Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what provisions have been made in Her Majesty’s Prisons for visiting rights for prisoners since the introduction of restrictions to address the COVID-19 pandemic; how many (1) visits, and (2) visitors, are permitted for each category of prisoner each week; and what special protective measures have been introduced for (1) visitors, and (2) prisoners, to ensure their protection against COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
We fully recognise the importance of family contact for those in custody in line with the recommendations of Lord Farmer’s Reviews. This is why following the necessary suspension of prison visits in March, to keep prisoners, their families and staff safe during the pandemic, we introduced a range of measures. We rolled-out more than 1,200 secure mobile PIN phone handsets which are being used to contact family and friends, bolstered support for the Prisoner’s Families Helpline and introduced secure video calls which are currently operating in over 100 prisons across England and Wales, including all female and youth establishments.
We published arrangements for the recommencement of face-to-face social visits in the National Framework for Prison Regimes and Services, and visits recommenced in early July, in an adapted, Covid-secure manner. Currently most prisons have now commenced physical visits.
Currently, up to two adults and two children are permitted to visit for a minimum of 45 minutes in prisons where it is safe to do so. Guidance on visits protocols for each prison, including steps we are taking to keep visitors safe, is published on GOV.UK at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visit-someone-in-prison-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic
This sets out differences in the adult and youth estates but otherwise this applies for visits to all categories of prisoner. We aim to continue to expand visit arrangements as part of further relaxations to prison regimes, as it is safe to do so, and in line with public health advice.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that courts deal more speedily with landlord and tenant cases concerning anti-social behaviour and domestic violence, once possession cases related to rented housing recommence.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
The listing of court cases, including possession, is a judicial function. The Master of Rolls has set up a judiciary-led cross-sector working group to consider and address matters affecting litigants to inform arrangements that will be in place when the current stay on possession is lifted. The work of this group will consider the needs of all users involved in the possession process.Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many possession orders had been made by the courts following a claim by (1) private, and (2) social landlords, and were outstanding prior to eviction proceedings being suspended from 27 March.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
The requested information is not held by HMCTS.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to penalise companies which repeatedly take action against individuals who do not lodge a defence and who are subsequently discovered not to have received any notification of the relevant County Court action.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
On 23 December the Ministry of Justice announced a consultation on ways to protect people from having their credit ratings affected despite being unaware of the claims made against them. The consultation, which will be launched in the spring will consider how the current system can be improved and reinforced to ensure that companies take all reasonable steps before they are able to apply to a court for a claim. We will also examine to what extent unscrupulous debt agencies have contributed to the problem.
To accompany the consultation the Ministry of Justice will also launch a new public advice campaign on how to protect people unaware of their debts and will remind people of the important of informing companies of their new address.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure that companies which sue individuals for non-payment of monies in the county courts have taken adequate steps to ensure that they have the correct and up-to-date address for the person against whom they are taking action, in those cases where the individual does not lodge a defence.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
On 23 December the Ministry of Justice announced a consultation on ways to protect people from having their credit ratings affected despite being unaware of the claims made against them. The consultation, which will be launched in the spring will consider how the current system can be improved and reinforced to ensure that companies take all reasonable steps before they are able to apply to a court for a claim. We will also examine to what extent unscrupulous debt agencies have contributed to the problem.
To accompany the consultation the Ministry of Justice will also launch a new public advice campaign on how to protect people unaware of their debts and will remind people of the important of informing companies of their new address.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to strengthen procedures designed to protect those against whom costs are awarded without their knowing that a case is proceeding in the County Court, resulting in a County Court Judgment being registered on their credit record.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
On 23 December the Ministry of Justice announced a consultation on ways to protect people from having their credit ratings affected despite being unaware of the claims made against them. The consultation, which will be launched in the spring will consider how the current system can be improved and reinforced to ensure that companies take all reasonable steps before they are able to apply to a court for a claim. We will also examine to what extent unscrupulous debt agencies have contributed to the problem.
To accompany the consultation the Ministry of Justice will also launch a new public advice campaign on how to protect people unaware of their debts and will remind people of the important of informing companies of their new address.