Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Gordon Henderson Excerpts
Tuesday 23rd April 2019

(5 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Edward Argar Portrait Edward Argar
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I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. As he will be aware, we have brought forward the draft Domestic Abuse Bill, which we are currently considering in the Joint Committee. We would very much welcome any reflections he has as part of that process before we draft definitive legislation to bring forward to the House.

Gordon Henderson Portrait Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) (Con)
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During an earlier answer, my hon. Friend the Prisons Minister mentioned the roll-out of PAVA spray. When will it be completed?

Rory Stewart Portrait The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Rory Stewart)
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I am delighted to be able to remind the House that PAVA spray is an incapacitating spray and that it can be safer, when dealing with acts of extreme violence, to use a spray rather than pulling out a baton or rolling around with someone on the ground. We need to use these sprays in a moderate, controlled fashion, but they can reduce extreme violence in prisons and protect our prison officers, so we are proud to be rolling them out.