Contributions
882 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCovid-19: PrisonersMy Lords, I am perfectly content to take further questions on this issue as we seek to implement some of the recommendations of the IAP report. As I indicated, it has already been…16 Jul 2020HANSARDCovid-19: PrisonersMy Lords, we have encouraged prison governors to continue to operate peer support schemes, where possible, and issued guidance on how and why they should be maintained. We have…16 Jul 2020HANSARDCovid-19: PrisonersMy Lords, we are not going to rush into reviews of the kind that my noble and learned friend refers to at this stage. However, we are of course anxious to build on improvements…16 Jul 2020HANSARDCovid-19: PrisonersMy Lords, we have taken considerable steps in the implementation of the recommendations in the Lammy report.16 Jul 2020HANSARDCovid-19: PrisonersMy Lords, the Prison Service is not directly facilitating the issues relating to jury trials, but we are taking steps to introduce additional courts so that we can, essentially,…16 Jul 2020HANSARDCovid-19: PrisonersMy Lords, we welcome this report from the IAP on the experience of prisoners during Covid-19. The Government are committed to making safety a priority for all those in custody as…16 Jul 2020HANSARDCovid-19: PrisonersMy Lords, the end-of-custody temporary release on licence scheme was there essentially as a safety valve for capacity reasons. As the noble Lord observed, there have been 209…16 Jul 2020HANSARDCovid-19: PrisonersMy Lords, we are committed to developing a more robust community sentencing framework. We recognise the importance of that. With regard to the health of those within the prison…16 Jul 2020HANSARDCovid-19: PrisonersMy Lords, the scheme is there to ensure that there is a safety valve for capacity within our prison system. It has worked in that respect. The primary issue has to be public…16 Jul 2020HANSARDRoyal Commission on Criminal JusticeMy Lords, at this time we are not intending to make any decision with respect to smaller juries.15 Jul 2020HANSARDRoyal Commission on Criminal JusticeMy Lords, we are carefully addressing the scope, terms of reference and membership of the royal commission. In doing so, we will embrace the lessons that we can learn from the…15 Jul 2020HANSARDRoyal Commission on Criminal JusticeMy Lords, as I have indicated already, I am not yet in a position to confirm the remit of the royal commission as the terms of reference have not yet been published. Again, I…15 Jul 2020HANSARDRoyal Commission on Criminal JusticeMy Lords, as the noble Lord may be aware, the terms of reference of a royal commission cannot be altered. It is therefore critical that we determine and finalise those terms of…15 Jul 2020HANSARDRoyal Commission on Criminal JusticeMy Lords, thanks to the hard work of professionals across the criminal justice system, more than 150 courts have remained fully open to the public throughout the pandemic. By the…15 Jul 2020HANSARDRoyal Commission on Criminal JusticeMy Lords, we are looking at all the matters addressed by the noble Baroness and we have taken steps to open additional courts across the country. We continue with that endeavour…15 Jul 2020HANSARDRoyal Commission on Criminal JusticeMy Lords, we have previously announced increases in the provision for police numbers. With regard to the royal commission, the terms of reference have not yet been finalised; I am…15 Jul 2020HANSARDRoyal Commission on Criminal JusticeThe matter to which my noble friend refers is one of considerable importance but I cannot say that it is an issue that will be embraced by the royal commission.15 Jul 2020HANSARDRoyal Commission on Criminal JusticeMy Lords, we anticipate that the royal commission will be able to commence its work in the autumn, having before it a finalised set of terms of reference. We have to be realistic…15 Jul 2020HANSARDRoyal Commission on Criminal JusticeMy Lords, as I said, the terms of reference have not yet been finalised but, clearly, the royal commission will be addressing some of the more fundamental issues with regard to…15 Jul 2020HANSARDRoyal Commission on Criminal JusticeMy Lords, given the stage we have reached in this process, I cannot undertake to carry out such an exercise, which, I suspect, would result in considerable delay. We are in a…15 Jul 2020