Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Justin Madders Excerpts
Tuesday 6th March 2018

(6 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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I very much agree. Indeed, I advanced that argument this morning in a speech to the Royal Society of Arts. If prisoners are abiding by the rules and complying with what is required of them, governors should have more flexibility to reward them with additional privileges. I think that that could help to move people in the right direction and change behaviour in a positive way.

Justin Madders Portrait Justin Madders (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab)
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T10. The most recent figures from the Department show that only 6% of employment tribunal fees have been repaid, although the Supreme Court declared them unlawful last year. If the Department cannot uphold the law, how can it expect anyone else to?

Lucy Frazer Portrait Lucy Frazer
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The Department is responsible for upholding the law, and it does so. As for the specific issue of refunds, the Department has done a great deal of work in trying to explain to interested bodies how they can make a refund. It has written to Citizens Advice, the Law Society, the Bar Council and the Free Representation Unit. New figures will be published on 8 March. If people do not receive refunds, we will continue to liaise with them.