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Written Question
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Thursday 28th April 2022

Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar on 21 February (HL5934), when they plan to (1) submit, and (2) publish, the UK’s 7th Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.


Written Question
Prisoners' Release: Females
Thursday 24th February 2022

Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Prison Reform Trust report Safe Homes for Women Leaving Prison, published in October 2020, particularly the recommendation that official data should account for women falling into "hidden homelessness" after leaving prison.

Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar

We welcome the findings from the Safe Homes for Women Leaving Prison report and while there is no specific recommendation regarding “hidden homelessness”, we recognise the importance of consistent data as referenced within the report.

To ensure consistent and accurate data recording, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), in collaboration with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) and the Welsh Government, has recently updated the Accommodation Recording Guidance to ensure probation regions have a clear and consistent understanding of the accommodation status definitions, and how to record accurately. The Guidance defines homelessness as where an individual is rough sleeping, squatting, residing in night shelters, emergency hostels or campsites.

Data on accommodation outcomes for supervised prison leavers disaggregated by gender is currently recorded and published in the Community Performance Annual, update to March 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The Target Operating Model for probation services in England and Wales, published in February 2021, included a target on the number of individuals being housed on release from custody (90%), and a target concerning settled accommodation for all supervised individuals (those released from prison and those on community sentences) three months after commencement of their supervision (80%).


Written Question
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Thursday 17th February 2022

Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have not yet submitted the UK state party’s report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as part of the seventh periodic review, which was due by 30 June 2021; and when they expect to submit it.

Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar

The submission of the UK’s 7th Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has been delayed due to a number of factors, including the Covid-19 pandemic.

A letter alerting the Secretariat of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to the delay was sent in December 2020 and a revised timeframe of early 2022 has since been agreed.

The Government now aims to submit and publish its report shortly.


Written Question
Prisoners' Release: Females
Wednesday 19th January 2022

Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the link between homelessness and reoffending for women leaving prison.

Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar

We recognise how important it is that everyone leaving prison should have somewhere to live, as accommodation enables offenders to hold down a job and reduces the likelihood of them re-offending.

Community Probation Practitioners and Homelessness Prevention Teams take proactive steps before release with prison leavers at risk of homelessness, including referral to Local Housing Authorities and working with partners and providers.

Evidence shows that there is a link between homelessness and reoffending; Prison leavers without settled accommodation are 50 per cent more likely to reoffend. The Government has, therefore, made addressing rough sleeping a priority and the Ministry of Justice is committed to working across government to end rough sleeping.

The Target Operating Model for probation services in England and Wales, published in February 2021, included performance measures for prison leavers housed on release from custody (90%), and settled accommodation for all supervised individuals (those released from prison and those on community sentences) three months after commencement of their supervision (80%). Accommodation circumstances for offenders are reported annually as official statistics. Data for the period 01 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 will be published in July 2022 in the Community Performance Annual report.

The Prisons Strategy White Paper, published in December, sets out our vision for reducing reoffending. This includes our aim that no-one subject to probation supervision is released from prison homeless. We are therefore expanding our new Community Accommodation Service to support the thousands of people in England and Wales who leave prison each year without accommodation. The service takes account of the needs of women, including those with complex needs, with accommodation provision dedicated to single gender usage as required. Community Probation Practitioners, working together with local partners, are responsible for ensuring that vulnerable female prison leavers receive appropriate support and are provided with housing beyond the 12 weeks emergency accommodation.


Written Question
Prisoners' Release: Females
Wednesday 19th January 2022

Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are available to the Community Accommodation Service to account for the needs of women leaving prison.

Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar

We recognise how important it is that everyone leaving prison should have somewhere to live, as accommodation enables offenders to hold down a job and reduces the likelihood of them re-offending.

Community Probation Practitioners and Homelessness Prevention Teams take proactive steps before release with prison leavers at risk of homelessness, including referral to Local Housing Authorities and working with partners and providers.

Evidence shows that there is a link between homelessness and reoffending; Prison leavers without settled accommodation are 50 per cent more likely to reoffend. The Government has, therefore, made addressing rough sleeping a priority and the Ministry of Justice is committed to working across government to end rough sleeping.

The Target Operating Model for probation services in England and Wales, published in February 2021, included performance measures for prison leavers housed on release from custody (90%), and settled accommodation for all supervised individuals (those released from prison and those on community sentences) three months after commencement of their supervision (80%). Accommodation circumstances for offenders are reported annually as official statistics. Data for the period 01 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 will be published in July 2022 in the Community Performance Annual report.

The Prisons Strategy White Paper, published in December, sets out our vision for reducing reoffending. This includes our aim that no-one subject to probation supervision is released from prison homeless. We are therefore expanding our new Community Accommodation Service to support the thousands of people in England and Wales who leave prison each year without accommodation. The service takes account of the needs of women, including those with complex needs, with accommodation provision dedicated to single gender usage as required. Community Probation Practitioners, working together with local partners, are responsible for ensuring that vulnerable female prison leavers receive appropriate support and are provided with housing beyond the 12 weeks emergency accommodation.


Written Question
Prisoners' Release: Females
Wednesday 19th January 2022

Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of hidden homelessness among women leaving prison; and how, if at all, this is recorded in accommodation outcomes.

Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar

We recognise how important it is that everyone leaving prison should have somewhere to live, as accommodation enables offenders to hold down a job and reduces the likelihood of them re-offending.

Community Probation Practitioners and Homelessness Prevention Teams take proactive steps before release with prison leavers at risk of homelessness, including referral to Local Housing Authorities and working with partners and providers.

Evidence shows that there is a link between homelessness and reoffending; Prison leavers without settled accommodation are 50 per cent more likely to reoffend. The Government has, therefore, made addressing rough sleeping a priority and the Ministry of Justice is committed to working across government to end rough sleeping.

The Target Operating Model for probation services in England and Wales, published in February 2021, included performance measures for prison leavers housed on release from custody (90%), and settled accommodation for all supervised individuals (those released from prison and those on community sentences) three months after commencement of their supervision (80%). Accommodation circumstances for offenders are reported annually as official statistics. Data for the period 01 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 will be published in July 2022 in the Community Performance Annual report.

The Prisons Strategy White Paper, published in December, sets out our vision for reducing reoffending. This includes our aim that no-one subject to probation supervision is released from prison homeless. We are therefore expanding our new Community Accommodation Service to support the thousands of people in England and Wales who leave prison each year without accommodation. The service takes account of the needs of women, including those with complex needs, with accommodation provision dedicated to single gender usage as required. Community Probation Practitioners, working together with local partners, are responsible for ensuring that vulnerable female prison leavers receive appropriate support and are provided with housing beyond the 12 weeks emergency accommodation.


Written Question
Prisoners' Release: Females
Tuesday 22nd June 2021

Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will ensure women prison leavers supported by the Ministry of Justice’s temporary accommodation service are supported into permanent accommodation.

Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar

We are investing more than £20m in supporting prison leavers at risk of homelessness into temporary accommodation. Individuals released from prison will be provided up to 12 weeks of temporary accommodation and will be supported into long-term settled accommodation before the end of that 12-week period. Initially launching in five national probation regions, the service will support around 3,000 offenders in its first year and will be commencing this Summer. It will be in operation during the financial year 2021-22, with a view to scaling up and rolling out nationally.

The service will take account of the needs of women, including those with complex needs and accommodation provision will be dedicated to single gender usage as required. Community Probation Practitioners, working together with local partners, will be responsible for ensuring that vulnerable female prison leavers receive appropriate support and are provided with housing beyond the 12 weeks’ emergency accommodation.

In 2020, Hestia Battersea was changed from a male to female Approved Premises to give better geographic spread of AP provision for women, becoming the first AP for women in London since 2008.

In addition, Eden House, the first new AP in over thirty years, will open in this month supporting female offenders.

HMPPS will work in conjunction with MHCLG’s announced funding to support both male and female prison leavers at risk of homelessness into private rental tenancies. Funded schemes to support women will be developed to recognise their specific needs and will be part of plans to secure settled accommodation by the end of the 12 weeks’ temporary accommodation provided by HMPPS.


Written Question
Prisoners' Release: Females
Tuesday 22nd June 2021

Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure no woman is released from prison to homelessness.

Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar

We are committed to doing all we can to address the issues around female offending. It is vital that we do so to better protect the public and deliver more effective rehabilitation. This includes supporting women when they are leaving prison.

In June 2018, the Government published the Female Offender Strategy. This set out a programme of work to improve outcomes for female offenders and make society safer by tackling the underlying causes of offending and reoffending. Its publication was the start of a new and significant programme of work to deliver better outcomes for female offenders that will take some years to deliver. We recognise the important role that the women’s community services play in supporting female offenders. We have invested some £7m in the sector since 2018 and announced a further £2.5m funding on 11 June 2021.

As part of our commitment to tackling the issues female offenders face, we have a Reducing Re-offending lead specifically for the Women’s Estate which allows us to make sure that we are focused on the outcomes specifically from within the women’s prisons. As part of our commitment to eliminate rough sleeping, we are working across Government with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Welsh Government and Other Government Departments, to address the barriers offenders face in securing suitable accommodation.

We are investing more than £20m in supporting prison leavers at risk of homelessness into temporary accommodation. Individuals released from prison will be provided up to 12 weeks of temporary accommodation and will be supported into long-term settled accommodation before the end of that 12-week period. Initially launching in five national probation regions, the service will support around 3,000 offenders in its first year and will be commencing in Summer. It will be in operation during the next financial year 2021-22, with a view to scaling up and rolling out nationally, though the Spending Review 2021 will set out the approach for future years.

The service will take account of the needs of women, including those with complex needs and accommodation provision will be dedicated to single gender usage as required. Community Offender Managers, working together with local partners, will be responsible for ensuring that vulnerable female prison leavers with complex needs receive appropriate support and are provided with housing beyond the 12 weeks’ emergency accommodation.

We are introducing and testing a new specialist housing advisor role in twenty prisons, including within the female estate. The new role will seek to strengthen links between prisons, through the gate teams and local authorities to improve accommodation outcomes for those at risk of homelessness. Subject to evaluation, the intention is to scale up and roll-out nationally across all resettlement prisons.

In 2020, Hestia Battersea was changed from a male to female Approved Premises to give better geographic spread of AP provision for women, becoming the first AP for women in London since 2008.

In addition, Eden House, the first new AP in over thirty years, will open in this month supporting female offenders.

Following a comprehensive review, the ‘Subsistence Payment’ (currently known as the Discharge Grant) will be uprated from £46 to £76 to reflect increases in the UK’s Consumer Prices Index (CPI). This is planned to come into effect during Summer 2021. Going forward, the Subsistence Payment will be increased year on year in line with the CPI until 2024/25.


Written Question
Belfast Agreement
Tuesday 28th January 2020

Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether legal aid will be available for individuals seeking to initiate legal proceedings based on an alleged diminution of rights, safeguards or equality of opportunity, as set out in the Belfast Agreement.

Answered by Lord Keen of Elie

A legal challenge asserting an alleged diminution of rights, safeguards or equality of opportunity, as set out in the Belfast Agreement, would likely be brought through the Northern Ireland court system. Given legal aid is a matter devolved to Northern Ireland, whether it is or would be available for such a challenge in Northern Ireland is not a matter for Her Majesty’s Government.


Written Question
National Preventive Mechanism
Monday 1st July 2019

Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Keen of Elie on 4 June (HL15680), what is their response to the recommendations on the National Preventive Mechanism, made in the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee against Torture following its most recent periodic review of the UK.

Answered by Lord Keen of Elie

The Government continues to comply with its obligations under the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, under which we established the independent National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) in 2009.

We note the recommendations made by the UN Committee Against Torture in relation to the NPM. We expect to provide a response on those issues as part of the next periodic report to the Committee Against Torture in May 2023.

We will explore with the NPM how the issues raised by the Committee may be addressed. The department facilitates the laying in Parliament of the annual report of the NPM and acknowledges the helpful recommendations that it contains. The latest Written Ministerial Statement to this effect was laid before Parliament on 29 January 2019 (HLWS1249).