Oral Answers to Questions — Justice – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24th January 2017.
How many foreign national offenders are in prison; and what steps she is taking to return those people to prison in their own countries.
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Poland has one of the biggest national groups of foreign national offenders in our prisons. Poland’s derogation from the compulsory EU prisoner transfer directive was due to expire in December 2016. Are we now in a position to send these Polish prisoners back to prison in their own country?
All eligible Polish nationals have been identified and deportation orders sought. We have referred cases to the Polish courts, and transfers will take place once Polish legal procedures have been completed.
Does the Minister think the number of prisoner transfers will go up or down after we leave the EU?
We have already been in touch with the Department for Exiting the European Union on prisoner transfer agreements, but, as I said in my opening answer, that is one way of removing prisoners from this country. The early removal scheme is another way, and we have been successful at removing a lot of prisoners through that scheme.
Has the Ministry of Justice made an assessment of how many British offenders are held in foreign prisons?
There is a number available, but I do not have it to hand. I am willing to provide it, if the hon. Lady wants to follow up.