Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that relevant information is shared with coroners investigating gambling-related deaths regarding concerns identified and action taken by the Gambling Commission during the period being investigated at inquest.
Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Coroners are independent judges, and the way in which they manage their investigations and inquests is a matter for them. Accordingly, it is for the coroner to determine the scope of an investigation into a death, and to identify the relevant Interested Persons and witnesses.
The statutory framework set out in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 provides the coroner with powers to require the production of evidence for the purposes of their investigation, with sanctions for non-compliance.
Where, as the result of an investigation, a coroner considers that action should be taken to mitigate or prevent the risk of future deaths, they must provide a report to the person(s) or organisation(s) which they believe may have power to take such action. Recipients must respond within 56 days, setting out details of what action has been or will be taken, or explaining why no action is proposed. Both the coroner’s report and the responses to it must be copied to the Chief Coroner and are published on the Judiciary website.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many convictions there were for those caught driving whilst under the influence of drugs in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, (4) 2022, (5) 2023, and (6) 2024.
Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Ministry of Justice publishes data on convictions at criminal courts in England and Wales in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, including convictions for driving whilst under the influence of drugs. They can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.
The below table provides the number of convictions from 2019 to 30 June 2024 (latest available data) for ‘Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle whilst unfit through drink or drugs (impairment) - drugs (MOT)’, England and Wales. Source: Court Proceeding Database [1][2].
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Jan-Jun 2024 |
Convictions | 443 | 439 | 552 | 356 | 345 | 172 |
[1] Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.
[2] These figures are presented on a principal offence basis - i.e. reporting information relating to the most serious offence that a defendant was dealt with for. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to tackle high levels of violence at HMP Bedford, following the Report on an independent review of progress at HMP Bedford, published on 22 October.
Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
In response to the recent report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, HMP Bedford has a new strategic plan focusing on measures to manage violence, including providing consistent keywork sessions; mandatory drug testing; staff training, including enhanced training in Challenge Support Intervention Plan processes and procedures; improving staff-prisoner relationships; improving debt-management processes; and providing a more purposeful and constructive regime, with more time out of cell.
The establishment has also introduced wing-safety surgeries (identified as positive practice by HM Chief Inspector), which provide a regular opportunity for prisoners to discuss concerns with the safety team. A new strategic lead has been put in place who will be supported by an experienced operational member of residential staff.
A hot-spot strategy (also identified as positive practice) is being utilised to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the issues and times when incidents occur, to help eliminate potential escalation points.
The national safety team has established a safety summit, involving focus groups and forums of staff and prisoners, so as better to understand the reasons violence occurs. The prison is also running regular wing-council meetings, with violence as a standing agenda item for discussion with the prisoners. In addition, an operational officer has been appointed as a floor-walker to support and coach staff in managing violent incidents.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many prosecutions for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal were successful in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, (4) 2022, and (5) 2023.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
The Ministry of Justice holds information on prosecutions, convictions and sentencing outcomes for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, covering the period requested. The latest data available, until year ending June 2023, can be obtained through the Outcomes by Offence data tool in the following link: Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: June 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Prosecutions and convictions for all years requested, from January 2019 until data is available up to June 2023, has been provided in Table 1. These totals relate to both the summary non-motoring and triable either way classifications of the offence. The full calendar year for 2023 will be available in the next update of the Outcomes by Offence tool, expected in May 2024.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many prosecutions for stealing protected wild birds' eggs in England were successful in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, (4) 2022, and (5) 2023.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
The Ministry of Justice holds information on prosecutions, convictions, and sentencing outcomes for summary offences in relation to nests and eggs of birds under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (HO offence code 19002). The latest data available, until year ending June 2023, can be obtained through the Outcomes by Offence data tool in the following link: Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: June 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
A further breakdown of the published data is required to extract figures specific to stealing the eggs of protected wild birds, for the offences ‘Take eggs of Schedule 1 wild bird’ and ‘Take eggs of non-Schedule 1 wild bird’, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Between 2019 and June 2023, there was one prosecution and one conviction in 2021 on a principal offence basis, relating to the eggs of a non-schedule 1 wild bird. Figures for the rest of 2023 will be available in the next update of the Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly publication, expected in May 2024.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many prosecutions for poaching in England were successful under the Game Act 1831, the Hunting Act 2004 and the Night Poaching Act 1828 in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, (4) 2022, and (5) 2023.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
The Ministry of Justice publishes information on prosecutions, convictions, and sentencing outcomes for poaching offences. The latest data available, until year ending June 2023, can be obtained through the Outcomes by Offence data tool in the following link: Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: June 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
A further breakdown of the published data is required to extract figures specific to poaching offences under the Game Act 1831, the Hunting Act 2004, and the Night Poaching Act 1828. Prosecutions and convictions for all years requested, from January 2019 until data is available up to June 2023, has been provided in Table 1 on a principal offence basis. The full calendar year for 2023 will be available in the next update of the Outcomes by Offence tool, expected in May 2024.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to review the guidance for coroners in Prevention of Future Deaths Reports.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
The Chief Coroner has issued Guidance for coroners on Reports to Prevent Future Deaths which can be found at: Revised Chief Coroner's Guidance No.5 Reports to Prevent Future Deaths[i] - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.
Any review of the Guidance is a matter for the Chief Coroner in his independent judicial capacity.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what were the most common reasons for suicide cited in coroners' Prevention of Future Death reports for each year since 2015.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
With regard to the number of Prevention of Future Death (PFD) reports published in each of the last five years, I refer to my answer to the noble Lord Watson of Wyre Forest on 4 July (UIN HL9054).
The Government does not collate analysis of references to reasons for suicide in PFD reports.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Prevention of Future Deaths reports were issued in each of the past five years.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
With regard to the number of Prevention of Future Death (PFD) reports published in each of the last five years, I refer to my answer to the noble Lord Watson of Wyre Forest on 4 July (UIN HL9054).
The Government does not collate analysis of references to reasons for suicide in PFD reports.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were subject to a Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) as part of a (1) community, or (2) suspended, sentence order due to a serious gambling addiction for each year since their introduction in 2005.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
Offenders with a gambling addiction may be suitable for a Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) as part of a community or suspended sentence order where mental health has been identified as an underlying factor.
Data on the factors underlying the use of MHTRs is collected on the primary presenting need such as anxiety or depression. As problem gambling is not identified as a primary presenting need the data requested is not currently available