Contributions
399 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPrisoner Release ChecksDecisions such as on the noble Baroness’s last point are far above my pay grade, but I shall just mention two points. First, on release in error, any release in error is far too…29 Oct 2025HANSARDPrisoner Release ChecksI thank the noble Lords, Lord Wolfson and Lord Marks, for their contributions on these incredibly important issues. I will of course respond to as many of the points raised as…29 Oct 2025HANSARDEducation in PrisonsI thank my noble friend for the question. In over 70% of the meetings I have, AI is mentioned. Often, it is mentioned as a way that will solve problems much further down the line,…21 Oct 2025HANSARDEducation in PrisonsI completely agree. Stability is really important. That is one of the things that I am trying to get into the system. The Sentencing Bill that will come to your Lordships’ House…21 Oct 2025HANSARDEducation in PrisonsMy noble friend is aware that we are very reliant on fantastic teachers and educators in our prisons. For me, they are some of the finest public servants. They come in, day in,…21 Oct 2025HANSARDEducation in PrisonsI met the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, yesterday, and we discussed exactly this situation. We discussed, for example, Manchester prison, which used to have over…21 Oct 2025HANSARDEducation in PrisonsI am a big fan of the Shannon Trust. It does fantastic work in many prisons and I would like to see more of it. A number of other third-sector organisations play an equally…21 Oct 2025HANSARDEducation in PrisonsWe inherited a crisis in our justice system and I am passionate and focused on providing good education and work opportunities, which are vital to prisoner rehabilitation. The…21 Oct 2025HANSARDEducation in PrisonsThe noble Lord and I share the ambition for our prisons to be places where people turn their lives around, and education has a big part to play in that. We are making progress. In…21 Oct 2025HANSARDEducation in PrisonsI was clear when I started in this role that it is going to take time to fix what is a complex and troublesome system. Therefore, I cannot say exactly what I can achieve in the…21 Oct 2025HANSARDPrisoners: ReoffendingHaving been to prisons in Holland before, it is clear that they have a different approach. With the Sentencing Bill, which will come to your Lordships’ House soon, the inspiration…14 Oct 2025HANSARDPrisoners: ReoffendingMy noble friend is right; this is absolutely vital for a number of people who leave prison. Some 49% of people go into prison with drug and alcohol problems. I have set up a drug…14 Oct 2025HANSARDPrisoners: ReoffendingI believe that everybody who leaves prison should have the opportunity for a full life after they have served their punishment. We need to run prisons well, and it is difficult to…14 Oct 2025HANSARDPrisoners: ReoffendingThe extra £700 million for probation is a 45% increase. From what I have learned, all roads lead back to probation, and so that is where we need to focus our investment. We are…14 Oct 2025HANSARDPrisoners: ReoffendingMy noble friend is right that, in the past, that has been a significant problem. It still happens, but it happens far less. We try to release people on a Thursday, but some are…14 Oct 2025HANSARDPrisoners: ReoffendingEducation is absolutely vital. We want people to leave prison able to read and write, and far too many do not. The education budget is not being cut; we just get less value for…14 Oct 2025HANSARDPrisoners: ReoffendingMy noble friend is right. We inherited a very difficult situation. Having been around prisons for 25 years, I know that we need to get to a point where it is sustainable, and that…14 Oct 2025HANSARDPrisoners: ReoffendingReducing reoffending is my top priority. To break the cycle of crime, we are strengthening the rehabilitation offer in prison and the community, including increasing probation…14 Oct 2025HANSARDCriminal Justice Act 2003 (Removal of Prisoners for Deportation) Order 2025That the draft Order and Regulations laid before the House on 25 and 26 June be approved. Relevant document: 31st Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (special…15 Sept 2025HANSARDIPP SentencesThe Parole Board are the experts in deciding who is safe to be released. The release tests that it has are robust and fair, but we need to make sure that when people are in front…15 Sept 2025