🗣️ Speeches and Debates
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The Minister referred to the interim custody orders, and how the Bill is going to put beyond doubt the validity of interim custody orders, and the reappraisal and reconfirmation of the Carltona principle. This is a reference to how the first-instance judgment in Dillon was going to allow Gerry Adams and a number of other people to sue for the alleged unlawful detention by the Government. The...
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My Lords, in the King’s Speech we were told that the Government are going to pursue a foreign policy “based on a calm assessment of the national interest”. The Prime Minister often reassures us that he intends to act in the national interest. I would have thought that went without saying. But with lawyers at the helm of government, perhaps it is intended to counter the strong impression...
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Further to the question from the noble Lord, Lord West, I understand that the amount that Lord Mandelson is to receive is much less than he asked for. The Minister said that that was to save costs. In many cases, there is surely a commercial reason for settling, but, given that this case is of such constitutional importance, would it not be far better to see whether a court agrees that Lord...
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The prosecuting authorities have decided in these cases, for whatever reason, that they think it appropriate to bring a prosecution, to bring the matter before a court where a jury determines what is right. We trust juries—I know that it is a contentious issue at the moment as to what extent we trust them and in what circumstances—but in cases of this sort juries will remain, whatever...
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My Lords, my name is on the series of amendments that the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, has spoken to, and I will make a few brief comments in support of them. Before I do, I shall make a few observations about Amendment 394. The noble Lord, Lord Davies, has not yet spoken to it, and he may be able to answer all the points I will make. I start by saying that I share—with all noble Lords, I...
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I am grateful to all those who took part in this debate. I think the issues have rather narrowed between those who have taken part in it. For the first time during the course of these debates on this issue, we had some drafting points from the noble Lord, Lord Marks. They have come late, but none the less I will deal with them. The first point is that the noble Lord did not like my proposed...
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My Lords, this group of amendments was due to be heard last Wednesday. We were sent away just before midnight but reassured that they would be heard first thing on Monday. Well, it is 9.30 pm; I suppose that is first thing. Amendment 377 is an important amendment, supported by the noble Lords, Lord Godson, Lord Hogan-Howe and Lord Davies. It is about lawful or reasonable excuse for public...
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My Lords, the right to protest is an interesting concept. We all agree, on all sides of the House, that there is a right to protest. But, as with most rights—the right to free speech or the right to assemble, for example—in English common law it is not part of our law but part of our common law. We have an absence of fundamental liberties; you are free to do things unless the law...
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✍️ Written Questions and Answers
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Each prison’s staffing level is carefully designed to provide a safe, decent and secure environment for staff and prisoners. In March 2016 there were an extra 530 prison staff across the prison estate compared with January 2015; and NOMS will continue to recruit sufficient Prison Officers to support full delivery of the Benchmark in each establishment. A further £10 million has also been...
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Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons has a statutory duty to report to the Secretary of State for Justice on conditions in prisons, and the treatment of prisoners, in all prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales. For each inspection completed, a report is published which includes recommendations for improvement. These reports are all in the public domain and...
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There are no plans to withdraw the contracts of any privately managed prisons. Privately-managed prisons have been a key feature of the prison estate for 20 years. Some of our best prisons are operated by private providers, and they will continue to play a crucial role in rehabilitating offenders.
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The National Offender Management Service has a range of measures for monitoring fire safety in prisons. NOMS does not specifically monitor the number of arson incidents in prisons.
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On 9 November 2015, the government announced a £1.3bn investment to reform and modernise the prison estate to make it more efficient, safer and focused on supporting prisoner rehabilitation. The Secretary of State for Justice announced on 25 November 2015 that HM Prison and Young Offender Institution Holloway would be closed as the first stage of this programme. HMP Holloway was closed on...
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All women transferred from Holloway were carefully assessed as part of the prison’s closure planning. The assessment sought to ensure that they were held as close to home as was practicable given their individual circumstances.
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Re-offending rates are not currently available broken down by different levels of education attainment. We want to improve education so prisoners are less likely to commit crime on release. That is why we are investing in a modern prison estate, where governors are empowered to run prisons in the way they think best, and prisoners are given a chance to work or learn. It is only through more...
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Radicalisation is a process rather than an event and therefore it is not possible to identify with any certainty which prisoners have been radicalised specifically during their time in prison. Extremism is one of the biggest threats facing this country. That is why the Justice Secretary commissioned a review of Islamist extremism in prisons. As we have made clear, the report has been received...
More of Lord Faulks's written questions
