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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 01 Dec 2025
Sentencing Bill

"My Lords, I apologise for not having spoken at Second Reading; I was not present due to domestic circumstances. Had I been present, I would have spoken on the importance—following on from the remarks of noble Lord, Lord Foster—of addressing the problems that we have with those who are sentenced …..."
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe - View Speech

View all Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Sentencing Bill
Written Question
Prisoners: Rehabilitation
Friday 24th October 2025

Asked by: Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for paying for prisoners with addictions released on the early release scheme to continue their recovery in alcohol and drug rehabilitation centres.

Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

This Government inherited prisons days from collapse and had to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. SDS40 is a temporary measure to provide relief to the system, and following the Independent Sentencing Review, we have now introduced the Sentencing Bill to Parliament. This will introduce a new Progression Model, as a key part of delivering a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis.

We know that continued engagement with drug and alcohol treatment both within and beyond custody is vital to reduce reoffending. It is crucial that those released early can access support effectively within the community, especially as the first few weeks of release are high-risk for relapse, overdose and reoffending.

Responsibility for the funding and commissioning of substance misuse treatment lies with the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS Wales. The Ministry of Justice works very closely with health partners to ensure accessible pathways for offenders which meet their needs, including Residential Rehabilitation which can be an effective treatment option for some. This includes recruiting Health and Justice Partnership Coordinators nationwide, who strengthen links between prisons, treatment providers and probation, alongside secure laptops across prisons to enable prisoners to virtually meet with community treatment providers prior to their release. We have also established the Drug and Alcohol Recovery Expert Panel, chaired by Lord Timpson, which brings together leading experts to identify opportunities to strengthen the Ministry of Justice’s approach.

The latest data from August 2025 shows that 54% of adults released with an ongoing substance misuse need engaged in treatment within 3 weeks of release, an increase from 38% in April 2021.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 10 Nov 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"..."
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe - View Speech

View all Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 10 Nov 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"My Lords, in moving Amendment 172, I will also speak to Amendments 173, 177, 179, 180 and 186, to be inserted after Clause 79. These are about victims’ financial losses, which can often arise as a result of an assault on their person, their property or their belongings. The amendments …..."
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe - View Speech

View all Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 10 Nov 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"My Lords, I am grateful to everyone who has contributed. As noble Lords probably gathered, I was looking for a peg on which to hang my hat. I am pleased that I found a peg and I found someone who was prepared to cast a hat on it as well—I …..."
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe - View Speech

View all Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 08 Nov 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"..."
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe - View Speech

View all Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 08 Nov 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"My Lords, Amendment 157 would insert a new clause to lower the drink-drive alcohol limit in England and Wales from 80 milligrams to 50 milligrams of alcohol for 100 millilitres of blood and to make appropriate adjustments for breath and urine samples too.

I remind the House that I moved …..."
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe - View Speech

View all Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 08 Nov 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"However, on rereading this speech, I was so pleased with the evidence-based arguments that I had advanced—which, as I say, I am not going to repeat this evening—that the more I read it, the more I realised what a shame it was that although the Bill went through this House, …..."
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe - View Speech

View all Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 08 Nov 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have taken part in this short debate. Other than the noble Earl, Lord Attlee, who raised some objections, and I will come to them in a moment, the noble Lord, Lord Paddick, who raised a point about what the police …..."
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe - View Speech

View all Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
Written Question
Sobriety Orders
Thursday 27th February 2020

Asked by: Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the voluntary sector about how they might assist with the roll-out of the alcohol, abstinence and monitoring requirement across England and Wales.

Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)

The legislation required to introduce alcohol abstinence and monitoring requirements in England and Wales is still subject to approval by Parliament. As yet, we have not had any discussions with the voluntary sector about how it could assist. More widely, we are engaged in ongoing dialogue with the voluntary sector around support for offenders with addiction issues.