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760 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDProbate: Waiting TimesMy Lords, I very much apologise to the noble Baroness for that incident. I hope that I have made it clear that this is a priority. We have to sort this out.08 Dec 2022HANSARDProbate: Waiting TimesMy Lords, I invite the noble Lord to write to me or the relevant Minister in the other place with that particular problem so that we can address the issue. That is not the sort of…08 Dec 2022HANSARDProbate: Waiting TimesMy Lords, there is no recommended wait time to produce a grant of probate. However, despite the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, average wait times for probate following…08 Dec 2022HANSARDProbate: Waiting TimesMy Lords, as far as I am aware, the problems in the probate registry are not related to persons working at home, but I will make further inquiries for my noble friend Lord…08 Dec 2022HANSARDProbate: Waiting TimesMy Lords, first, I apologise to my noble friend and all those affected by unacceptable delays in the probate registry. Secondly, active steps are being taken to fix the problem.…08 Dec 2022HANSARDProbate: Waiting TimesMy Lords, I think that I have already conceded that there have been difficulties and some degree of failure in the registry. I understand that the 10-day limit is not intended to…08 Dec 2022HANSARDProbate: Waiting TimesI fully associate myself with the noble Baroness’s remarks. It is completely right that these issues should be raised, and I congratulate my noble friend Lady Meyer on raising…08 Dec 2022HANSARDPrison CapacityI thank the noble Lord and will certainly bone up on the mental health Bill, as he suggests. It is true that the proportion of prisoners suffering from mental health problems is…06 Dec 2022HANSARDPrison CapacityMy Lords, that is a question directed to the education system and slightly outside my present brief. But I would hope that everything is being done to educate children in…06 Dec 2022HANSARDPrison CapacityWe do have an issue, as my noble friend puts it, around managing mental health in the community and among prisoners. I hope the Mental Health Bill will help to address that. This…06 Dec 2022HANSARDPrison CapacityWe are working hard on a recruitment programme for prison officers. I do not have the exact figures in front of me, but I think we have recruited an additional 5,000 or so in…06 Dec 2022HANSARDPrison CapacityOn a point of detail, the Government do not send anyone to prison. These are court decisions.06 Dec 2022HANSARDPrison CapacityI accept my noble friend’s points about family relationships and their importance. They should be borne in mind in the rehabilitation programme and in post-release care.06 Dec 2022HANSARDPrison CapacityThe matter of prisoners being held on remand, particularly black prisoners, is again a matter for the courts, before the question of remand or bail comes. The Government…06 Dec 2022HANSARDPrison CapacityMy Lords, in relation to specific costs, no, but in relation to the general question of whether we should improve and develop educational facilities in prison, particularly so…06 Dec 2022HANSARDPrison CapacityMy Lords, action is being taken on transgender issues in the prison estate. I do not have the details with me, but I will write to my noble friend with the up-to-date position.06 Dec 2022HANSARDPrison CapacityMy Lords, in relation to the comment from Rhyl in north Wales, I entirely take the point that is being made. Unfortunately, the courts sometimes feel that a short sentence is the…06 Dec 2022HANSARDPrison CapacityMy Lords, I cannot comment on the specific case, although I know that action has been taken. Again, I can follow up with details of what action has been. The Ministry and HMPPS do…06 Dec 2022HANSARDPrison CapacityMy Lords, as I have just said, that is an area for the courts. Judges, of course, have fairly extensive training in sentencing and I think I can fairly say that no judge would…06 Dec 2022HANSARDPrison CapacityI thank my noble friend Lord Clarke for that question. The Government place the highest premium on rehabilitation and reducing the reoffending rate. The Government’s position is…06 Dec 2022