Prisoner Early Release Scheme

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Catherine Atkinson

Tuesday 13th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Chair of the Justice Select Committee.

[Catherine Atkinson (Derby North) (Lab)]

Tagging could be a way to provide real reassurance to communities and victims, but only if tags are fitted promptly and offenders are monitored. In April of last year, the Justice Committee raised concerns in writing about the time being taken to fit tags, and the Institute for Government found that between January and April of this year, more than 5,000 people who should have been monitored were not tagged—that equates to 15% of all people with an electronic tagging order. It also found that almost 1,600 people wearing a tag were wearing one that did not send a signal, due to technical faults or the device not being charged. Can the Minister tell us whether anything has changed since April? Specifically, what percentage of GPS tags are now being fitted on time? What is the longest time an offender can wait before monitoring begins, and when will offenders be tagged on day one, as victims and the public should be able to expect?

[Jake Richards]

My hon. Friend is right to highlight the importance of not just having a tagging regime that works, but making sure that that regime is robustly monitored and scrutinised. Since March of this year, there have been improvements by Serco, the company that is operating the tagging regime. My hon. Friend will no doubt have seen the National Audit Office report, and we will fully respond to it in detail as and when the full report is published later this month.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Catherine Atkinson

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I welcome the new Chair of the Justice Committee.

[Catherine Atkinson (Derby North) (Lab)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Government’s progress on deporting foreign national offenders is welcome, but how will the Minister work with the Home Office to ensure that receiving countries are informed of the convictions of offenders, particularly those involving violence, sexual offending or exploitation, so that countries have the information they need to keep their public safe?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Catherine Atkinson

Tuesday 30th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Catherine Atkinson]

I absolutely join the hon. Gentleman in celebrating the work of Eastbourne Survivors. He is right that domestic violence is a choice for perpetrators; it is not about the score when the final whistle goes. To frame it in any other way does a significant disservice in allowing perpetrators to try to deflect from their actions.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Minister.

--- Later in debate ---

[Catherine Atkinson]

I thank my hon. Friend for all her actions to support her constituent. Local authorities in England are legally required to assess and address the need for safe accommodation for domestic abuse victims who need to flee their home. All our thoughts will be with her constituent; I hope she secures suitable safe accommodation soon. Considering how tenacious and determined her Member of Parliament is, it will, I hope, be very soon indeed.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Father of the House.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Catherine Atkinson

Wednesday 24th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Catherine Atkinson]

Our police receive calls relating to domestic violence every 30 seconds. Victims of domestic violence need to be treated well, and to see much more action taken, whether we are talking about our police, our courts, or the services that victims need. This Government are taking that action, not only by putting domestic abuse specialists in 999 call centres, but through domestic abuse protection orders, but we know that there is so much more that is needed by victims of domestic abuse.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Minister for Women.

[Mims Davies (East Grinstead and Uckfield) (Con)]

As a 16-year-old, Kate worked a summer at Harrods. In 2024, she told her story of being raped at work. Intimate medical examinations were carried out on women by senior Harrods staff and security. Hundreds of women’s attacks were silenced. How will the Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors be heard? I met some of those brave women this week. How will they get the whole truth, justice, and systemic change, if the Met police inquiry remains stalled, and if enablers—some of them women—are left at large? Incredibly, over 500 victims still need answers.

[Catherine Atkinson]

I have met victims and campaigners from the al-Fayed campaign, as has the Prime Minister. We must ensure that no matter who you are or where you are, there is always justice. I look forward to continuing to work with campaigners to ensure that they get justice.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Catherine Atkinson

Tuesday 19th May 2026 Commons Chamber

[Catherine Atkinson]

Baroness Harman’s record speaks for itself. She has spent decades turning words into action, whether by passing landmark legislation, strengthening protections or relentlessly pushing this issue, which should never be used for party political point scoring, up the political agenda. It is this Prime Minister and this Government who are determined to halve violence against women and girls. Our VAWG strategy sets out the plan to do so, and we are getting on with the job of delivering it.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Minister.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Catherine Atkinson

Monday 21st July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The Minister will answer the question as she sees fit. The hon. Member may be frustrated, but we will carry on.

[Catherine Atkinson (Derby North) (Lab)]

6. What steps she is taking to help improve the condition of the further education college estate.

Business of the House

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Catherine Atkinson

Thursday 12th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Catherine Atkinson (Derby North) (Lab)]

Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Sussex Circus Fish Bar in Chaddesden for its 50 years of frying, and its owner Ronnie, who was two weeks old when his parents opened it? With one in seven of us choosing to have fish and chips for Christmas dinner, a debate on the enduring contribution of chippies to our national culture and cuisine and as a focal point in our communities would be timely, allowing us to discuss how we can support and thank those high street food business that serve us at this time of year.

[Mr Speaker]

They’ll be cold at this rate.