Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Timpson on 29 July 2024 (HL68), when they intend to launch the review of the sentencing framework mentioned in the Answer, and what attention they will give to aligning the licence conditions for those subject to (1) 'two-strike' life sentences, and (2) imprisonment for public protection sentences.
Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Government launched an Independent Review of Sentencing in October 2024, chaired by former Lord Chancellor David Gauke, to review the sentencing framework to ensure we are never again forced to rely on the emergency release of prisoners. The Review is considering options following three core principles: sentences must punish offenders and protect the public; sentences should encourage prisoners to turn their backs on a life of crime; and we must make greater use of punishment outside of prison. On 18 February 2025, the Review published Part 1 of its report, which sets out the history and trends in sentencing that contributed to the pressures on our prisons. The review has been asked to consider the framework around longer sentences, including life sentences.
However, the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence is not within the scope of the review. I look forward to seeing the Review’s recommendations when it reports in the Spring.
The mandatory life sentence for a second serious offence, also known as the ‘two-strikes’ life sentence, was introduced in 1997, and meant that judges had to impose a life sentence on anyone convicted of a second specified offence, unless there were exceptional circumstances. As with other types of life sentence, offenders under the two-strikes life sentence are given a minimum term, and then, if they are released by the Parole Board, they will be subject to licence conditions for the rest of their life.
The IPP sentence was an indeterminate sentence in use from 2005 to 2012. It was intended as a means of managing high-risk prisoners who did not meet the criteria for a life sentence. An IPP sentence was imposed where an offender was convicted of a serious specified violent or sexual offence, committed on or after the 4 April 2005, for which the penalty was 10 years or more and where, in the Court’s opinion, the offender posed a risk of harm to the public.
Unlike the IPP sentence, where the licence can be terminated either by the Parole Board at the end of the qualifying period, or after a further two years in the community on licence, the ‘two-strike’ sentence is a life sentence and has an indefinite licence period. There is no provision for a life sentence to be terminated and therefore, the IPP measures relating to licence termination are not applicable to ‘two-strike’ life sentence offenders.
As with all life sentenced prisoners, HM Prison and Probation Service supports those serving ‘two-strikes’ life sentences to reduce their risk to meet the Parole Board’s statutory release test when they become eligible for release. If released, they remain on life licence. The Government has no plans to change licence conditions for life sentences.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have received representations from ambassadors or High Commissioners resident in Palace Green and Kensington Palace Gardens about the temporary obstacles erected there by the Crown Estate to manage the behaviour of bicyclists.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government has received no such representations.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many policy reviews and consultations the Department for Transport has launched since the General Election on 4 July 2024; what the subject of each review is; and what the anticipated timescales are for their completion.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department keeps all of its policies under review, to ensure they are aligned to the Government’s priorities and delivering the best possible outcomes for the public.
It is standard practice for any new administration to review the policies of its predecessors.
Where appropriate, we publish details of our reviews on gov.uk. This includes information on the independent reviews, public consultations and taskforces that have been launched, completed and published between 5 July 2024 and 5 January 2025.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 10 February (HL4433), what assessment they have made of the impact of their funding under the Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme; what initiatives under that programme are aimed specifically at promoting and protecting freedom of religion or belief; and when they expect credible independent data on incidents of religious violence in Bangladesh to emerge from the work of the United Nations resident coordinator’s office.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK-funded Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme works to protect and promote freedom of religion or belief. A local peace building organisation The Hunger Project has organised a range of initiatives to foster inter-ethnic and religious peace. This has included peace events, consultation meetings with local authorities and quarterly meetings with local conflict mediation. As a result, local peace forum groups have been created to take steps to protect Hindus and other minority communities during their religious festivals. The UN Human Rights Office have now published their report; this provides credible independent data on events last year.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the recent case of Gary Mond, what steps they are taking to ensure that the Charity Commission is respecting the right to free speech.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Charity Commission’s role as the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales is to ensure that charity trustees comply with their duties as set out in charity law. The Charity Commission has published guidance for trustees on the use of social media and managing the risks for charities.
The Charity Commission notes the Tribunal’s judgment in this recent case, and is considering what lessons can be applied to future casework.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many trustees of charities have been disqualified by the Charity Commission on account of social media posts in each of the last five years.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
In the last five years, the Charity Commission has disqualified six individuals in cases that relate to the usage of social media. An individual’s use of social media was the sole basis for disqualification in three cases, while in the other three it was one of several grounds.
The Commission’s decisions to disqualify are subject to robust oversight and can be appealed through review by an independent member of Commission staff, and subsequently to the First Tier Tribunal.
The Charity Commission is independent from the Government in its regulatory decision making.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether XC Trains Limited were in default of their contract regarding any of their contractual performance indicators in (1) October 2024 (2) November 2024 and (3) December 2024; and, if so, whether they were given relief from such defaults through an extended remedial agreement.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
All operators are required to meet their contractual obligations as set out in their National Rail Contract, including contractual performance indicators. Failure to comply with those contractual obligations, once Force Majeure claims have been taken into account, leaves operators open to enforcement action.
The Department is currently assessing if XC Trains Limited exceeded the default threshold, for any of the relevant indicators in these periods, once Force Majeure claims have been taken into account.
The current Remedial Agreement with XC Trains Limited that was agreed in August 2024 runs until March 2025. There has been no amendment to the existing Remedial Agreement.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to extend the current remedial agreement or agree a new remedial agreement with XC Trains Limited beyond March 2025.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The current Remedial Agreement with XC Trains Limited that was agreed in August 2024 runs until March 2025. The Department is considering what further actions might be appropriate, if any.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication of the remedial agreement letter between the Secretary of State and XC Trains Limited, whether they will release in full the redacted ‘Annex – 1: Remedial Commitments’ to ensure transparency as to what XC Trains is contracted to do and by when.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Remedial Agreement letter has been published on the .gov website. Redactions have been made using the exemptions permitted under both section 40(2) (personal information) and 43(2) (commercially prejudicial information) of the Freedom of Information Act. A public interest test was conducted as part of the consideration process. The Remedial Agreement runs until March 2025.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they expect XC Trains Limited to meet its contractual commitments to deliver the May 2025 timetable uplift or whether they have requested any alterations to the CrossCountry timetable from May 2025; and, if so, whether any such requests have been agreed.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
All operators are required to meet their contractual obligations as set out in their National Rail Contract. Failure to comply with those contractual obligations leaves operators open to enforcement action.
It is public knowledge that CrossCountry is both reinstating services on some routes and amending the times of some services from May 2025. The Department has not agreed any alterations to the CrossCountry May 2025 timetable.