Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of changes to the operation or administration of the Supreme Court as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Dominic Raab
There are no plans to make changes to the operation or the administration of the Supreme Court as a result of the UK leaving the EU. We are engaging with both the Supreme Court and the judiciary to ensure that our courts are prepared for any effects of leaving the EU.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is on the replacement of Victorian prisons with new-build prisons.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
We have committed to transforming our prison estate by investing £1.3bn to deliver up to 10,000 new places.
This includes pushing ahead with plans to close or redevelop older prisons and open new accommodation in this parliament.
This will help deliver prisons that are more safe and secure, so our staff can work more closely with offenders to change their lives and turn their back on crime for good.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what her plans are for the (a) building of new prisons and (b) closure of prisons constructed in the Victorian period; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
We will close down ageing and ineffective prisons, replacing them with buildings fit for today’s demands. HM Prison Berwyn opened at the end of February this year, with a capacity of around 2,100 places. In addition, we will build up to 10,000 further prison places on a ‘new for old’ basis.
We have applied for planning permission to redevelop the sites at HMP Wellingborough and HMP/YOI Glen Parva.
We are currently considering sites for new prison places and will set out plans shortly. No further decisions have been taken on prison closures.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress the Government has made in returning foreign nationals to their own countries after they have completed a prison term in the UK.
Answered by Phillip Lee
Those who break our laws should be removed from the country at the earliest opportunity. In 2015/16, we removed 5,810 Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) from prisons, immigration removal centres and the community, the highest number ever. Over 33,000 FNOs have been removed since 2010.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when she plans to announce the sites for the Prisons Investment programme.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
We are investing £1.3 billion to reform and modernise the prison estate to make it more efficient, safer and focused on supporting prisoner rehabilitation. We will build new prisons and close prisons that are in poor condition and those which do not have a long-term future in the estate.
We are currently considering sites for new prison places and will set out plans shortly.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans are in place to improve security at Wellingborough Prison to prevent travellers encroaching on the site.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
Following the travellers’ occupation of the main car park at the former HMP Wellingborough, we took immediate action to seek their removal including pursuing the matter through the courts. The travellers were evicted on 3 October and we put security guards in place until a permanent solution could be installed. On 13 October we installed concrete barriers to prevent future encroachment at the site.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans she has to re-open Wellingborough Prison.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
We are investing £1.3 billion to reform and modernise the prison estate to make it more efficient, safer and focused on supporting prisoner rehabilitation. We will build new prisons and close prisons that are in poor condition and those which do not have a long-term future in the estate.
We are currently considering sites for new prison places and will set out plans shortly.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans she has to open new prisons.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
We have a big issue with prisons that are out of date and not fit for purpose, which makes it more difficult for our excellent governors and officers to manage them well. We have a £1.3 billion building programme. I want new modern prisons to be built in which prisoners will get the education and work they need to succeed in outside life and to close down some of our most dilapidated and out of date prisons. HM Prison Berwyn, a modern 2,106 place prison in Wrexham will open in 2017.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2015 to Question 18626, what estimate he has made of the average cost of (a) the five new prisons planned to be open in the current Parliament and (b) the four new prisons planned to open after the current Parliament; and what estimate he has made of the average time that will be taken from application for planning permission to completion in each such set of such prisons.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to PQ 18626 on 8 December 2015.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the (a) average cost of building new prisons planned by the Government and (b) length of time it will take from conception to completion to build such a prison.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
£1.3bn will be invested to reform and modernise the prison estate to make it more efficient, safer and focused on supporting prisoner rehabilitation. The government will build nine new, modern prisons, five of which will open in this Parliament and the rest shortly after.