Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in establishing a progression unit for prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences with a sexual offence, further to the Joint IPP Action Plan published by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the Parole Board in June 2019.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
The IPP Action Plan is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is responsive to the needs of those serving IPP sentences, whether in prison or in the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, and in accordance with measures mandated in the interests of public health, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) implemented exceptional delivery models which inevitably had some impact on all operational work. A large number of IPP prisoners have been released each year since the IPP Action Plan first introduced in 2016, and the Plan will be refreshed, reviewed and republished after careful consideration of the forthcoming Justice Select Committee’s Report and recommendations.
A progression unit for prisoners serving IPP sentences with a conviction for a sexual offence has been open at HMP Littlehey for the last three years. The unit provides an environment where prisoners feel safe and receive support to focus on their progression. As with the other workstreams within the IPP action plan, HMPPS will review the progress of the unit this year, which will also take account of any relevant aspects of the report and recommendations of the Justice Select Committee.
HMPPS continue to engage with senior managers in prisons run under contract, to ensure that the IPP Action Plan initiatives are reflected in their delivery plans. For example, each contracted site has an IPP single point of contact for Psychology Services.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average number of additional offending behaviour programmes that prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences in England and Wales were directed to complete (1) once the initial sentence plan was completed, and (2) post recall, in each year since 2017.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
The requested information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. Accredited programmes aim to protect the public and reduce reoffending and are part of a range of rehabilitation and risk reduction opportunities available. HM Prison and Probation Service remains committed to supporting the progression of those serving IPP sentences in custody, so that the Parole Board may direct their release, or as the case may be, re-release, as soon as it is safe to do so.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average number of accredited offending behaviour programmes completed by prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences in England and Wales before being (1) transferred to open conditions, and (2) released, in each year since 2017.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
National data on all prisoner enrolments (starts) and completions in prison-delivered accredited offending behaviour programmes (OBPs) are collected and published annually and published as part of HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Annual Digest, but this does not provide further break-down by progression through the estate or by sentence type.
The table attached provides the average number of accredited offending behaviour programmes completed by prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences prior to being transferred to open conditions, and ahead of release, in each financial year since 2017. No transfers to open conditions in 2020/21 involved individuals who had completed an accredited programme, hence no number is recorded.
The Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. Accredited programmes aim to protect the public and reduce reoffending and are part of a range of rehabilitation and risk reduction opportunities available. HMPPS remains committed to supporting the progression of those serving IPP sentences in custody, so that the Parole Board may direct their release, or as the case may be, re-release, as soon as it is safe to do so.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences in England and Wales have been on a waiting list to begin an accredited offending behaviour programme in each year since 2017.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
We do not hold data on the numbers of prisoners with sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) on a waiting list to begin an accredited offending behaviour programme (OBP) prior to late 2020. New data collection systems were established in response to the pandemic to aid future recovery planning for OBPs.
This table below shows the number of IPP prisoners waiting to commence an accredited general or sexual offending programme based on information gathered from prisons which run the courses. The information has been drawn from local records and, as with any large-scale reporting tool, may be subject to inaccuracies as well as subject to change.
The Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. Accredited programmes aim to protect the public and reduce reoffending and are part of a range of rehabilitation and risk reduction opportunities available. HM Prison and Probation Service remains committed to supporting the progression of those serving IPP sentences in custody, so that the Parole Board may direct their release, or as the case may be, re-release, as soon as it is safe to do so.
Date | Total |
Total December 2020 | 116 |
Total April 2021 | 161 |
Total August 2021 | 158 |
Total October 2021 | 103 |
Total December 2021 | 113 |
Total February 2022 | 109 |
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners in England and Wales subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences have (1) started, and (2) completed, accredited offending behaviour programmes in each year since 2017.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
National data on all prisoner enrolments (starts) and completions in prison-delivered accredited Offending Behaviour Programmes (OBPs) are collected and published annually and published as part of the HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Annual Digest, but this does not provide further break-down by sentence type.
The table attached provides the number of indeterminate sentenced prisoners serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence who enrolled on and completed accredited OBPs, in each financial year since 2017. Changes to accredited programme delivery were implemented in response to the threat of COVID-19, with programmes affected throughout 2020/21. This resulted in far fewer starts and completions compared with those in previous years. During the period covered the numbers serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence also fell.
Whilst the number of places available has decreased, IPP prisoners have remained a priority for spaces.
The Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. Accredited programmes aim to protect the public and reduce reoffending and are part of a range of rehabilitation and risk reduction opportunities available. HMPPS remains committed to supporting the progression of those serving IPP sentences in custody, so that the Parole Board may direct their release, or as the case may be, re-release, as soon as it is safe to do so.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the findings of the Ministry of Justice’s review of the Constitutional Reform Act will be published for public consultation; and if so, when.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
The Government is considering what improvements can be made to the settlement left by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. Our constitution is always evolving, and it is entirely proper, sixteen years on from the Act, to examine that settlement in the round and to take stock of subsequent debate and of continuing interest in both Houses.
The Lord Chancellor has said that he places great importance on taking an open and consultative approach to any proposals for reform, and the Government will make its plans known in due course.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Ministry of Justice's review of the Constitutional Reform Act is considering giving ministers greater influence over senior judicial appointments.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
The Government is considering what improvements can be made to the settlement left by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. Our constitution is always evolving, and it is entirely proper, sixteen years on from the Act, to examine that settlement in the round and to take stock of subsequent debate and of continuing interest in both Houses.
The Lord Chancellor has said that he places great importance on taking an open and consultative approach to any proposals for reform, and the Government will make its plans known in due course.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is (1) the percentage of the total number, and (2) the actual number, of court rooms in the Crown Court estate of England and Wales not being used for trials; and how long has each Crown Court centre had unused court rooms.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
Prior to the March lockdown there were over 450 Crown Court rooms available for use. Jury trials were paused on 23rd March. Since then we have undertaken reconfiguration of our estate to comply with social distancing measures.
The availability of rooms fluctuates day by day, but as of the end of December 2020 we had over 290 Crown Court rooms available for Jury trials across the existing HMCTS estate, plus 120 rooms available for non-jury trial business. This comprises more than 80% of the total conventional Crown Court estate. In addition, we have 13 Jury rooms from Nightingale venues, which provide a total of 40 rooms overall across the estate. There are circa 80 Crown Court rooms not currently in use for hearings for a variety of reasons, including use as overspill accommodation in multi-hander (i.e. multi-defendant) trials to facilitate use of operational courtrooms, unsuitability for socially distanced hearings or to allow for continued maintenance.
Each Crown Court will, at times, have unused court rooms as utilisation of rooms is dependent upon a number of factors which include listing practices, availability of parties and trial outcomes.
This Government is doing everything possible to respond to the challenge of COVID-19, and the impact it has had on the justice system. We are working hard to deliver additional capacity through Nightingale Courts with an aim to have a total of 60 such courtrooms open by the end of March 2021.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to make the provision of secure video calls in prisons subject to a competitive procurement following the current pilot.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie
We have introduced a temporary emergency video calling solution in recognition of the importance of maintaining family contact while social visits have been temporarily suspended in prisons in England and Wales. We have committed to the fact that there will be no cost of video calls to either families or those in custody during this time. At the appropriate time, we will consider future options for video calling across the estate beyond Covid-19 restrictions, which may include a competition for such services.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to require prisoners or their families to pay for secure video calls; and if so, (1) from when, and (2) what the charge for a call will be.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie
We have introduced a temporary emergency video calling solution in recognition of the importance of maintaining family contact while social visits have been temporarily suspended in prisons in England and Wales. We have committed to the fact that there will be no cost of video calls to either families or those in custody during this time. At the appropriate time, we will consider future options for video calling across the estate beyond Covid-19 restrictions, which may include a competition for such services.