Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the report, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Women in Prison, published by the Traveller Movement on 17 March 2021, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the findings of that report.

The Ministry of Justice is in active contact with the Traveller Movement, among other advocacy groups, and is examining the use of community sentences for the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community. The findings of the Traveller Movement’s report on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller women are valuable to inform policy and practice changes. The Ministry of Justice published new guidance in 2020 for frontline staff working with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller individuals. This provides information and advice, alongside an explanation of intersectionality and inter-related disadvantage, including a specific section on women.