Contributions
399 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSentencing BillMy Lords, it is my pleasure to close the Second Reading debate on this vital Bill. I thank noble Lords for their contributions and thank those who have spoken to me privately. I…12 Nov 2025HANSARDSentencing BillThat the bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House, and that it be an instruction to the Committee of the Whole House that they consider the bill in the following order:…12 Nov 2025HANSARDSentencing BillThat the Bill be now read a second time.12 Nov 2025HANSARDAccidental Prison ReleasesThe Deputy Prime Minister did not have the accurate information, because the information was changing by the minute; but what was certain is that, when we knew exactly what the…10 Nov 2025HANSARDAccidental Prison ReleasesMy noble friend is absolutely right that the independent monitoring boards in our prisons do a really vital job. In every prison I go to, I try to meet the IMB leaders—the…10 Nov 2025HANSARDAccidental Prison ReleasesI thank my noble friend for that important question. I have been visiting prisons and been interested in this area for 25 years, and with the previous Government I saw a lack of…10 Nov 2025HANSARDAccidental Prison ReleasesThe noble and learned Lord and I know each other very well. I hope he knows that I have my own view on this, because, like him, I visit lots of prisons all the time. It is clear…10 Nov 2025HANSARDAccidental Prison ReleasesThe Ministry of Justice has a programme called Enable, around how we develop the skills of our fantastic staff. In the short term, we have introduced new checklists that are more…10 Nov 2025HANSARDAccidental Prison ReleasesI am not aware of the exact details, but I am happy to write to the noble Lord when I get them.10 Nov 2025HANSARDAccidental Prison ReleasesThe noble Lord will recognise that Dame Lynne Owens is a superb choice to do this investigation. I have already met with her, last week, to talk about the scope. She will be…10 Nov 2025HANSARDAccidental Prison ReleasesMy Lords, any release in error is one too many. Releases in error have been increasing for years and are another symptom of the justice system crisis inherited by this Government.…10 Nov 2025HANSARDAccidental Prison ReleasesI thank the noble Lord for the question. One of my roles over the last couple of weeks was to be on a number of calls with police colleagues, and it was clear to me what an…10 Nov 2025HANSARDAccidental Prison ReleasesThe number of people going to prison has increased and the number in prison will increase, but that is because reoffending rates are too high. Too many people are leaving prison…10 Nov 2025HANSARDAccidental Prison ReleasesI thank my noble friend. The checklists that we have made more robust are the same checklists across all prisons, but the number of releases per prison varies dramatically. HMP…10 Nov 2025HANSARDAccidental Prison ReleasesThe process is a mixture of paperwork and computers and digital. In an offender management unit, there are literally boxes and boxes of paperwork, all over desks and on the floor,…10 Nov 2025HANSARDAccidental Prison ReleasesBoth the Deputy Prime Minister and me were informed first thing on Wednesday morning when we woke up. The Deputy Prime Minister quite rightly thought it was irresponsible to…10 Nov 2025HANSARDAccidental Prison ReleasesIt is right that the Government want to bring down net migration, and we are supporting the staff who are affected. I have to say that the staff I have met do a fantastic job and…10 Nov 2025HANSARDPrison Services: InsourcingAcross the English and Welsh prisons, we have 270 local contracts, with 88 education suppliers, including many voluntary organisations. I have regular meetings and conversations…05 Nov 2025HANSARDPrison Services: InsourcingI completely agree. Having run a business for a long time, and paid a lot of tax, I am very aware that I want it spent wisely. Let me give one example: BT does the majority of our…05 Nov 2025HANSARDPrison Services: InsourcingThe noble Lord will be well aware that we have lots of maintenance issues in our prisons, 25% of which are Victorian. In HMP Preston, the first governor was appointed in 1790, and…05 Nov 2025