Contributions
1,118 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Prison CapacityI am afraid that I do not accept that point.16 Oct 2023HANSARD Prison CapacityWhat a very disappointing response. I was surprised to hear that newfound interest in locking up rapists. Lest we forget, this Government are prosecuting more alleged rapists,…16 Oct 2023HANSARD Prison CapacityThe first part of the hon. Gentleman’s question, on IPPs, was absolutely right, and I am delighted to hear that he agrees. However, he is making a bad political point on the…16 Oct 2023HANSARD Prison CapacityWhat an excellent point to end on. It is critical that where a community is offended against, the offenders make that community whole—in other words, that they do the work,…16 Oct 2023HANSARD Prison CapacityMay I first put it on the record that no one could be a more doughty defender of the interests of the people of Buckingham than my hon. Friend, who raises with me time and again…16 Oct 2023HANSARD Prison CapacityMy hon. Friend is absolutely right that we want to ensure that all prisoners, and certainly young men, are steered away from crime. We now have a much better understanding, as a…16 Oct 2023HANSARD Prison CapacityI know that the hon. Gentleman cares passionately about joint enterprise, but I must tell him this: joint enterprise is the legal doctrine that means that the getaway driver is…16 Oct 2023HANSARD Prison CapacityMy hon. Friend is completely correct. We in this Chamber all know that the context for offending—not an excuse, but the context—can be deep-seated problems of addiction,…16 Oct 2023HANSARDJusticeThe hon. Lady began by expressing concern on behalf of her constituents. She was right to raise that. I invite her and her constituents to consider the remarks of the Metropolitan…11 Sept 2023HANSARDJusticeIt is an overriding and overwhelming priority for me to increase staff numbers, and I am pleased that they are increasing. Of course, I want them to go up further, but it is…11 Sept 2023HANSARDHMPPS UpdateThat is one of the very issues that is being looked into urgently.07 Sept 2023HANSARDHMPPS UpdateThank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. With your permission, I would like to make a statement on the escape from HMP Wandsworth yesterday morning, Wednesday 6 September, of a prisoner…07 Sept 2023HANSARDHMPPS UpdateThe hon. Gentleman asks a really probing question and makes an important point, if I may say so. The decision about where he was held was based on an assessment of the…07 Sept 2023HANSARDHMPPS UpdateI thank the hon. Lady for raising those points. She is right about staffing; we need to drive it up. As I indicated, we have done things that make a meaningful difference—I was…07 Sept 2023HANSARDHMPPS UpdateI agree with all the hon. Gentleman’s remarks. Every prisons Minister and Secretary of State, whether Labour or Conservative, will say that prison officers do a wonderful job, and…07 Sept 2023HANSARDHMPPS UpdateI am grateful to the hon. Lady for raising those points on behalf of her constituents. We all have a duty, which she will uphold as well as anyone else, to ensure that people are…07 Sept 2023HANSARDHMPPS UpdateIt is worth stepping back and reflecting for a moment on the fact that the programme of infra- structure investment in prisons is second in Government only to HS2. A huge amount…07 Sept 2023HANSARDHMPPS UpdateThe hon. Lady began by expressing concern on behalf of her constituents. She was right to raise that. I invite her and her constituents to consider the remarks of the Metropolitan…07 Sept 2023HANSARDHMPPS UpdateMy hon. Friend is right to draw attention to these matters. As I have indicated, the inquiry must take its course and the issue of staffing will no doubt be considered.…07 Sept 2023HANSARDHMPPS UpdateI begin by welcoming the hon. Lady to her place, and I will try to address the points she raises. I was pleased to hear her remarks about not wanting to prejudice a future trial,…07 Sept 2023