Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what qualifications will be required, and (2) what the recruitment process will be, for independent panel members sitting alongside the Secretary of State in “top tier” parole cases, following their proposal in the Root and Branch Review of the Parole System, published on 30 March.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The concept of top-tier parole cases being determined by independent panel members sitting alongside the Secretary of State is one of two options described in the Root and Branch Review for the future management of such cases. The alternative option is that following a Parole Board decision to release a top-tier case, the Secretary of State would have the power to review and refuse the decision on the basis that he does not agree with the Parole Board that the statutory release test is met – and that would be subject to an appeal to the Upper Tribunal.
We are not yet in a position to announce which of the two options the government will seek to include in the legislation that will be required to implement the parole reforms proposed in the Review. Further detail on how the preferred option will operate will be developed ahead of the introduction of the legislation and announced in due course.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the proposals in the Root and Branch Review of the Parole System, published on 30 March, are compatible with (1) the requirements of the Human Rights Act 1998, and (2) the UK's obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights; whether they have produced an assessment of the compatibility of that review with the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998; and if so, what plans they have to publish a copy of that assessment.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The government considers that the proposals set out in the Root and Branch Review are compatible with the Human Rights Act and the UK’s obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights. The Government does not consider that it is required to produce an assessment of compatibility of its proposals in the review, as the Government's position is not to disclose the legal advice it receives. When the provisions of any Bill are brought forward to implement the proposals, the Government will comply with its obligations under section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made to ensure that contracted sites are compliant with national strategies for management and progression of prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, further to the Joint IPP Action Plan, published by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the Parole Board in June 2019.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
The IPP Action Plan is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is responsive to the needs of those serving IPP sentences, whether in prison or in the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, and in accordance with measures mandated in the interests of public health, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) implemented exceptional delivery models which inevitably had some impact on all operational work. A large number of IPP prisoners have been released each year since the IPP Action Plan first introduced in 2016, and the Plan will be refreshed, reviewed and republished after careful consideration of the forthcoming Justice Select Committee’s Report and recommendations.
A progression unit for prisoners serving IPP sentences with a conviction for a sexual offence has been open at HMP Littlehey for the last three years. The unit provides an environment where prisoners feel safe and receive support to focus on their progression. As with the other workstreams within the IPP action plan, HMPPS will review the progress of the unit this year, which will also take account of any relevant aspects of the report and recommendations of the Justice Select Committee.
HMPPS continue to engage with senior managers in prisons run under contract, to ensure that the IPP Action Plan initiatives are reflected in their delivery plans. For example, each contracted site has an IPP single point of contact for Psychology Services.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in establishing a progression unit for prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences with a sexual offence, further to the Joint IPP Action Plan published by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the Parole Board in June 2019.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
The IPP Action Plan is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is responsive to the needs of those serving IPP sentences, whether in prison or in the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, and in accordance with measures mandated in the interests of public health, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) implemented exceptional delivery models which inevitably had some impact on all operational work. A large number of IPP prisoners have been released each year since the IPP Action Plan first introduced in 2016, and the Plan will be refreshed, reviewed and republished after careful consideration of the forthcoming Justice Select Committee’s Report and recommendations.
A progression unit for prisoners serving IPP sentences with a conviction for a sexual offence has been open at HMP Littlehey for the last three years. The unit provides an environment where prisoners feel safe and receive support to focus on their progression. As with the other workstreams within the IPP action plan, HMPPS will review the progress of the unit this year, which will also take account of any relevant aspects of the report and recommendations of the Justice Select Committee.
HMPPS continue to engage with senior managers in prisons run under contract, to ensure that the IPP Action Plan initiatives are reflected in their delivery plans. For example, each contracted site has an IPP single point of contact for Psychology Services.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average number of additional offending behaviour programmes that prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences in England and Wales were directed to complete (1) once the initial sentence plan was completed, and (2) post recall, in each year since 2017.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
The requested information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. Accredited programmes aim to protect the public and reduce reoffending and are part of a range of rehabilitation and risk reduction opportunities available. HM Prison and Probation Service remains committed to supporting the progression of those serving IPP sentences in custody, so that the Parole Board may direct their release, or as the case may be, re-release, as soon as it is safe to do so.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average number of accredited offending behaviour programmes completed by prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences in England and Wales before being (1) transferred to open conditions, and (2) released, in each year since 2017.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
National data on all prisoner enrolments (starts) and completions in prison-delivered accredited offending behaviour programmes (OBPs) are collected and published annually and published as part of HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Annual Digest, but this does not provide further break-down by progression through the estate or by sentence type.
The table attached provides the average number of accredited offending behaviour programmes completed by prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences prior to being transferred to open conditions, and ahead of release, in each financial year since 2017. No transfers to open conditions in 2020/21 involved individuals who had completed an accredited programme, hence no number is recorded.
The Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. Accredited programmes aim to protect the public and reduce reoffending and are part of a range of rehabilitation and risk reduction opportunities available. HMPPS remains committed to supporting the progression of those serving IPP sentences in custody, so that the Parole Board may direct their release, or as the case may be, re-release, as soon as it is safe to do so.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences in England and Wales have been on a waiting list to begin an accredited offending behaviour programme in each year since 2017.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
We do not hold data on the numbers of prisoners with sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) on a waiting list to begin an accredited offending behaviour programme (OBP) prior to late 2020. New data collection systems were established in response to the pandemic to aid future recovery planning for OBPs.
This table below shows the number of IPP prisoners waiting to commence an accredited general or sexual offending programme based on information gathered from prisons which run the courses. The information has been drawn from local records and, as with any large-scale reporting tool, may be subject to inaccuracies as well as subject to change.
The Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. Accredited programmes aim to protect the public and reduce reoffending and are part of a range of rehabilitation and risk reduction opportunities available. HM Prison and Probation Service remains committed to supporting the progression of those serving IPP sentences in custody, so that the Parole Board may direct their release, or as the case may be, re-release, as soon as it is safe to do so.
Date | Total |
Total December 2020 | 116 |
Total April 2021 | 161 |
Total August 2021 | 158 |
Total October 2021 | 103 |
Total December 2021 | 113 |
Total February 2022 | 109 |
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners in England and Wales subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences have (1) started, and (2) completed, accredited offending behaviour programmes in each year since 2017.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
National data on all prisoner enrolments (starts) and completions in prison-delivered accredited Offending Behaviour Programmes (OBPs) are collected and published annually and published as part of the HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Annual Digest, but this does not provide further break-down by sentence type.
The table attached provides the number of indeterminate sentenced prisoners serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence who enrolled on and completed accredited OBPs, in each financial year since 2017. Changes to accredited programme delivery were implemented in response to the threat of COVID-19, with programmes affected throughout 2020/21. This resulted in far fewer starts and completions compared with those in previous years. During the period covered the numbers serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence also fell.
Whilst the number of places available has decreased, IPP prisoners have remained a priority for spaces.
The Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. Accredited programmes aim to protect the public and reduce reoffending and are part of a range of rehabilitation and risk reduction opportunities available. HMPPS remains committed to supporting the progression of those serving IPP sentences in custody, so that the Parole Board may direct their release, or as the case may be, re-release, as soon as it is safe to do so.