Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of legal advice available to people making an asylum claim.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government is committed to ensuring that those seeking asylum in this country have access to publicly funded legal advice and representation.
Access to legal aid is a key part of a fair immigration system, which is why we are spending around £8m expanding access to legal aid, helping victims of modern slavery, individuals prioritised for removal and individuals appealing an age assessment decision.
The Legal Aid Agency keeps market capacity and the provision of services under constant review and takes immediate action when gaps appear, working with providers to ensure provision nationally.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government is taking steps to increase the availability of legal advice to people making an asylum claim.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government is committed to ensuring that those seeking asylum in this country have access to publicly funded legal advice and representation.
Access to legal aid is a key part of a fair immigration system, which is why we are spending around £8m expanding access to legal aid, helping victims of modern slavery, individuals prioritised for removal and individuals appealing an age assessment decision.
The Legal Aid Agency keeps market capacity and the provision of services under constant review and takes immediate action when gaps appear, working with providers to ensure provision nationally.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how (a) many and (b) what ethnicity of women were known to be pregnant while (i) on remand or (ii) serving a sentence in HMP Styal on (A) 31 March and (B) 30 June 2020.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Pregnancy data is collected and monitored locally by individual prisons to ensure the appropriate support can be provided to women in our care, whether women are on remand or sentenced.
I can confirm that an ad hoc data collection exercise was undertaken on the 28 January 2021 which indicates that the number of women known to be pregnant whilst on remand or serving a sentence in HMP Styal on 31 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 was fewer than three on each date. As the overall number is fewer than three and releasing the actual number would risk identification of individuals, it is not possible to give any more information about ethnicity, for the same reason.
On 31 July we published a summary report of our review of operational policy on pregnancy and women separated from children under 2. This includes an undertaking to extend the range of data we publish in relation to pregnant women in prison, and can be found at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/905559/summary-report-of-review-of-policy-on-mbu.pdf.
We have already taken steps to increase our internal national data collection processes to support the policy review, and to enable us to plan for future publication.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of (a) Band 3 prison officers on Fair and Sustainable terms and (b) all prison officers have (i) joined and (ii) left the Prison Service in each of the last eight quarters.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Table 1 - Band 3-5 Prison Officers1, Joiners2,3 by quarter ending December 2018 to September 2020
Headcount
| Three months to: | |||||||
| 31-Dec-18 | 31-Mar-19 | 30-Jun-19 | 30-Sep-19 | 31-Dec-19 | 31-Mar-20 | 30-Jun-20 | 30-Sep-20 |
New Joiners |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band 3 Prison Officers on Fair and Sustainable terms | 1,165 | 771 | 499 | 757 | 449 | 591 | 807 | 361 |
All Other Band 3 to 5 Prison Officers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Total Band 3-5 Prison Officers | 1,166 | 773 | 502 | 771 | 453 | 591 | 808 | 363 |
Average number of staff in post |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band 3 Prison Officers on Fair and Sustainable terms | 11,408 | 11,767 | 11,735 | 11,797 | 11,700 | 11,672 | 11,951 | 12,127 |
All Other Band 3 to 5 Prison Officers | 12,018 | 11,779 | 11,563 | 11,681 | 11,458 | 11,225 | 10,970 | 10,760 |
Total Band 3-5 Prison Officers | 23,425 | 23,546 | 23,298 | 23,477 | 23,157 | 22,897 | 22,921 | 22,886 |
New Joiners as a percentage of staff in post |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band 3 prison officers on Fair and Sustainable terms | 10% | 7% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 5% | 7% | 3% |
All Other Band 3 to 5 Prison Officers | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Total Band 3-5 Prison Officers | 5% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 2% |
Table 2 - Band 3-5 Prison Officer1 Leavers2,3 by quarter ending December 2018 to September 2020
Headcount
| Three months to: | |||||||
| 31-Dec-18 | 31-Mar-19 | 30-Jun-19 | 30-Sep-19 | 31-Dec-19 | 31-Mar-20 | 30-Jun-20 | 30-Sep-20 |
Leavers Band 3 Prison Officers on Fair and Sustainable terms | 454 | 454 | 475 | 585 | 487 | 437 | 266 | 367 |
All Other Band 3 to 5 Prison Officers | 232 | 207 | 227 | 232 | 219 | 190 | 167 | 148 |
Total Band 3-5 Prison Officers | 686 | 661 | 702 | 817 | 706 | 627 | 433 | 515 |
Average number of staff in post |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band 3 Prison Officers on Fair and Sustainable terms | 11,408 | 11,767 | 11,735 | 11,797 | 11,700 | 11,672 | 11,951 | 12,127 |
All Other Band 3 to 5 Prison Officers | 12,018 | 11,779 | 11,563 | 11,681 | 11,458 | 11,225 | 10,970 | 10,760 |
Total Band 3-5 Prison Officers | 23,425 | 23,546 | 23,298 | 23,477 | 23,157 | 22,897 | 22,921 | 22,886 |
Leavers as a percentage of staff in post |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band 3 prison officers on Fair and Sustainable terms | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 3% |
All Other Band 3 to 5 Prison Officers | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% |
Total Band 3-5 Prison Officers | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% |
Notes to Tables 1 and 2:
1. Includes Band 3-4 / Prison Officer (incl specialists), Band 4 / Supervising Officer and Band 5 / Custodial Managers. |
2. Movements due to machinery of Government changes or due to staff transferring to or from the private sector as a result of changes in the management of establishments are not included in these tables. Such movements are: |
On July 1, 2019, 468 FTE staff transferred back into HMPPS, as HMP Birmingham came back under public ownership. |
3. As with all HR databases, extracts are taken at a fixed point in time, to ensure consistency of reporting. However, the database itself is dynamic and where updates to the database are made late, subsequent to the taking of the extract, these updates will not be reflected in figures produced by the extract. For this reason, HR data are unlikely to be precisely accurate. We are working hard to retain staff with additional training to progress their careers, and significant investment to keep them safe. All staff have access to support, including 24/7 counselling, trauma support and occupational health assessments and we are professionalising the prison service with qualifications for new officers on completion of training. |
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prison officers are on (a) Fair and Sustainable terms and (b) closed grades, by rank.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Table 1 - Number and proportion of Band 3 to 5 Prison Officer by Fair and Sustainable and Closed term and grades, as at 30 September 2020
| Headcount | Percentage | ||||
| F&S | Closed | Total | F&S | Closed | Total |
Band 5 / Custodial Managers | 1,696 | 56 | 1,752 | 97% | 3% | 100% |
Band 4 / Supervising Officer | 1,407 | 571 | 1,978 | 71% | 29% | 100% |
Band 4 /Prison Officer Specialists | 1,203 | 1 | 1,204 | 100% | 0% | 100% |
Band 3 /Prison Officer | 12,018 | 5,765 | 17,783 | 68% | 32% | 100% |
Total | 16,324 | 6,393 | 22,717 | 72% | 28% | 100% |
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a prison whistleblowing hotline to enable staff to confidentially report health and safety concerns (a) during and (b) after the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will introduce such a hotline.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Staff are aware that they can report H&S concerns to their line managers, or a H&S qualified practitioner present at each establishment. The Ministry of Justice has whistle blowing procedures in place for employees who wish to raise any concerns, including the endangering of an individual’s health and safety. The current H&S reporting system also provides a reliable local and national reporting and recording tool that allows staff to voice their concerns and for H&S teams to monitor and take action where necessary. We therefore do not have any current plans to initiate a specific whistleblowing hotline or campaign.
All staff receive a full H&S induction upon commencement of their roles, which includes an introduction and explanation of the reporting and investigation process and local or notifications and contingencies are published by Governors advising staff of risks and to implement controls as necessary.
HMPPS operates both national and local health and safety committees across probation and custody in line with the legal requirements for consultation on health and safety matters and maintains active engagement with health and safety representatives. Such committees are held at least quarterly and attendance by staff and union representatives is actively encouraged. This is in addition to an extensive range of informal consultation and liaison both nationally and locally.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of a whistleblowing hotline to enable prison staff to confidentially report health and safety concerns (a) during and (b) after the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Staff are aware that they can report H&S concerns to their line managers, or a H&S qualified practitioner present at each establishment. The Ministry of Justice has whistle blowing procedures in place for employees who wish to raise any concerns, including the endangering of an individual’s health and safety. The current H&S reporting system also provides a reliable local and national reporting and recording tool that allows staff to voice their concerns and for H&S teams to monitor and take action where necessary. We therefore do not have any current plans to initiate a specific whistleblowing hotline or campaign.
All staff receive a full H&S induction upon commencement of their roles, which includes an introduction and explanation of the reporting and investigation process and local or notifications and contingencies are published by Governors advising staff of risks and to implement controls as necessary.
HMPPS operates both national and local health and safety committees across probation and custody in line with the legal requirements for consultation on health and safety matters and maintains active engagement with health and safety representatives. Such committees are held at least quarterly and attendance by staff and union representatives is actively encouraged. This is in addition to an extensive range of informal consultation and liaison both nationally and locally.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of launching a campaign to raise awareness among prison staff of their health and safety legal rights (a) during and (b) after the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will launch such a campaign.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Staff are aware that they can report H&S concerns to their line managers, or a H&S qualified practitioner present at each establishment. The Ministry of Justice has whistle blowing procedures in place for employees who wish to raise any concerns, including the endangering of an individual’s health and safety. The current H&S reporting system also provides a reliable local and national reporting and recording tool that allows staff to voice their concerns and for H&S teams to monitor and take action where necessary. We therefore do not have any current plans to initiate a specific whistleblowing hotline or campaign.
All staff receive a full H&S induction upon commencement of their roles, which includes an introduction and explanation of the reporting and investigation process and local or notifications and contingencies are published by Governors advising staff of risks and to implement controls as necessary.
HMPPS operates both national and local health and safety committees across probation and custody in line with the legal requirements for consultation on health and safety matters and maintains active engagement with health and safety representatives. Such committees are held at least quarterly and attendance by staff and union representatives is actively encouraged. This is in addition to an extensive range of informal consultation and liaison both nationally and locally.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of a campaign to raise awareness among prison staff of their health and safety legal rights (a) during and (b) after the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Staff are aware that they can report H&S concerns to their line managers, or a H&S qualified practitioner present at each establishment. The Ministry of Justice has whistle blowing procedures in place for employees who wish to raise any concerns, including the endangering of an individual’s health and safety. The current H&S reporting system also provides a reliable local and national reporting and recording tool that allows staff to voice their concerns and for H&S teams to monitor and take action where necessary. We therefore do not have any current plans to initiate a specific whistleblowing hotline or campaign.
All staff receive a full H&S induction upon commencement of their roles, which includes an introduction and explanation of the reporting and investigation process and local or notifications and contingencies are published by Governors advising staff of risks and to implement controls as necessary.
HMPPS operates both national and local health and safety committees across probation and custody in line with the legal requirements for consultation on health and safety matters and maintains active engagement with health and safety representatives. Such committees are held at least quarterly and attendance by staff and union representatives is actively encouraged. This is in addition to an extensive range of informal consultation and liaison both nationally and locally.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information on prison risk assessments his Department has shared with education providers.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
We continue to work collaboratively with all key prison education stakeholders, especially throughout the current pandemic period. The Exceptional Delivery Model for Education and Libraries is currently being developed in close consultation with all Prison Education Framework (PEF) providers to assist prisons in reinstating elements of their regimes in a safe and controlled way. This means that everyone working in prisons will have a very clear understanding of any risks and the appropriate mitigating measures.