Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the total number of unreleased Imprisonment for Public Protection prisoners in (1) Category A, (2) Category B, (3) Category C, and (4) Category D; and how many years are left on their tariff in each case.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General
The Government is committed to the protection of the public and the effective management of offenders. By law, prisoners serving indeterminate sentences who have completed their tariff will be released only when the independent Parole Board concludes that the risk they present to the public is capable of being safely managed in the community under probation supervision.
The following two tables show the number of unreleased prisoners serving an IPP sentence at 31 March 2021, by gender, ethnicity and the number of years to their tariff expiry, in England and Wales. The total number of IPP prisoners recorded in these two tables is 1,784.
Table 1
Gender | Number (Row Total) | Less than 1 year | 1 year to less than 2 years | 2 year to less than 3 years | 3 year to less than 4 years | 4 year to less than 5 years | 5 or more years | Tariff expired | Tariff unavailable |
Male | 1,761 | 24 | 22 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1,682 | 2 |
Female | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
Table 2
Ethnicity | Number (Row Total) | Less than 1 year | 1 year to less than 2 years | 2 year to less than 3 years | 3 year to less than 4 years | 4 year to less than 5 years | 5 or more years | Tariff expired | Tariff unavailable |
Asian or Asian British | 92 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 83 | 0 |
Black or Black British | 229 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 208 | 0 |
Mixed | 70 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 0 |
Other ethnic group | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
White | 1,380 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1,334 | 2 |
Unrecorded | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Not stated | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
The following two tables show the number of recalled prisoners serving an IPP sentence at 31 March 2021, by gender and ethnicity, in England and Wales. All recalled IPP prisoners are post tariff as it is not possible to release an IPP prisoner prior to the expiry of their minimum tariff date. The total number of IPP prisoners recorded in these two tables is 1,350.
Table 3
Gender | Number |
Male | 1,327 |
Female | 23 |
Table 4
Ethnicity | Number |
Asian or Asian British | 42 |
Black or Black British | 161 |
Mixed | 74 |
Other ethnic group/Not Stated | 4 |
White | 1,069 |
The table below shows the number of unreleased prisoners serving an IPP sentence at 31 March 2021, by security category and the number of years to their tariff expiry, in England and Wales. The total number of IPP prisoners recorded in the below table is 1,784.
Table 5
Security Category | Number (Row Total) | Less than 1 year | 1 year to less than 2 years | 2 year to less than 3 years | 3 year to less than 4 years | 4 year to less than 5 years | 5 or more years | Tariff expired | Tariff unavailable |
A | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
B | 323 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 309 | 0 |
C | 871 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 831 | 2 |
D | 548 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 526 | 0 |
Females (open and closed) | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
Others | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
A prisoner’s individual needs in relation to offending behaviour and resettlement, or their individual circumstances (such as medical requirements) may result in an individual being held in a prison of a higher category than their own approved category. Prisoners will not be allocated to a prison of a lower security category than the security category assigned to them personally.
Notes for all figures:
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what they estimate to be the total number of recalled Imprisonment for Public Protection prisoners broken down by (1) gender, and (2) ethnicity; and how many years are left on their tariff in each case.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General
The Government is committed to the protection of the public and the effective management of offenders. By law, prisoners serving indeterminate sentences who have completed their tariff will be released only when the independent Parole Board concludes that the risk they present to the public is capable of being safely managed in the community under probation supervision.
The following two tables show the number of unreleased prisoners serving an IPP sentence at 31 March 2021, by gender, ethnicity and the number of years to their tariff expiry, in England and Wales. The total number of IPP prisoners recorded in these two tables is 1,784.
Table 1
Gender | Number (Row Total) | Less than 1 year | 1 year to less than 2 years | 2 year to less than 3 years | 3 year to less than 4 years | 4 year to less than 5 years | 5 or more years | Tariff expired | Tariff unavailable |
Male | 1,761 | 24 | 22 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1,682 | 2 |
Female | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
Table 2
Ethnicity | Number (Row Total) | Less than 1 year | 1 year to less than 2 years | 2 year to less than 3 years | 3 year to less than 4 years | 4 year to less than 5 years | 5 or more years | Tariff expired | Tariff unavailable |
Asian or Asian British | 92 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 83 | 0 |
Black or Black British | 229 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 208 | 0 |
Mixed | 70 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 0 |
Other ethnic group | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
White | 1,380 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1,334 | 2 |
Unrecorded | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Not stated | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
The following two tables show the number of recalled prisoners serving an IPP sentence at 31 March 2021, by gender and ethnicity, in England and Wales. All recalled IPP prisoners are post tariff as it is not possible to release an IPP prisoner prior to the expiry of their minimum tariff date. The total number of IPP prisoners recorded in these two tables is 1,350.
Table 3
Gender | Number |
Male | 1,327 |
Female | 23 |
Table 4
Ethnicity | Number |
Asian or Asian British | 42 |
Black or Black British | 161 |
Mixed | 74 |
Other ethnic group/Not Stated | 4 |
White | 1,069 |
The table below shows the number of unreleased prisoners serving an IPP sentence at 31 March 2021, by security category and the number of years to their tariff expiry, in England and Wales. The total number of IPP prisoners recorded in the below table is 1,784.
Table 5
Security Category | Number (Row Total) | Less than 1 year | 1 year to less than 2 years | 2 year to less than 3 years | 3 year to less than 4 years | 4 year to less than 5 years | 5 or more years | Tariff expired | Tariff unavailable |
A | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
B | 323 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 309 | 0 |
C | 871 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 831 | 2 |
D | 548 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 526 | 0 |
Females (open and closed) | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
Others | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
A prisoner’s individual needs in relation to offending behaviour and resettlement, or their individual circumstances (such as medical requirements) may result in an individual being held in a prison of a higher category than their own approved category. Prisoners will not be allocated to a prison of a lower security category than the security category assigned to them personally.
Notes for all figures:
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what they estimate to be the total number of unreleased Imprisonment for Public Protection prisoners broken down by (1) gender, and (2) ethnicity; and how many years are left on their tariff in each case.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General
The Government is committed to the protection of the public and the effective management of offenders. By law, prisoners serving indeterminate sentences who have completed their tariff will be released only when the independent Parole Board concludes that the risk they present to the public is capable of being safely managed in the community under probation supervision.
The following two tables show the number of unreleased prisoners serving an IPP sentence at 31 March 2021, by gender, ethnicity and the number of years to their tariff expiry, in England and Wales. The total number of IPP prisoners recorded in these two tables is 1,784.
Table 1
Gender | Number (Row Total) | Less than 1 year | 1 year to less than 2 years | 2 year to less than 3 years | 3 year to less than 4 years | 4 year to less than 5 years | 5 or more years | Tariff expired | Tariff unavailable |
Male | 1,761 | 24 | 22 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1,682 | 2 |
Female | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
Table 2
Ethnicity | Number (Row Total) | Less than 1 year | 1 year to less than 2 years | 2 year to less than 3 years | 3 year to less than 4 years | 4 year to less than 5 years | 5 or more years | Tariff expired | Tariff unavailable |
Asian or Asian British | 92 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 83 | 0 |
Black or Black British | 229 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 208 | 0 |
Mixed | 70 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 0 |
Other ethnic group | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
White | 1,380 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1,334 | 2 |
Unrecorded | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Not stated | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
The following two tables show the number of recalled prisoners serving an IPP sentence at 31 March 2021, by gender and ethnicity, in England and Wales. All recalled IPP prisoners are post tariff as it is not possible to release an IPP prisoner prior to the expiry of their minimum tariff date. The total number of IPP prisoners recorded in these two tables is 1,350.
Table 3
Gender | Number |
Male | 1,327 |
Female | 23 |
Table 4
Ethnicity | Number |
Asian or Asian British | 42 |
Black or Black British | 161 |
Mixed | 74 |
Other ethnic group/Not Stated | 4 |
White | 1,069 |
The table below shows the number of unreleased prisoners serving an IPP sentence at 31 March 2021, by security category and the number of years to their tariff expiry, in England and Wales. The total number of IPP prisoners recorded in the below table is 1,784.
Table 5
Security Category | Number (Row Total) | Less than 1 year | 1 year to less than 2 years | 2 year to less than 3 years | 3 year to less than 4 years | 4 year to less than 5 years | 5 or more years | Tariff expired | Tariff unavailable |
A | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
B | 323 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 309 | 0 |
C | 871 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 831 | 2 |
D | 548 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 526 | 0 |
Females (open and closed) | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
Others | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
A prisoner’s individual needs in relation to offending behaviour and resettlement, or their individual circumstances (such as medical requirements) may result in an individual being held in a prison of a higher category than their own approved category. Prisoners will not be allocated to a prison of a lower security category than the security category assigned to them personally.
Notes for all figures:
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cases of Imprisonment for Public Protection are supervised in the community by the National Probation Service, by number of years since the tariff.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General
As at 31 December 2020, there were 3,125 offenders serving a sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) being supervised in the community by the Probation Service in England and Wales. For the purposes of providing the information requested, relevant variables could be matched across the two separate datasets held centrally in only 2,637 of those cases.
Years since | Number of IPP offenders supervised in the community |
Less than 12 months | 4 |
1 | 16 |
2 | 38 |
3 | 58 |
4 | 80 |
5 | 125 |
6 | 145 |
7 | 230 |
8 | 260 |
9 | 314 |
10 | 361 |
11 | 431 |
12 | 347 |
13 | 196 |
14 | 32 |
|
|
Total | 2,637 |
The figures in this table have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Offenders serving an IPP sentence may be released into the community once they have completed their tariff only at the discretion of the Independent Parole Board. Once released, they are managed under licence by the Probation Service. The IPP licence period differs from licences for other indeterminate sentences in that, after 10 years from first release by the Parole Board, offenders can apply to the Board to have the licence terminated. The minimum 10-year period is not paused or reset if an offender is recalled to prison or serves a subsequent sentence for further offences.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce legislation in response to the Law Commission’s forthcoming review on weddings law.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General
The Law Commission is conducting a fundamental review of the law on how and where people can legally marry in England and Wales. As part of that review, the Government invited the Law Commission to make recommendations about how marriage by humanist and other non-religious belief organisations could be incorporated into a revised or new scheme for all marriages that is simple, fair and consistent.
The Commission launched its consultation on 3 September 2020 and this closed on 4 January 2021. The law on wedding ceremonies is a complex and important area of the law. The Commission considered it essential to conduct an extensive consultation with the wide range of interested groups and individuals who would be affected by reform.
The Commission expects to report to Government with its recommendations in the second half of this year. The Government will decide on provision for non-religious belief marriage, on the basis of the Law Commission's recommendations.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the High Court’s judgement in Harrison v Secretary of State for Justice & others, published on 31 July 2020, what plans they have to introduce legislation to recognise humanist marriages in England and Wales.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General
The Law Commission is conducting a fundamental review of the law on how and where people can legally marry in England and Wales. As part of that review, the Government invited the Law Commission to make recommendations about how marriage by humanist and other non-religious belief organisations could be incorporated into a revised or new scheme for all marriages that is simple, fair and consistent.
The Commission launched its consultation on 3 September 2020 and this closed on 4 January 2021. The law on wedding ceremonies is a complex and important area of the law. The Commission considered it essential to conduct an extensive consultation with the wide range of interested groups and individuals who would be affected by reform.
The Commission expects to report to Government with its recommendations in the second half of this year. The Government will decide on provision for non-religious belief marriage, on the basis of the Law Commission's recommendations.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow commercial wedding celebrants to perform legally recognised marriages without being precluded from carrying on a business of solemnising marriages for the purpose of profit or gain.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Reform to fundamental marriage law in England and Wales needs to be wholesale and not undertaken on a piecemeal basis. That is why we invited the Law Commission last year to review the law on how and where couples may marry. As part of that review, the Law Commission will make recommendations about how marriage by humanists and other non-religious belief organisations could be incorporated into a revised or new scheme for all marriages that is simple, fair and consistent.
The Law Commission’s consultation on weddings also considers how the law could allow independent celebrants to solemnize legal weddings. The Government will decide on provision on the basis of the Law Commission's recommendations.
The Law Commission published its consultation paper on 3 September and will welcome contributions from all stakeholders.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to consider extending legal recognition of humanist marriages since 2013; and what further plans they have to do so.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Reform to fundamental marriage law in England and Wales needs to be wholesale and not undertaken on a piecemeal basis. That is why we invited the Law Commission last year to review the law on how and where couples may marry. As part of that review, the Law Commission will make recommendations about how marriage by humanists and other non-religious belief organisations could be incorporated into a revised or new scheme for all marriages that is simple, fair and consistent.
The Law Commission’s consultation on weddings also considers how the law could allow independent celebrants to solemnize legal weddings. The Government will decide on provision on the basis of the Law Commission's recommendations.
The Law Commission published its consultation paper on 3 September and will welcome contributions from all stakeholders.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government in which circumstances marriages in England and Wales are legally recognised by virtue of (1) the building in which the marriage takes place, (2) the registrar or officiant conducting the ceremony, and (3) the religion of the marriage.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
In general terms, the law requires couples to give due notice of the marriage and to marry in the place specified when they gave notice and in the presence of certain people. Marriages are not automatically valid because they involve a certain building, person or religion: on the contrary, they are capable of legal recognition because they follow a route set out in statute. The statute law also sets out circumstances in which a marriage will be void.
As part of its review of the law on how and where couples may marry in England and Wales, the Law Commission will make recommendations regarding what the consequences of failing to comply with all or some of the requirements for a valid marriage should be. The Government looks forward to publication of its consultation paper in September.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Lord Keen of Elie on 15 July (HL Deb, cols 1659–61), how the situation of Black and other minority ethnic defendants, including those from Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities, will be taken into account in (1) the membership, and (2) the terms of reference, of the Royal Commission on criminal justice.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
The Government is committed to a justice system that is fair, open and accessible to all.
In defining the terms of reference and membership of the Royal Commission, we are taking into account the need for the Commission to understand effectively the experiences of all those that engage with the criminal justice system. This will of course need to include taking account issues of race and the experiences of Black and other minority ethnic people, including those from Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities.
Further details will be announced in due course.