of domestic abuse and the wider public, won't it?
With respect to the shadow Lord Chancellor, what will ring hollow
to members of the public is the Tory party's new-found commitment
to exclusions for domestic abuse, and the sheer hypocrisy of
talking about exclusions to this policy when he was a Minister in
the previous Government who brought in the end of custody
supervised licence scheme, which had no exclusions relating to
domestic abuse whatsoever—[Interruption.] He talks about the
governor lock from a sedentary position, but he knows full well
that that was an attempt to shift the blame away from ministerial
decision making and to place it on governors—something I am not
sure was much appreciated by those who run our prisons. We have
taken every step and every mechanism available to us to exclude
offences connected to domestic abuse and, crucially, to give the
probation service time to prepare—something the previous
Government never did.
Mr Speaker
I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.
Mr (Newbury) (LD)
It is clear that our prisons are at breaking point. The
Conservatives' failure to tackle the courts backlog has directly
contributed to prison overcrowding. Thanks to their neglect and
mismanagement, the Government have been left with no choice but
to take these measures. However, the Lord Chancellor said in her
statement in July that these measures would be reviewed
“within 18 months of implementation—at the very latest, in March
2026.”[—[Official Report, 25 July 2024; Vol. 752, c.
833.]](/search/column?VolumeNumber=752&ColumnNumber=833&House=1)
That is a long time away, particularly given the various stories
we are hearing about certain individuals being released. Will the
Secretary of State once again confirm that no dangerous criminals
will be released early?
We have taken every measure available to us to exclude offences
from this measure. Serious violence, sexual violence and offences
connected to domestic abuse have all been excluded, as have
terror offences and so on—the hon. Gentleman will know the list
of exclusions. We will work with our probation service, which has
done a heroic amount of work over the summer to deliver this
policy, in the coming months. We will also work very closely with
criminal justice system partners to make sure that the roll-out
of the scheme is as safe as possible. We have taken every
measure, we will continue to keep matters under review and I will
keep the House updated in due course.
Mr Speaker
We need to speed up a little. We are only now getting to Question
2.
Rehabilitation of Offenders
(Carshalton and Wallington)
(LD)
2. What steps she is taking to support the rehabilitation of
offenders.(900356)
(Esher and Walton) (LD)
9. What steps she is taking to support the rehabilitation of
offenders.(900363)
(Colne Valley) (Lab)
15. What steps her Department is taking to help reduce levels of
reoffending.(900369)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir
)
Hon. Members are right to focus on reducing reoffending. Nearly
80% of offending is reoffending, and it has an immense cost to
the taxpayer and to communities. As the Lord Chancellor said, we
have inherited a difficult situation in relation to prison
capacity, which makes it harder to address the rehabilitation
needs of prisoners. The House should have no doubt that this
Government will roll up our sleeves and get on with the job of
reducing reoffending.
My point speaks to what the Minister just said. The lack of
prison capacity means that some people are locked up in their
cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, and many prisons are ranked
insufficient or poor for delivering purposeful activities such as
education and training. How does the Minister plan to address
that while we still have a bulging prison population? How will he
increase the provision of those purposeful activities?
Sir
We are taking the hard decisions that are necessary to create
space and capacity in the Prison Service to address that issue.
The hon. Member is right that the report from His Majesty's
Inspectorate of Prisons identified the provision of sufficient
purposeful activity as its No. 1 issue to address. We know that
education and employment help to reduce significantly the chance
of reoffending, and we will work to do that with the Prison and
Probation Service.
rose—
Mr Speaker
Order. You are supposed to sit down, Minister! I know that you
are enjoying the Dispatch Box on your return, but please do not
over-enjoy it. I call .
As my hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton and Wallington
() mentioned, the chief inspector
of prisons said this morning that prisoners can sometimes be
banged up in their cells for up to 22 hours a day, that
classrooms and workshops are empty, and that education and
training are simply not given the priority they need. Does the
Secretary of State agree that, in order to cut reoffending, it is
time to introduce a proper workable plan to improve the
rehabilitation of people leaving prison?
Sir
My own example demonstrates that training and education are very
important in whatever role one takes on, so I agree
wholeheartedly with what the hon. Member says.
Addressing literacy in UK prisons is crucial for successful
rehabilitation. Improved literacy skills empower inmates with
better job prospects, aiding their reintegration into society.
Education fosters personal growth, self-esteem and
decision-making abilities, which are essential for a crime-free
life. Investing in prison literacy programmes is a vital step
towards creating safer communities and offering inmates a genuine
second chance. What comprehensive strategies are being
implemented to address that?
Sir
My hon. Friend is exactly right: literacy and numeracy are
crucial. I was pleased to visit HMP Humber recently, where I saw
excellent best practice. It is important that those programmes
are in place, that we learn from best practice and that we
continue to do our best in that area.
(Hammersmith and Chiswick)
(Lab)
A key driver of rehabilitation and the prevention of reoffending
is sentencing policy. In our manifesto, we promised a review of
sentencing policy—quite properly. When is that likely to take
place, and will it take account of the very interesting recent
paper by former Lord Chief Justices on sentencing inflation?
Sir
The paper to which my hon. Friend refers is a significant one,
and I urge all Members to look at it. The Government are
committed to a review of sentencing policy, and it will commence
as soon as it can. We will report in due time.
Rape and Sexual Violence: Victim Support
(Scarborough and Whitby)
(Lab)
3. What steps her Department is taking to support victims of rape
and sexual violence.(900357)
(Truro and Falmouth)
(Lab/Co-op)
4. What steps her Department is taking to support victims of rape
and sexual violence.(900358)
(Weston-super-Mare) (Lab)
7. What steps her Department is taking to support victims of rape
and sexual violence.(900361)
Dr (Penistone and Stocksbridge)
(Lab)
21. What steps her Department is taking to support victims of
rape and sexual violence.(900375)
(Shipley) (Lab)
23. What steps her Department is taking to support victims of
rape and sexual violence.(900377)
(Blaydon and Consett) (Lab)
24. What steps her Department is taking to support victims of
rape and sexual violence.(900378)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice ()
The Government are deeply committed to supporting victims of rape
and sexual violence. To do that, we will increase the powers of
the Victims' Commissioner and get victims the information that
they need, provide free legal advocates to uphold the rights of
victims of rape, and fast-track rape cases to drive down waiting
times for victims of those abhorrent offences.
Last week, “Emmerdale” aired an upsetting episode dealing with
the domestic abuse suffered by Belle Dingle. The storyline has
shown just how difficult it can be for someone to leave an
abusive relationship, not least because of the psychological
control exercised by abusers. Some victims also need somewhere to
go for safety. According to the latest available figures,
Scarborough has the highest rate of reported domestic abuse in
North Yorkshire, but there is still no refuge for victims in the
town. Will my hon. Friend work with me, colleagues across
Government and stakeholders to find the funding to ensure that a
refuge finally opens in Scarborough?
As an avid “Emmerdale” fan, I saw that harrowing episode. It goes
to show the importance of TV drama in raising awareness of these
vital issues. The Government are committed to halving violence
against women and girls within a decade. The Ministry of Justice
is working with Departments across Whitehall, including the
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, to support
local authorities to meet their statutory duties, including
refuges for all victims of domestic abuse who need them. We know,
though, that it is not just refuge support that is important;
wider community-based support is important too, and the MOJ
provides funding to police and crime commissioners to commission
those vital services for victims.
Victims of alleged rape in Truro and Falmouth and across the
country are having their trials pushed back for months, if not
years, often very shortly before those trials are set to begin.
That leads to severe distress for victims and families, and can
have unintended consequences, such as bail conditions becoming
outdated as victims wait so long for their cases to come to trial
that addresses change in the meantime. Will the Minister please
outline what she is doing to prevent or minimise the potential
harm caused by such unintended consequences and to bring those
long-delayed cases to a speedy conclusion?
I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting the awful state our
criminal justice system was left in by the previous Government.
We are committed to ensuring swift delivery of justice for
victims at all stages of the criminal justice system, and we are
working closely with various partners to achieve that aim. We
know that due to the complexity of their cases, rape victims
often wait disproportionately long periods for their trial
compared with victims of other offence types. Reducing waiting
times for victims is a priority for me and this Government, which
is why we have committed to fast-tracking rape cases through the
justice system. I recently saw at first hand at Bristol Crown
court how that can be done, and how our judges are working
tirelessly to make it happen.
Many will be watching with horror the extraordinarily disturbing
case unfolding in France, in which drugs were allegedly used to
facilitate the abuse of a woman by her husband and over 70 men.
Like many across the House, I have received communication from
victims of spiking in my town of Weston-super-Mare. They and I
are keen to know what steps the Minister is taking to crack down
on the devastating crime of spiking here in the UK.
The case in France is truly shocking, and we have all looked on
in horror as the details have unfolded. I commend the victim for
her bravery in coming forward and making it public so that we can
see the full aspects of the trial. Spiking is a despicable crime.
We have committed to introduce a new criminal offence of spiking
and we are considering how best to implement it. To be clear, in
England and Wales, having sex with a person who cannot consent is
rape, and spiking with intent to engage in sexual activity is a
specific offence, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in
prison.
Dr Tidball
Ten years ago, Jack and Paul Sykes, aged 12 and nine
respectively, tragically lost their lives at the hands of their
abusive father, who set their house on fire. Their mother, my
constituent Claire Throssell, is a powerful campaigner against
presumptive contact—a legal principle that allowed a known
domestic abuser to access Jack and Paul. Will the Minister meet
Claire and me to discuss how we can properly protect children
from domestic abuse in our family court system?
I thank my hon. Friend for that really important question.
Claire's tireless campaigning for families and children
experiencing domestic abuse is inspirational, and my thoughts are
with her and the whole community as the anniversary comes closer
next month.
Both the criminal and family justice systems will play an
essential role in delivering our commitment to halve violence
against women and girls. The family court system must protect
child victims of domestic abuse, and the new pathfinder courts
provide more support for domestic abuse agencies and ensure that
the child's welfare and voice is at the centre of proceedings
from the outset. The Government and I take the need to respond
robustly to perpetrators within the family courts very seriously.
The previous Government were reviewing the presumption of
parental involvement. We are considering the findings and will
respond in due course.
I draw the Minister's attention to the work of Bradford council
and West Yorkshire Mayor , who have launched the safety
of women and girls initiative, together with a dedicated women's
safety unit within West Yorkshire police. What support can the
Government offer to bolster the efforts of local authorities such
as Bradford to stamp out violence against women and girls in our
communities?
My hon. Friend's question gives me the opportunity to also place
on record my thanks to Mayor for all the incredible work
she is doing in this field. She is an outstanding champion for
tackling violence against women and girls, and we should be doing
more work like hers across Government.
As I have said, we are committed to halving violence against
women and girls within a decade. We are supporting colleagues
across Whitehall, including at the Ministry of Housing,
Communities and Local Government, to ensure close collaboration
with local authorities. In addition, the duty to collaborate
under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 will facilitate improved
multi-agency working and encourage all local commissioners to
provide joined-up working for victims of all crimes, including
violence against women and girls.
This time last year, the Lord Chancellor announced her intention
to introduce free legal advocates so that victims of rape can
enforce their rights—for example, in relation to the use of their
personal information in court. What progress is the Minister
making in bringing forward that vital new protection for
victims?
In our manifesto, this Government were clear that we are
committed to introducing free, independent legal advice for
victims and survivors of rape, from report to trial. I am working
with officials to develop this new policy and to ensure victims
get the support they need to understand and uphold their rights
as soon as possible. I plan to draw on lessons learned from the
successful pilots in Northumbria, as well as from the Mayor of
London's current ILA pilot.
Sir (North Cotswolds)
(Con)
In the last Session, when the Public Accounts Committee looked at
the effect of delays in the criminal justice system on serious
sexual and rape cases, it found that some cases were taking five
years or more from prosecution to trial, and that some of the
poor traumatised victims were simply disappearing because they
could not stand it any longer. Without entering into the blame
game, what can the Minister do to improve that situation?
The hon. Member is right that, although we do not want to get
into the blame game, the current status of the criminal justice
system is truly appalling. Rape trials are not getting as
fast-tracked as they should be, and we are working at pace to try
to remedy that situation. Currently, 60% of rape victims are
pulling out of the criminal justice system. The attrition rate is
far too high, and I am working with officials to improve that
rate and to improve victims' experience at court.
(Tunbridge Wells) (LD)
How many prisoners are going to be released today in Kent, and
can the Secretary of State guarantee that none of them will be
homeless within a month?
As the Lord Chancellor has previously said, we cannot give exact
figures for specific areas. However, we are working with other
Departments, including the MHCLG, and with local authorities to
ensure that those who are being released from prison today under
SDS40 have the accommodation that they need. The Probation
Service has been working around the clock to ensure that.
Mr Speaker
Order. That question pushed the boundaries a little bit. I think
it should have been mainly about those who are rapists who are
being released.
(Strangford) (DUP)
I thank the Minister for her answers, but what discussions has
she had with Education Ministers about supporting victims of rape
and sexual assault who are under 18 years of age within our
educational institutions?
I thank the hon. Member for his question. He will know that this
Government have a mission to tackle violence against women and
girls. As I have said, that vision pulls together Departments
across Whitehall, including the Department for Education—I
recently had a meeting with an Education Minister to discuss
exactly that issue. I have been clear that sex with anyone who
cannot consent is a crime, and we are working across Government
to tackle it.
(Eastbourne) (LD)
From my own experience, I know that independent sexual violence
advisers provided by amazing charities such as SurvivorsUK are
critical guides to help survivors navigate their path to justice
and peace. Could the Minister commit to redoubling her support
for ISVAs and the organisations that make them available to the
survivors who need them?
I know that the hon. Gentleman is passionate about this field of
justice. His question gives me the opportunity also put on record
my thanks to ISVAs, who do immense work across this field day in
and day out, supporting victims of these abhorrent crimes—the
work they do is invaluable. This Government are committed to
introducing independent legal advocates to help victims and
survivors get the support they need, and we are working with our
stakeholders across the sector to ensure that support is
available.
Recent Disorder
(Amber Valley) (Lab)
5. What assessment she has made of the impact of recent disorder
on the criminal justice system.(900359)
(Aldershot) (Lab)
17. What assessment she has made of the impact of recent disorder
on the criminal justice system.(900371)
The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice ()
The criminal justice system rose to the challenge brought about
by the violent disorder we saw over the summer. As of 22 August,
576 individuals have been brought before the courts. Of those,
123 have been given a custodial sentence by the Crown court.
As a Crown prosecutor for 21 years, I know only too well that the
court backlog has been worsened by repair issues forcing courts
to close. What is the Secretary of State doing to address the
repairs needed to the court estate, so that victims in my
constituency of Amber Valley and across the country can get
access to justice?
I thank my hon. Friend for that question. It is of course crucial
that courts are in a position where the building—the
infrastructure itself—does not prevent them from being able to
sit. It will be a priority for this Government to resolve those
issues, so that cases can be heard and victims can be given the
justice that they deserve.
It is clear that we have come dangerously close to running out of
prison places in the last few months, which as the Prime Minister
has rightly said, is
“about as fundamental a failure as you can get”.
Who does the Lord Chancellor blame for this failure, and does she
think we will ever get a word of apology from the Conservative
party for leaving our prison estate on the brink of disaster?
I would happily give way to anybody on the Opposition Benches if
they would like to take up the invitation to offer an apology,
but I do not think one will be forthcoming. I certainly do think
that one is required given the state of the prison system that we
have inherited, but it is our job to make sure that that never
happens again. That is why we will be launching a review into how
the current position was allowed to come to pass. The
Conservative party ignored all the warnings, putting political
gain ahead of the country's best interests, and it will fall to
this Government to fix it.
(Harborough, Oadby and
Wigston) (Con)
The Government have rightly found prison places for those
involved in the recent disorder, but they have done that by
continuing their early release policy. Will the Secretary of
State confirm that those guilty of manslaughter are among those
able to get early release, and will she explain to the House why
people guilty of manslaughter should be released early?
I think the hon. Member is guilty of wilful ignorance. He will
know full well that the prison system that we inherited was on
the point of collapse. The fact that some prison build that was
already in course was able to be brought on line a little earlier
to help us get over the crisis of the summer is testament to the
people working at the frontline to make sure that those prison
spaces were available, but we are still short of prison capacity.
Prisons are still at over 99% capacity, and that is the legacy
left by his Government. He will know that we have important
exclusions to the SDS40 policy, and he will know that the offence
and the sentence are both taken into account. I will not give a
running commentary on exactly which sentences and which offenders
are affected, but he knows what exclusions are in place.
Courts: Victims' Experience
(West Bromwich) (Lab)
6. What steps her Department is taking to improve the experience
of victims at court.(900360)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice ()
This Government are committed to improving the victim experience
at court. We will work with the judiciary to fast-track rape
cases to ensure timely justice for some of the most vulnerable
within the criminal justice system. Additionally, this Government
committed in our manifesto to introducing free, independent legal
support for victims of rape from report to trial. We have also
committed to strengthening the victims code and to increasing the
Victims' Commissioner's powers to make sure that victims' needs
are met.
For victims, giving evidence in a court can sometimes be a very
difficult and distressing experience, which is why they sometimes
prefer to give evidence via video link. Can the Minister set out
what steps the Government are taking to ensure that more victims
can give evidence via video link across our country?
I thank my hon. Friend for that important question. Video links
are available in all courts to help vulnerable and intimidated
witnesses give evidence. We have recently invested £50,000 to
transform witness facilities and upgrade video link rooms in 10
Crown courts. Pre-recorded evidence is also available in all
Crown courts for eligible victims to spare them the trauma of
giving evidence at a live trial.
(Chichester) (LD)
To ensure that victims see justice, criminal cases need to be
heard in a timely manner, which relies on a number of courts
being in place to be able to hear them. The future of Chichester
Crown court, which is the only Crown court in west Sussex, has
been under threat for nearly a decade. Local campaigners fought
to save that provision, leading to its reopening to clear the
backlog, but its future remains uncertain. Will the Minister meet
me to ensure the future of Chichester Crown court?
We know that courtroom availability is essential to dealing with
the backlog, and I will pass on that message to the courts
Minister—the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, my hon.
Friend the Member for Swindon South ().
Prison Officer Recruitment Targets
(Whitehaven and
Workington) (Lab)
8. What steps she plans to take to meet prison officer
recruitment targets.(900362)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir
)
My hon. Friend is completely right: prison officer recruitment
targets are essential. Prison officers do a fantastic job. We
have seen how they have gone above and beyond over recent weeks
and months, so I pay tribute to them. Nationally, we are
currently above staffing targets, but challenges remain in
certain sites with a high number of vacancies, and bespoke
interventions are being developed for those sites.
I thank the Minister for that answer, and I praise the Government
team for the way they have responded to the complete chaos left
in the wake of 14 years of a Conservative Government.
In my previous work I visited young offenders institutions, which
have been left in total chaos by the last Government. Part of
their recklessness was to start a botched recruitment process for
the graduate recruitment training programme for prison officers.
It is currently delivered by Unlocked Graduates, which is doing
fantastic work. The Government's chief inspector of prisons has
said there is a real risk that that programme ending will add to
the recruitment problems that the Government face. Will they
restart that procurement process and meet me to discuss its
future?
Sir
I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss that matter. His
Majesty's Prison and Probation Service worked to reprocure the
next iteration of the graduate scheme, with contracts for an open
procurement exercise. Although Unlocked Graduates was identified
as the winning bidder and was offered the contract, it did not
confirm its intent to sign the contract. The Department is now
working hard to come up with plans to put a graduate scheme in
place for future years.
Court Backlog
Mr (Hartlepool) (Lab)
10. What steps she is taking to tackle the court
backlog.(900364)
(Torbay) (LD)
25. What assessment she has made of the implications for her
policies of the backlog of cases in courts.(900379)
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice ()
It is good to be back. Mr Speaker.
The Government are committed to reducing caseloads and bringing
waiting times down for court users across all jurisdictions. We
continue to keep 18 Nightingale courtrooms open across eight
venues, so that we have more physical capacity to hear cases in
all jurisdictions. We plan to sit more than 105,000 days in the
Crown court and more than 102,000 days in the family court this
financial year, enabling us to work through as many cases as
possible.
Mr Brash
Hartlepool's court building has stood empty since 2017, after it
was mothballed by the then Conservative Government. Will my hon.
Friend investigate the potential for reopening Hartlepool's court
as part of our efforts to expand capacity and clear the backlog,
and will she meet me to discuss the issue further?
Mr Speaker
You might want to reopen Chorley court, which is also empty.
I hear you, Mr Speaker.
I welcome the question from my hon. Friend. He will know that His
Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service keeps the court estate
under regular review to ensure that it meets operational
requirements. I am afraid there are currently no plans to reopen
Hartlepool magistrates court, but I would be happy to meet my
hon. Friend alongside officials from HMCTS to discuss his
concerns. The reasons behind the increased caseload in our
criminal courts are complex and multifaceted, but the number of
courtrooms available is not the main constraint we currently
face.
Torquay magistrates court closed in the last decade, and
therefore justice is served somewhat distantly from our
communities in Torbay. Can the Minister assure the House that
there will be some reviews to ensure that justice is served more
locally to our communities in south Devon?
I may be having another meeting, with the hon. Gentleman, as well
as looking at the court in Chorley, and I am happy to discuss
that matter with him.
Domestic Abuse: Victim Support
Rebecca (South West Devon) (Con)
11. What support her Department is providing to victims of
domestic abuse.(900365)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice ()
This Government are deeply committed to supporting domestic abuse
victims, and we provide funding to police and crime
commissioners, who commission community-based support services
for domestic abuse victims and survivors, and independent
domestic violence advisors. Domestic abuse victims are
automatically eligible for certain special measures in court such
as screens or video links, and the pathfinder pilot in family
courts aims to improve experiences and outcomes for children and
families affected by domestic abuse.
Rebecca
Devon and Cornwall-based domestic abuse charity First Light
south-west, and national domestic abuse charity Hourglass, which
works specifically with older victims, have highlighted to me the
challenges that they face with short-term funding streams for
their work. The current year-on-year funding model results in
issues with the recruitment and retention of staff, which in turn
impacts on service provision to victims. Specialist services are
especially vulnerable given the nature of the support they
provide. Will the Minister commit to providing sustainable
long-term funding for frontline domestic abuse services,
including for specialist services for older victim survivors, so
as better to support victims in my constituency and across the
country?
The work that Hourglass and many others do is outstanding, and I
place on record my thanks to it for championing the rights of
older victims across the piece. The Ministry of Justice provides
police and crime commissioners with annual grant funding to
commission local practical, emotional and therapeutic support
services for victims of all crime types. I am hearing loud and
clear the calls from the sector, but it would be wrong of me to
pre-empt the announcement of funding after March 2025. We cannot
agree that before the spending review, but the Ministry of
Justice has allocated £1.2 million of funding over two years to
support the training and infrastructure of ISVAs and IDVAs and to
support fantastic organisations such as Hourglass that do such
brilliant work.
(Rother Valley) (Lab)
Another forum in which domestic violence is litigated is private
children's cases in our family courts. The Secretary of State and
Ministers will no doubt be aware of the huge delays that families
are suffering in having their cases heard and then those cases
being decided. At the heart of that are children waiting for a
conclusion. What steps are the Government taking to try to
expedite those cases, in particular working with other agencies
across government including the Children and Family Court
Advisory and Support Service and local authorities?
The Government recognise the importance of supporting separating
families and, where appropriate, helping them to resolve their
issues quickly and without the need to come to court. This is a
complex area. My officials and I are working closely on it, and I
would be happy to update my hon. Friend with a more thorough
review soon.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Orpington) (Con)
Domestic violence at its most severe becomes murder. Domestic
murder is often the most shocking and brutal. With that in mind,
what assessment has the Minister made of the Killed Women
campaign?
I am aware of the Killed Women campaign. I have liaised closely
with it in opposition and now in government. Its aims are
admirable. Any woman murdered by domestic homicide in this
country is one woman too many. We know that sadly three women a
week are being murdered. That is a shocking statistic that this
Government are hoping to tackle.
I thank the Minister for that answer. In light of that, will she
commit to responding to the calls of Carole Gould, Julie Devey
and Elaine Newborough and many others to address the injustice of
the discrepancy between the starting point for sentences in
domestic murder cases versus that for other murder cases? Will
she do so in quick time, so that she can include appropriate
measures in the forthcoming victims, courts and public protection
Bill?
I am meeting the women imminently to discuss this further, and
the Government have committed to a thorough sentencing
review.
Criminal Justice System: Progress of Cases
Mr (Wimbledon) (LD)
12. What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the
time taken for cases to progress through the criminal justice
system.(900366)
Sir (New Forest West) (Con)
13. What steps she is taking to help reduce the time taken for
criminal cases to be heard at court.(900367)
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice ()
We are committed to ensuring the swift delivery of justice for
victims at all stages of the criminal justice system, and we are
working closely with various partners involved to achieve that
aim. In relation to the courts, we plan to sit more than 105,000
working days in the Crown court this financial year, and we
continue to hear criminal cases at Nightingale courts. We are
also considering other measures to speed up justice for victims,
and we will make further announcements in due course.
Mr Kohler
I thank the Minister for her answer. After waiting seven years
for the Grenfell inquiry to report, the bereaved families and
survivors have now been told that they must wait two or possibly
three years for a decision on whether and whom to prosecute. As
Martin Luther King said,
“justice too long delayed is justice denied.”
I understand from the Crown Prosecution Service, which I met
recently, that much of the delay is for the discovery process,
where the welter of digital information must be assessed. Can the
Minister tell me what is being done to address these delays and
whether things such as artificial intelligence are being
contemplated?
As the Prime Minister made clear, those affected by the Grenfell
tragedy have already waited too long for justice. I can assure
the hon. Gentleman that anything in my or my Department's power
that needs to be done will be done. The Government fully support
the Metropolitan police and the Crown Prosecution Service as they
complete their investigations and bring prosecutions to trial,
while respecting their operational independence. I am sure the
use of all forms of technology will be considered in that
process.
Sir
Perhaps too many barristers have become politicians, but however
caused, how will the Minister address the shortage at the
criminal Bar?
I hesitate to answer the right hon. Gentleman's question, given
that my boss is a former barrister—I say that we cannot have too
many.
Only last week I discussed the adequacy of numbers of legal
professionals in the Crown court with the chair of the Criminal
Bar Association, Mary Prior, and I will be working with the
profession to ensure not only that we are recruiting sufficient
barristers to work in the courts, but that we are retaining
barristers at the criminal Bar.
(Newport East) (Lab)
Our team in Newport East are trying hard to raise the issue of
how long cases are taking for constituents—we inherited those
delays from the Conservatives—but even the CPS is taking months
to answer basic queries about where the delays are in cases. Will
the Minister urge the CPS to respond faster?
I will take that away and do that.
McAllister (West Dunbartonshire)
(Lab)
Does the Minister agree that a properly funded legal aid scheme
both here and in Scotland is essential for access to justice, and
that the decline in this vital public service that both the
Tories and the SNP have presided over is nothing short of
disgraceful?
What we are experiencing is the very long tail of the Legal Aid,
Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, which has meant
that both the civil and criminal legal aid sectors have faced
huge challenges. That is vital to people's access to justice.
Topical Questions
Olivia Bailey (Reading West and Mid Berkshire) (Lab)
T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental
responsibilities.(900380)
The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice ()
On taking office two months ago, it was immediately clear that we
had inherited a prison system at the point of collapse. That is
why our emergency action, which will see certain offenders leave
prison a few weeks or months early, has proved necessary. The
measure takes effect today. I pay tribute to the work of the
Prison and Probation Service, which has gone above and beyond the
call of duty both in responding to the violent disorder in recent
weeks and in preparing for the introduction of those measures.
This marks the beginning of a rescue effort—one that will, in
time, allow us to rebuild and reform our justice system in the
years ahead.
After the last Government left our prisons on the brink of
collapse, I welcome the Secretary of State's commitment to
building new prisons and driving down reoffending. I also welcome
her commitment to additional transparency. Does she agree that
such transparency is a significant departure from the approach of
the previous Government, who released thousands of prisoners
early in secret?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right that it is a significant
departure from the approach of the previous Government, who
introduced an early release scheme—the end of custody supervised
licence scheme—that operated under a veil of secrecy, with no
data ever published on the numbers released. It took our
Government to publish the data showing that more than 10,000
offenders were released under that scheme. I am pleased to say
today that we have ended that scheme.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Melton and Syston) (Con)
I am grateful to the Secretary of State for her previous answers
on substantive questions about accommodation for prisoners
released early. Further to that, have the Government contracted
any specific hotels for potential use by early release
prisoners?
I have authorised probation directors in areas to make
appropriate provision, if that proves to be needed—at this point,
it is not definite that it will be required—to ensure that there
is no gap in provision for offenders being released under the
SDS40 scheme.
I think the Secretary of State said that none has been contracted
at this time. If they are at any point, further to the point made
by the hon. Member for Reading West and Mid Berkshire (), will she be open and
transparent with the House, local authorities and the public
about how many, at what point and, in broad terms, where they
will be located?
Yes, I will.
Mr Speaker
I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.
Mr (Newbury) (LD)
Every 30 seconds, a domestic abuse-related call is made to the
police. It is positive to see that the number of domestic abuse
cases referred from the police to the CPS has increased, but
those numbers are still well below the level seen over the past
five years. Will the Secretary of State address the delays in
domestic abuse referrals from the police to the CPS and
acknowledge the unique risks that they pose?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice ()
As I have stated, this Government were elected with a landmark
mission to halve violence against women and girls within a
decade. To do so, we must improve the justice system's response
to these crimes, including domestic abuse. We must relentlessly
target the most prolific and harmful perpetrators, better support
victims and survivors, and ensure timely and effective justice.
We will put domestic abuse experts in 999 control rooms and
strengthen the use of protection orders, and we will strengthen
the tools available to manage domestic abuse offenders.
(Kensington and Bayswater)
(Lab)
T3. Over the weekend, Lord MacDonald, the former director of
public prosecutions, warned that court backlogs and the
complexity of any trials that may arise from a CPS decision in
2026 about the victims of the Grenfell fire may further delay
justice. Could the Minister give us and the victims reassurance
that the criminal justice system will not further delay justice
for those victims?(900382)
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice ()
As I said to the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Mr Kohler), we will
do everything we can to ensure swift justice for the victims of
Grenfell. We plan for the Crown court to sit for at least 105,000
days this financial year, and we will do more to increase the
speed with which cases are heard in the Crown court.
(Bromsgrove) (Con)
T2. The Secretary of State has said that she will review her
prisoner early release scheme after 18 months, but will she go
further and commit to ending it then, and if not, to returning to
this House for a fresh vote on it?(900381)
I have committed to the review, because that is the appropriate
way, and I will not make early promises that might not be kept. I
have committed to both transparency and a review. We will publish
all the data on a quarterly basis and I will return to the House
with the results of the review and the approach that we will take
at that point.
(Newport East) (Lab)
T5. The Minister will understand that, often for very personal
reasons, victims of sexual assault, such as my constituent, do
not always feel comfortable reporting their attack to the police.
She then found it extremely difficult to access specialist
support services at what was clearly a very distressing time.
What can we do to improve the accessibility of support services
for those victims of sexual assault who do not report it to the
police? Will she meet me to discuss this case
further?(900384)
The victims code sets out the services and support that victims
of crime are entitled to receive from the criminal justice system
in England and Wales. That includes the right to access support,
which applies regardless of whether they decide to report the
crime to the police. I would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend
to discuss this further.
(Edinburgh West) (LD)
T4. There are yet more depressing figures this morning about
drug-related deaths in Scotland. Will the Government discuss how
drug addicts are treated in the criminal justice system and look
at ways of improving that to tackle the issue, and perhaps move
towards safer consumption?(900383)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir
)
The hon. Member is right that drugs in prison is a big issue that
the Government are working hard to tackle. I would be very happy
to write to her with further details of what we are doing.
(Lowestoft) (Lab)
T7. Today, the first tranche of prisoners will be released early
under the Government's emergency measures to address the prison
overcrowding crisis. It is welcome that this Government have
excluded some domestic abuse offenders from the scheme. However,
not all domestic abuse perpetrators can be excluded. Will the
Secretary of State consider extending the victim contact scheme
to all survivors of domestic abuse and violence against women and
girls, regardless of the length of time that their perpetrator
spends in prison?(900386)
First, let me congratulate my hon. Friend on succeeding me as
chair of the all-party parliamentary group on perpetrators of
domestic abuse. It is a vital APPG and I know that she will do
sterling working as its chair.
To confirm, we have excluded from SDS40 certain offences that are
frequently connected to domestic abuse, such as stalking and
controlling or coercive behaviour. The victim contact scheme is
available to all victims of a sexual, violent or terrorist
offence where the offender is sentenced to 12 months or more in
custody. We are working with the sector and others to consider
how to improve communication with victims about an offender
following a conviction.
Steff Aquarone (North Norfolk) (LD)
T6. The latest figures show that the court backlog sits at nearly
68,000. Every one of those cases means yet another individual
victim or family waiting for justice. Despite that, the
Government plan to cap the number of sitting days in our courts
at a lower number than last year, losing 2,000 sitting days,
which has drawn criticism from many, including the Bar Council.
Could the Secretary of State tell me why those waiting for
justice, including many in North Norfolk, are being forced to
wait even longer?(900385)
As I have said, the Crown court will sit for more than 105,000
days this financial year—an increase of 28% on the year before
the pandemic. That means that there is more capacity in the Crown
court this year than in six of the past seven years. We have
inherited a criminal justice system on life support as a result
of the previous Government, and we have a broken economy.
Everyone can see the state of the public finances, and justice is
not immune from that.
(Mid and South
Pembrokeshire) (Lab)
In Pembrokeshire we have no local solicitors' firms offering pro
bono work, and the nearest free legal advice centre is in
Swansea. Many of my constituents are therefore unable to access
to justice, which is particularly distressing in the area of
family law and care proceedings. What steps is the Minister
taking to tackle the issue of legal deserts in places such as
Pembrokeshire and west Wales?
Access to justice is integral to a fair society, including for
our rural communities. In our courts and tribunals, modernised
services and a more effective use of technology can improve
people's access to the justice system, but I recognise that there
is more to do and I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss
that.
(Esher and Walton) (LD)
T8. A significant proportion of the 1,700 prisoners being
released early today, while having been convicted of other
offences, have a history of domestic abuse. What reassurances can
the Secretary of State give to domestic abuse victims who fear
the release of their perpetrators today?(900388)
We have taken every measure available to us and pulled every
lever we could to ensure that offences connected to domestic
abuse are excluded and that the probation service has had time to
prepare. We will work with it in the coming weeks and months to
ensure that release plans are in place and victims are notified
in the usual way.
(South Norfolk) (Lab)
A widow was prosecuted under the single justice procedure after
her husband had passed away and the car tax expired. She was
convicted over just £3.34, and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing
Agency sent the letter to the wrong address. Will the Minister
meet me to discuss how we can reform the single justice procedure
to make it more accountable and ensure that there is better
oversight of the process?
I am very happy to meet my hon. Friend. I am also very keen that
we keep under review what more can be done to support vulnerable
defendants going through the single justice procedure, and to
improve oversight and regulation of the organisations using that
procedure.
(Brighton Pavilion) (Green)
T9. The harm done to families and women by incarcerating women is
huge and made worse when they do not have safe homes after they
leave. Some 47% of women are currently leaving prison without
settled accommodation. This breaks up families and leaves them at
risk of further exploitation and harm, often the same
exploitation that led to their offending. Will Ministers tell the
House what they are doing to ensure that every woman set to leave
prison, including all those leaving early as a result of the
Government's reforms, is supported into safe and stable
accommodation?(900389)
Sir
The hon. Member is right that this is a big issue. The Prison and
Probation Service is working hard to ensure that appropriate
accommodation is available, and working hard with partners across
the country in different regions. I am very happy to meet the
hon. Member to talk about the issue further.
(York Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
Amazing charities such as Survive in York depend for their
survival on the rape and sexual abuse support fund. However,
without certainty over the amount, and if and when the funding
will come, it is hard to leverage funding from other sources,
such as the national lottery. When will the funding be announced,
and will the Minister meet me to discuss this vital funding as
demand rises?
I thank my hon. Friend for that question. I recognise the vital
work that Survive in York does to support victims and survivors
in her area. I fully appreciate the importance of notifying
police and crime commissioners and providers about future funding
as early as possible to effectively commission, plan and deliver
those services. As I have indicated, it would be wrong of me to
pre-empt the current spending review. We know that current
providers are concerned about the cliff edge in March 2025. I
fully appreciate that and I would be delighted to meet her to
discuss that further.
(Stratford-on-Avon)
(LD)
Will the Secretary of State ensure that measures are put in place
in the criminal justice system to support survivors of violence
against women and girls, including mandatory training for
prosecutors on understanding the impact of trauma on survivors
and the release of court transcripts for free for victims of
rape?
The hon. Lady may know that we currently offer free transcripts
of judges' sentencing remarks to families of victims of fatal
road offences, murder and manslaughter. In May, we extended free
transcripts of sentencing remarks to victims of rape and serious
sexual offences, in a year-long pilot. We will continue to look
at how we can lower the costs of obtaining a court
transcript.
(Huddersfield) (Lab)
Former clients of the law firm SSB Law were unexpectedly pursued
for adverse legal costs following the installation of defective
cavity wall insulation. I understand that the Solicitors
Regulatory Authority has opened an investigation. Will the
Secretary of State review the situation urgently, including
establishing a cross-Government working group on the matter?
I am aware from correspondence that I have received, as the
Member of Parliament for Swindon South, that there are
significant concerns about the collapse of law firms such as SSB
Solicitors, Axiom Law and McClure. As my hon. Friend said, the
Solicitors Regulation Authority is looking at this, as is the
Legal Services Board, and I shall be happy to speak to her
further to provide an update.
Sir (Goole and Pocklington)
(Con)
The Justice Secretary will be aware that the Criminal Cases
Review Commission took 17 years to overturn the conviction of
Andrew Malkinson, an innocent man, even though DNA evidence
exonerating him was available from the fourth year; and his is
not the only such case. Has the Minister any intention of
addressing the resources, regulation and management of the CCRC
to ensure that innocent people are not left incarcerated for many
years?
What happened to Mr Malkinson is appalling, both for him and for
the victim of the crime. It is vital that lessons are learned. As
the right hon. Gentleman will know, following the publication of
the Henley review of the CCRC's handling of Mr Malkinson's case,
the Lord Chancellor's view is that the current chair is unfit to
fulfil her duties. As for resources, the amount that the CCRC has
received in recent years has risen, and we will continue to keep
that under review.
(Swindon North) (Lab)
As the Minister will know, one of the factors that can contribute
to backlogs in courts is the existence of basic maintenance
problems with the buildings, which prevents cases from being
heard. In Swindon this year, we had a serious fire which resulted
in one of the courtrooms being closed and cases being transferred
elsewhere. What investment is being made in courts in places such
as Swindon to ensure that justice can be delivered swiftly?
I am very pleased to be responding to a fellow Swindon Member,
and I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me the chance to
mention our home town during my first ministerial outing. I
should add that I am also grateful to local judiciary court staff
and justice stakeholders for their work in maintaining justice
during that incident in Swindon. As the Lord Chancellor said
earlier, ensuring that buildings are maintained effectively is
critical to the delivery of justice.
(Rutland and Stamford)
(Con)
My constituent was brave enough to report her husband for the
abuse that he put her through. He has just been released from
prison on two conditions: he would be tagged and he was not
allowed to go into her village. He has not been tagged because
the Probation Service says that it does not have enough tags and
there is a technical fault, and he entered her village on his
first day out of prison, staying overnight. He was on her street,
and his family knocked on her door. Will the Secretary of State
please respond to my letter about my constituent, who feels
extremely vulnerable? Will she also confirm that there are enough
tags, and that in cases such as this there will be not just a
verbal warning—which is all that her husband received for his
actions—but remedial repercussions?
I am not aware of the correspondence to which the hon. Lady has
referred, but I will chase it up and ensure that she receives a
comprehensive response.
(Hammersmith and Chiswick)
(Lab)
The coronial system is a mess, with substantial backlogs, a lack
of representation for bereaved families, and erratic use of
prevention of future deaths reports. Will the Secretary of State
consider reforms to deal with these problems? If she needs ideas,
there is a very good report from the Justice Committee.
I concur: there is an excellent report from the Committee, to
which the Government will respond in due course. I am well aware
of some of the issues with the coroners and reporting deaths for
bereaved families and I should be delighted to discuss them
further with my hon. Friend.
(Faversham and Mid Kent)
(Con)
Catapults are not classed as offensive weapons, but they are
being used increasingly in my constituency to injure and kill
livestock and pets. Will the Minister responsible for such
matters agree to meet me to discuss how we can deter these people
and stop their use of catapults to kill?
I suspect that that may be a matter for my colleagues in the Home
Office, but I will happily liaise with the relevant Minister and
ensure that the hon. Lady receives a response.
