Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of taking steps to increase the (a) recruitment and (b) training of immigration solicitors and advisors in Wales.

Answered by Mike Freer

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) monitors supply across its legal aid contracts on an ongoing basis and, where demand is greater than the available supply, takes action within its operational powers to secure additional provision to ensure the continuity of legal aid-funded services. The LAA is satisfied that there is adequate provision of services in Wales across all categories of legal aid.

Once implemented, individuals who receive a removal notice under the Illegal Migration Act (IMA) will have access to free legal advice in relation to the removal notice.

We are setting fees for IMA work at 15% above the usual hourly rate to help augment capacity so we can meet the anticipated increase in demand for legal aid advice.

We have taken a number of steps to help increase access to legal aid for immigration and asylum cases across England and Wales. For example, we are providing up to £1.4m of funding in 2024 for accreditation and reaccreditation of senior caseworkers to conduct immigration and asylum legal aid work.

In 2019, we brought non-asylum immigration and citizenship matters into scope for under 18s who are not in the care of a parent, guardian, or legal authority. This means, for example, that a separated migrant child making an application for entry clearance, leave to enter, or to remain in the United Kingdom, or an application for registration as a British citizen or as a British subject, or for registration as a British overseas territories citizen or a British Overseas citizen is now entitled to legal aid, subject to the means and merits tests.

The ongoing Review of Civil Legal Aid is considering the broader economic context of the civil legal aid market as a whole, including for immigration cases, so that it can operate sustainably in the long-term. we are due to publish a Green Paper in July 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the level of legal aid provision in Wales.

Answered by Mike Freer

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) monitors supply across its legal aid contracts on an ongoing basis and, where demand is greater than the available supply, takes action within its operational powers to secure additional provision to ensure the continuity of legal aid-funded services. The LAA is satisfied that there is adequate provision of services in Wales across all categories of legal aid.

Once implemented, individuals who receive a removal notice under the Illegal Migration Act (IMA) will have access to free legal advice in relation to the removal notice.

We are setting fees for IMA work at 15% above the usual hourly rate to help augment capacity so we can meet the anticipated increase in demand for legal aid advice.

We have taken a number of steps to help increase access to legal aid for immigration and asylum cases across England and Wales. For example, we are providing up to £1.4m of funding in 2024 for accreditation and reaccreditation of senior caseworkers to conduct immigration and asylum legal aid work.

In 2019, we brought non-asylum immigration and citizenship matters into scope for under 18s who are not in the care of a parent, guardian, or legal authority. This means, for example, that a separated migrant child making an application for entry clearance, leave to enter, or to remain in the United Kingdom, or an application for registration as a British citizen or as a British subject, or for registration as a British overseas territories citizen or a British Overseas citizen is now entitled to legal aid, subject to the means and merits tests.

The ongoing Review of Civil Legal Aid is considering the broader economic context of the civil legal aid market as a whole, including for immigration cases, so that it can operate sustainably in the long-term. we are due to publish a Green Paper in July 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) unaccompanied children and (b) other asylum seekers can access legal aid services in Wales.

Answered by Mike Freer

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) monitors supply across its legal aid contracts on an ongoing basis and, where demand is greater than the available supply, takes action within its operational powers to secure additional provision to ensure the continuity of legal aid-funded services. The LAA is satisfied that there is adequate provision of services in Wales across all categories of legal aid.

Once implemented, individuals who receive a removal notice under the Illegal Migration Act (IMA) will have access to free legal advice in relation to the removal notice.

We are setting fees for IMA work at 15% above the usual hourly rate to help augment capacity so we can meet the anticipated increase in demand for legal aid advice.

We have taken a number of steps to help increase access to legal aid for immigration and asylum cases across England and Wales. For example, we are providing up to £1.4m of funding in 2024 for accreditation and reaccreditation of senior caseworkers to conduct immigration and asylum legal aid work.

In 2019, we brought non-asylum immigration and citizenship matters into scope for under 18s who are not in the care of a parent, guardian, or legal authority. This means, for example, that a separated migrant child making an application for entry clearance, leave to enter, or to remain in the United Kingdom, or an application for registration as a British citizen or as a British subject, or for registration as a British overseas territories citizen or a British Overseas citizen is now entitled to legal aid, subject to the means and merits tests.

The ongoing Review of Civil Legal Aid is considering the broader economic context of the civil legal aid market as a whole, including for immigration cases, so that it can operate sustainably in the long-term. we are due to publish a Green Paper in July 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help increase access to legal aid for immigration and asylum cases in Wales.

Answered by Mike Freer

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) monitors supply across its legal aid contracts on an ongoing basis and, where demand is greater than the available supply, takes action within its operational powers to secure additional provision to ensure the continuity of legal aid-funded services. The LAA is satisfied that there is adequate provision of services in Wales across all categories of legal aid.

Once implemented, individuals who receive a removal notice under the Illegal Migration Act (IMA) will have access to free legal advice in relation to the removal notice.

We are setting fees for IMA work at 15% above the usual hourly rate to help augment capacity so we can meet the anticipated increase in demand for legal aid advice.

We have taken a number of steps to help increase access to legal aid for immigration and asylum cases across England and Wales. For example, we are providing up to £1.4m of funding in 2024 for accreditation and reaccreditation of senior caseworkers to conduct immigration and asylum legal aid work.

In 2019, we brought non-asylum immigration and citizenship matters into scope for under 18s who are not in the care of a parent, guardian, or legal authority. This means, for example, that a separated migrant child making an application for entry clearance, leave to enter, or to remain in the United Kingdom, or an application for registration as a British citizen or as a British subject, or for registration as a British overseas territories citizen or a British Overseas citizen is now entitled to legal aid, subject to the means and merits tests.

The ongoing Review of Civil Legal Aid is considering the broader economic context of the civil legal aid market as a whole, including for immigration cases, so that it can operate sustainably in the long-term. we are due to publish a Green Paper in July 2024.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make it his policy to introduce a statutory right for disability support leave for disabled employees.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake

The Government has no plans to introduce a statutory right for disability support leave for disabled employees.

All employers already have a duty to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ in the workplace where a disabled person would otherwise be put at a substantial disadvantage compared with their colleagues. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Equality Act and providing guidance on reasonable adjustments.

For disabled people who require adjustments which are beyond reasonable adjustments, Access to Work (AtW) can provide a grant for the disability related extra costs of working a disabled employee may face. To support employers an AtW case manager will contact the customer’s employer ahead of making an AtW award to offer advice on reasonable adjustments an employer can provide and the support available under the AtW scheme.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that people without the means to pay are able to access legal (a) advice and (b) representation for social welfare matters in Wales.

Answered by Mike Freer

In the last financial year, we spent approximately £1 billion on civil legal aid to support the most vulnerable.

We have injected £10 million a year into housing legal aid through the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS). Since the launch of HLPAS in August 2023, individuals in England and Wales who are facing eviction or repossession have been able to receive free early legal advice on housing, debt, and welfare benefits issues.

All HLPAS schemes in Wales are currently served by an in-court duty solicitor who is able to give emergency on the day advice to anyone facing possession proceedings. Additionally, individuals facing the loss of their home can access early legal advice in respect of housing, debt and welfare benefit issues on a remote basis from any HLPAS provider irrespective of their geographic location. The current list of HPLAS providers can be found via this link.

The Ministry of Justice is also providing additional support to providers who deliver HLPAS, funding a panel of specialist legal advisors (available to providers across England and Wales) and providing £1.5 million in grant funding for the recruitment of trainee solicitors in England and Wales. Both measures are intended to boost provider expertise in social welfare law and enhance their ability to deliver legal aid.

The following table is a breakdown of legal aid providers and provider offices in Wales (position as of 2 April 2024). The LAA is satisfied that there is adequate provision of services in Wales across all categories of legal aid, including under the relevant HLPAS schemes.

Wherever you are in England and Wales, legal advice for housing and debt remains available through the civil legal advice telephone service.

Furthermore, since the publication of the Legal Aid Means Test Review (MTR) Consultation Response in May 2023, the Government has been developing detailed implementation plans for the new legal aid means assessment. When fully implemented, this will increase the number of people eligible for civil legal aid in England and Wales by an additional 2.5 million per year.

The Ministry of Justice is also undertaking a Review of Civil Legal Aid to identify evidence-based options for moving to a more effective, efficient, and sustainable system for legal aid providers and the people who rely on legal aid. We will publish reports for all workstreams by May 2024, and plan to consult on proposed options in a Green Paper in July.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to increase statutory sick pay in line with the living wage.

Answered by Jo Churchill

The Government has already increased the rate of SSP this year, in April the rate of SSP was increased by 6.7% to £116.75. This represents a £20 per week increase in the rate of SSP since 2021.

SSP is just one part of our welfare safety net and our wider Government offer to support people in times of need. Anybody who is on a low level of income during the period that they are sick and who requires further financial support may be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to close the disability employment gap.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)

Good work is generally good for health. This is why in the Health and Disability White Paper the Government reaffirmed its commitment to close the disability employment gap and stated its intention to set a new disability employment ambition.

The latest figures, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for October to December 2023, showed that he disability employment gap was 27.9 percentage points. This was a decrease of 1.9 percentage points on the year. However, the ONS have advised caution when interpreting short-term changes due to the recent volatility in the data.

Disabled people and people with health conditions are a diverse group so access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key. The Government therefore has an ambitious programme of initiatives to support disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work. These include:

• The Work and Health Programme providing tailored and personalised support for disabled people;
• Access to Work grants helping towards extra costs of working beyond standard reasonable adjustments;
• Disability Confident encouraging employers to think differently about disability and health, and to take positive action to address the issues disabled employees face in the workplace;
• A digital information service for employers providing better integrated and tailored guidance on supporting health and disability in the workplace;
• Increasing access to Occupational Health, including the testing of financial incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises and the self-employed;
• Additional Work Coach support in Jobcentres for disabled people and people with health conditions to help them move towards and in to work;
• Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres offering advice and expertise on how to help disabled people and people with health conditions into work;
• Work in partnership between the DWP and health systems, including:

o Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies, which combines psychological treatment and employment support for people with mental health conditions; and

o The Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care programme, a Supported Employment model (place, train and maintain) delivered in health settings, aimed at people with physical or common mental health disabilities to support them to access paid jobs in the open labour market;

Building on this, we announced significant additional investment during the 2023 fiscal events. Alongside the delivery of our existing initiatives, we are now focused on delivering this package which includes:

• A new voluntary employment programme called Universal Support (US) for 100,000 people per year when fully rolled out in England and Wales. This programme will provide up to a year of ongoing wraparound support for people with health conditions to stay and succeed in work;
• WorkWell, which will bring together the NHS, local authorities and other partners, in collaboration with jobcentres, to provide light touch work and health support for approximately 60,000 people. The WorkWell services will be in place from autumn 2024 and will be delivered in 15 pilot areas;
• Building on the extension of the certification of the fit notes to a wider range of healthcare professions, we are exploring new ways of providing individuals receiving a fit note with timely access to work and health support. Through a Call for Evidence we are currently seeking views from those with lived experiences, healthcare professionals and employers;
• Introducing Employment Advisors to Musculoskeletal Conditions (MSK) services in England, helping individuals with MSK conditions to return to or remain in employment (work in partnership between DWP and health systems); and
• Publishing the Government response to the Occupational Health: Working Better consultation. This included establishing an expert group to support the development of the voluntary national baseline for Occupational Health provision

From 2025, we are reforming the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) to reflect new flexibilities in the labour market and greater employment opportunities for disabled people and people with health conditions, whilst maintaining protections for those with the most significant conditions. Alongside these changes, a new Chance to Work Guarantee will effectively remove the WCA for most existing claimants who have already been assessed without work-related requirements removing the fear of reassessment and giving this group the confidence to try work.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to introduce mandatory disability reporting for organisations with at least 250 employees.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)

In the National Disability Strategy (NDS), the Cabinet Office committed to leading a consultation on workforce reporting on disability for large employers exploring both voluntary and mandated workplace transparency. A formal consultation ran from 16 December 2021 to 25 March 2022. Work on the disability workforce reporting consultation was paused in line with other work deriving from the NDS whilst a legal challenge on the NDS was ongoing. Following a successful appeal, we have now commenced analysis of the consultation responses and will publish the consultation response findings in 2024.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to support the establishment of accessibility champions in each Department.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)

We already have a Ministerial Disability Champion in each government department.

At the request of the Prime Minister, the first Ministerial Disability Champions were appointed in summer 2020, to drive the development and delivery of the National Disability Strategy (NDS).

Their role is to:

• ensure disability inclusion is a priority in their department’s work;
• help drive the delivery of the commitments in the National Disability Strategy and the actions in the Disability Action Plan; and
• help deliver the government’s commitment to support disabled people in the UK through creating more opportunities, protecting their rights and ensuring they fully benefit from, and can contribute to, every aspect of our society.

The Ministerial Disability Champions meet regularly throughout the year. The Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work, Mims Davies MP, is the chair.

A full list of Ministerial Disability Champions can be found on Gov.UK here.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the Disability Confident scheme.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)

DWP is committed to strengthening the Disability Confident Scheme to ensure it remains credible, sufficiently challenging, and continues to support the employment of disabled people. Key to this is the implementation of the recommendations from the review including work to strengthen the criteria for all employers and tailoring the scheme for SMEs. On 9 April 2024 DWP published a revised version of the Disability Confident Line Manager’s Guide, in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), providing a range of guidance to support businesses of all sizes. Further changes to the scheme criteria stemming from these recommendations are well underway and we expect to have fully implemented them by the end of March 2025.

The Department is continuing to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including employers, disability charities, and disabled people’s organisations to develop, and grow the scheme to increase the number of inclusive employers in the UK.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made a recent estimate of the financial support it can offer local authorities in Wales to support them with the costs of the no recourse to public funds restriction.

Answered by Laura Trott - Shadow Secretary of State for Education

Funding for local authorities in Wales is a devolved matter, and it is for the Welsh Government to allocate their resources as they see fit in this area. The Welsh Government are accountable to the Senedd for their spending decisions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of no recourse to public funds on (a) children from black and ethnic minority backgrounds and (b) children with British citizenship who have parents that were born outside the UK.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

The Home Office is committed to the continuous review of the NRPF policy and officials are working with a wide range of stakeholders, including other government departments, the devolved administrations, and third sector organisations to develop a greater understanding of how children are directly and indirectly affected by parents / carers being subject to an NRPF condition.

The Government published an overarching Equality Impact Assessment on the Compliant Environment measures, of which the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) is part. The impact of the policy on children has been considered as part of this assessment: Compliant environment: overarching equality impact assessment - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Action Plan: HMP Parc following the July 2022 HM Inspectorate of Prisons report, published on 11 October 2022, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the review of the current suite of available technology to detect drugs and mobile phones at HMP Parc.

Answered by Edward Argar

The Ministry of Justice continues to focus on the use technology to disrupt the supply of drugs, mobile phones and other illicit items into prisons, including through assessing the provision of equipment across the prison estate.

Following His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons report published on 11 October 2022, HMP/YOI Parc have worked towards implementing the recommendations identified in the action plan, with a successful bid submitted via G4S for an additional itemiser and X-Ray body scanner.

Across the wider estate our £100 million Security Investment Programme, aimed at reducing crime in prisons, completed in March 2022. It included funding to reduce smuggling of illicit items, including drugs, and our measures are producing results.

This investment delivered 75 additional X-ray body scanners, resulting in full coverage across the closed adult male estate. As of October 2023, we had recorded over 46,900 positive indications, helping tackle the supply of drugs into prisons.

Furthermore, in January of this year we introduced new 400 metre Restricted Fly Zones around all closed prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales. This makes it easier for prison staff and the police to identify illicit drones and take action to disrupt them, intercept any contraband and pursue prosecution.

Since 2016, HMPPS has helped the police secure more than 75 convictions from criminal drone activity around prisons. Those convicted have been sentenced to a combined total of over 265 years behind bars.

HMPPS is working hard to conduct assessments all across the prison estate to implement a range of physical upgrades and countermeasures to prevent drones from reaching their target destinations.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the next inspection by HM Inspectorate of Prisons of HMP Parc will occur.

Answered by Edward Argar

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) is operationally independent of Government and is responsible for deciding its own inspection programme. Therefore, the Government is not normally notified of inspections in advance, except in rare cases where the Chief Inspector believes a notice period might specifically help promote improvement at a particular institution.

Under HMIP's framework each prison should be inspected at least once every five years and in practice most prisons can expect to be inspected every two to three years. HMI Prisons last inspected HMP Parc in June 2022.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has had discussion with the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Parc on the publication dates of the Annual reports for (a) 1 March 2022-31 March 2023 and (b) 1 March 2023-31 March 2024.

Answered by Edward Argar

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) at HMP Parc write two separate reports, one for the Young Person’s Unit (YPU) and one for the adult prison. Publication dates for (a) the YPU report covering 01 March 2021 – 31 March 2023, (b) the adult prison report covering 01 April 2022 – 31 March 2023, and (c) subsequent reports, are all being discussed with Ministry of Justice Officials. It is anticipated that both reports covering periods up to March 2023 will be published in Summer 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons on trends in the (a) weight of drugs, (b) number of mobile phones and (c) number of SIM cards found in HMP Parc in 2023.

Answered by Edward Argar

HMPPS takes the findings of every HMI Prisons inspection seriously and responds to each with a detailed action plan that seeks to address all concerns raised within the inspection report. For privately run prisons, HMPPS works closely with the Prison operator to ensure that the expected standards are met, through the local controller team and contractual escalation route, if required. HMPPS officials meet with HMIP regularly to discuss the general landscape across the prison estate and will continue to do so. HMP and YOI Parc assess all prisoners who transfer into the prison including reviewing all previous information held on the prisoners to inform intelligence.

HMPPS continues to work extensively with G4S and is closely overseeing the prison to improve safety and reduce harm. All establishments are required to have a safety strategy in place, which includes actions to address violence. HMPPS remains committed to providing a safe, decent and secure environment for all committed to our care.

As HMP and YOI Parc is a privately operated prison, HMPPS do not hold data relating to the G4S workforce, and recruitment of healthcare staff is the responsibility of the Local Health Board, therefore, HMPPS are not the data holder for healthcare staffing information.

The information requested on finds in prisons is published at HMPPS annual digest: HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2022 to March 2023 - GOV.UK, specifically in tables 8.2b, 8.3 and 8.4 of this link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c143b41e10bf000e17cf9e/8.__Finds.ods.

Data on assaults are found in tables 8a-8f: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/662a24fb690acb1c0ba7e57c/Safety-in-custody-summary-q4-2023_final_table.xlsx.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons on the number of reported (a) assaults, (b) serious assaults, (c) prisoner assaults, (d) serious prisoner assaults, (e) assaults on staff and (f) serious assaults on staff at HMP Parc in 2023.

Answered by Edward Argar

HMPPS takes the findings of every HMI Prisons inspection seriously and responds to each with a detailed action plan that seeks to address all concerns raised within the inspection report. For privately run prisons, HMPPS works closely with the Prison operator to ensure that the expected standards are met, through the local controller team and contractual escalation route, if required. HMPPS officials meet with HMIP regularly to discuss the general landscape across the prison estate and will continue to do so. HMP and YOI Parc assess all prisoners who transfer into the prison including reviewing all previous information held on the prisoners to inform intelligence.

HMPPS continues to work extensively with G4S and is closely overseeing the prison to improve safety and reduce harm. All establishments are required to have a safety strategy in place, which includes actions to address violence. HMPPS remains committed to providing a safe, decent and secure environment for all committed to our care.

As HMP and YOI Parc is a privately operated prison, HMPPS do not hold data relating to the G4S workforce, and recruitment of healthcare staff is the responsibility of the Local Health Board, therefore, HMPPS are not the data holder for healthcare staffing information.

The information requested on finds in prisons is published at HMPPS annual digest: HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2022 to March 2023 - GOV.UK, specifically in tables 8.2b, 8.3 and 8.4 of this link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c143b41e10bf000e17cf9e/8.__Finds.ods.

Data on assaults are found in tables 8a-8f: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/662a24fb690acb1c0ba7e57c/Safety-in-custody-summary-q4-2023_final_table.xlsx.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with G4S on trends in the (a) weight of drugs, (b) number of mobile phones and (c) number of SIM cards found in HMP Parc in 2023.

Answered by Edward Argar

HMPPS takes the findings of every HMI Prisons inspection seriously and responds to each with a detailed action plan that seeks to address all concerns raised within the inspection report. For privately run prisons, HMPPS works closely with the Prison operator to ensure that the expected standards are met, through the local controller team and contractual escalation route, if required. HMPPS officials meet with HMIP regularly to discuss the general landscape across the prison estate and will continue to do so. HMP and YOI Parc assess all prisoners who transfer into the prison including reviewing all previous information held on the prisoners to inform intelligence.

HMPPS continues to work extensively with G4S and is closely overseeing the prison to improve safety and reduce harm. All establishments are required to have a safety strategy in place, which includes actions to address violence. HMPPS remains committed to providing a safe, decent and secure environment for all committed to our care.

As HMP and YOI Parc is a privately operated prison, HMPPS do not hold data relating to the G4S workforce, and recruitment of healthcare staff is the responsibility of the Local Health Board, therefore, HMPPS are not the data holder for healthcare staffing information.

The information requested on finds in prisons is published at HMPPS annual digest: HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2022 to March 2023 - GOV.UK, specifically in tables 8.2b, 8.3 and 8.4 of this link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c143b41e10bf000e17cf9e/8.__Finds.ods.

Data on assaults are found in tables 8a-8f: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/662a24fb690acb1c0ba7e57c/Safety-in-custody-summary-q4-2023_final_table.xlsx.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people of what grade (a) joined and (b) left the workforce at HMP Parc in each month of 2023.

Answered by Edward Argar

HMPPS takes the findings of every HMI Prisons inspection seriously and responds to each with a detailed action plan that seeks to address all concerns raised within the inspection report. For privately run prisons, HMPPS works closely with the Prison operator to ensure that the expected standards are met, through the local controller team and contractual escalation route, if required. HMPPS officials meet with HMIP regularly to discuss the general landscape across the prison estate and will continue to do so. HMP and YOI Parc assess all prisoners who transfer into the prison including reviewing all previous information held on the prisoners to inform intelligence.

HMPPS continues to work extensively with G4S and is closely overseeing the prison to improve safety and reduce harm. All establishments are required to have a safety strategy in place, which includes actions to address violence. HMPPS remains committed to providing a safe, decent and secure environment for all committed to our care.

As HMP and YOI Parc is a privately operated prison, HMPPS do not hold data relating to the G4S workforce, and recruitment of healthcare staff is the responsibility of the Local Health Board, therefore, HMPPS are not the data holder for healthcare staffing information.

The information requested on finds in prisons is published at HMPPS annual digest: HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2022 to March 2023 - GOV.UK, specifically in tables 8.2b, 8.3 and 8.4 of this link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c143b41e10bf000e17cf9e/8.__Finds.ods.

Data on assaults are found in tables 8a-8f: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/662a24fb690acb1c0ba7e57c/Safety-in-custody-summary-q4-2023_final_table.xlsx.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people of what grades worked at HMP Parc in each month of 2023.

Answered by Edward Argar

HMPPS takes the findings of every HMI Prisons inspection seriously and responds to each with a detailed action plan that seeks to address all concerns raised within the inspection report. For privately run prisons, HMPPS works closely with the Prison operator to ensure that the expected standards are met, through the local controller team and contractual escalation route, if required. HMPPS officials meet with HMIP regularly to discuss the general landscape across the prison estate and will continue to do so. HMP and YOI Parc assess all prisoners who transfer into the prison including reviewing all previous information held on the prisoners to inform intelligence.

HMPPS continues to work extensively with G4S and is closely overseeing the prison to improve safety and reduce harm. All establishments are required to have a safety strategy in place, which includes actions to address violence. HMPPS remains committed to providing a safe, decent and secure environment for all committed to our care.

As HMP and YOI Parc is a privately operated prison, HMPPS do not hold data relating to the G4S workforce, and recruitment of healthcare staff is the responsibility of the Local Health Board, therefore, HMPPS are not the data holder for healthcare staffing information.

The information requested on finds in prisons is published at HMPPS annual digest: HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2022 to March 2023 - GOV.UK, specifically in tables 8.2b, 8.3 and 8.4 of this link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c143b41e10bf000e17cf9e/8.__Finds.ods.

Data on assaults are found in tables 8a-8f: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/662a24fb690acb1c0ba7e57c/Safety-in-custody-summary-q4-2023_final_table.xlsx.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Action Plan: HMP Parc following the July 2022 HM Inspectorate of Prisons report, published on 11 October 2022, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of prisoners who are interviewed at the time of transfer and release in order to build intelligence at HMP Parc.

Answered by Edward Argar

HMPPS takes the findings of every HMI Prisons inspection seriously and responds to each with a detailed action plan that seeks to address all concerns raised within the inspection report. For privately run prisons, HMPPS works closely with the Prison operator to ensure that the expected standards are met, through the local controller team and contractual escalation route, if required. HMPPS officials meet with HMIP regularly to discuss the general landscape across the prison estate and will continue to do so. HMP and YOI Parc assess all prisoners who transfer into the prison including reviewing all previous information held on the prisoners to inform intelligence.

HMPPS continues to work extensively with G4S and is closely overseeing the prison to improve safety and reduce harm. All establishments are required to have a safety strategy in place, which includes actions to address violence. HMPPS remains committed to providing a safe, decent and secure environment for all committed to our care.

As HMP and YOI Parc is a privately operated prison, HMPPS do not hold data relating to the G4S workforce, and recruitment of healthcare staff is the responsibility of the Local Health Board, therefore, HMPPS are not the data holder for healthcare staffing information.

The information requested on finds in prisons is published at HMPPS annual digest: HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2022 to March 2023 - GOV.UK, specifically in tables 8.2b, 8.3 and 8.4 of this link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c143b41e10bf000e17cf9e/8.__Finds.ods.

Data on assaults are found in tables 8a-8f: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/662a24fb690acb1c0ba7e57c/Safety-in-custody-summary-q4-2023_final_table.xlsx.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Action Plan: HMP Parc following the July 2022 HM Inspectorate of Prisons report, published on 11 October 2022, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the recruitment to address shortfalls in health care staff at HMP Parc.

Answered by Edward Argar

HMPPS takes the findings of every HMI Prisons inspection seriously and responds to each with a detailed action plan that seeks to address all concerns raised within the inspection report. For privately run prisons, HMPPS works closely with the Prison operator to ensure that the expected standards are met, through the local controller team and contractual escalation route, if required. HMPPS officials meet with HMIP regularly to discuss the general landscape across the prison estate and will continue to do so. HMP and YOI Parc assess all prisoners who transfer into the prison including reviewing all previous information held on the prisoners to inform intelligence.

HMPPS continues to work extensively with G4S and is closely overseeing the prison to improve safety and reduce harm. All establishments are required to have a safety strategy in place, which includes actions to address violence. HMPPS remains committed to providing a safe, decent and secure environment for all committed to our care.

As HMP and YOI Parc is a privately operated prison, HMPPS do not hold data relating to the G4S workforce, and recruitment of healthcare staff is the responsibility of the Local Health Board, therefore, HMPPS are not the data holder for healthcare staffing information.

The information requested on finds in prisons is published at HMPPS annual digest: HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2022 to March 2023 - GOV.UK, specifically in tables 8.2b, 8.3 and 8.4 of this link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c143b41e10bf000e17cf9e/8.__Finds.ods.

Data on assaults are found in tables 8a-8f: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/662a24fb690acb1c0ba7e57c/Safety-in-custody-summary-q4-2023_final_table.xlsx.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with G4S on the number of reported (a) assaults, (b) serious assaults, (c) prisoner assaults, (d) serious prisoner assaults, (e) assaults on staff and (f) serious assaults on staff at HMP Parc in 2023.

Answered by Edward Argar

HMPPS takes the findings of every HMI Prisons inspection seriously and responds to each with a detailed action plan that seeks to address all concerns raised within the inspection report. For privately run prisons, HMPPS works closely with the Prison operator to ensure that the expected standards are met, through the local controller team and contractual escalation route, if required. HMPPS officials meet with HMIP regularly to discuss the general landscape across the prison estate and will continue to do so. HMP and YOI Parc assess all prisoners who transfer into the prison including reviewing all previous information held on the prisoners to inform intelligence.

HMPPS continues to work extensively with G4S and is closely overseeing the prison to improve safety and reduce harm. All establishments are required to have a safety strategy in place, which includes actions to address violence. HMPPS remains committed to providing a safe, decent and secure environment for all committed to our care.

As HMP and YOI Parc is a privately operated prison, HMPPS do not hold data relating to the G4S workforce, and recruitment of healthcare staff is the responsibility of the Local Health Board, therefore, HMPPS are not the data holder for healthcare staffing information.

The information requested on finds in prisons is published at HMPPS annual digest: HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2022 to March 2023 - GOV.UK, specifically in tables 8.2b, 8.3 and 8.4 of this link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c143b41e10bf000e17cf9e/8.__Finds.ods.

Data on assaults are found in tables 8a-8f: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/662a24fb690acb1c0ba7e57c/Safety-in-custody-summary-q4-2023_final_table.xlsx.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of a violence reduction strategy at HMP Parc.

Answered by Edward Argar

HMPPS takes the findings of every HMI Prisons inspection seriously and responds to each with a detailed action plan that seeks to address all concerns raised within the inspection report. For privately run prisons, HMPPS works closely with the Prison operator to ensure that the expected standards are met, through the local controller team and contractual escalation route, if required. HMPPS officials meet with HMIP regularly to discuss the general landscape across the prison estate and will continue to do so. HMP and YOI Parc assess all prisoners who transfer into the prison including reviewing all previous information held on the prisoners to inform intelligence.

HMPPS continues to work extensively with G4S and is closely overseeing the prison to improve safety and reduce harm. All establishments are required to have a safety strategy in place, which includes actions to address violence. HMPPS remains committed to providing a safe, decent and secure environment for all committed to our care.

As HMP and YOI Parc is a privately operated prison, HMPPS do not hold data relating to the G4S workforce, and recruitment of healthcare staff is the responsibility of the Local Health Board, therefore, HMPPS are not the data holder for healthcare staffing information.

The information requested on finds in prisons is published at HMPPS annual digest: HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2022 to March 2023 - GOV.UK, specifically in tables 8.2b, 8.3 and 8.4 of this link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c143b41e10bf000e17cf9e/8.__Finds.ods.

Data on assaults are found in tables 8a-8f: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/662a24fb690acb1c0ba7e57c/Safety-in-custody-summary-q4-2023_final_table.xlsx.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of access to salary sacrifice schemes for NHS staff on lower pay-bands in the context of the increase in the minimum wage before the implementation of an NHS pay award for the 2024-25 financial year.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson

Employers in the National Health Service offer a broad range of salary sacrifice schemes, which have varying value. The interaction with the national minimum wage (NMW) must be considered for all employees that participate in one or more of these schemes, to ensure that participation does not breach HM Revenue and Customs’ rules. The Department is currently working with employers in the NHS to understand the potential impacts of the NMW increase on access to salary sacrifice schemes for all NHS staff.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will hold discussions with education sector trades unions on the provision of funding for (a) an above-inflation pay rise for staff in that sector and (b) increased levels of staffing in the 2024-25 financial year.

Answered by Damian Hinds

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

Teachers’ and leaders’ pay in England is set based on recommendations from the independent School Teachers’ Review Body. Last year, after following this process, the government announced the largest pay award in three decades, which shows that the department is delivering for teachers. Over the last two years, teachers and leaders have seen pay increases of more than 12% on average. The government also met its manifesto commitment for at least £30,000 starting salaries for teachers across the country.

There are 468,400 teachers in full time employment in England, which is an increase of 2,800 since last year and an increase of 27,000 since 2010 when the school workforce census began.

The department also continues to work closely with trade unions on the issues that matter to the sector, from workload to recruitment and retention.

Public ownership of water

Government surveillance of bank accounts

Scrutiny of the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and arms exports to Israel

46th anniversary of the murder of Altab Ali

Price cap on baby milk formula

Found: present Stephen Crabb, in the Chair Ben Lake Ruth Jones Rob Roberts Virginia Crosbi e Beth Winter

Found: Kemptown ) Karin Smyth MP (Labour, Bristol South ) John Stevenson MP (Conservative, Carlisle ) Beth Winter

Found: Kemptown ) Karin Smyth MP (Labour, Bristol South ) John Stevenson MP (Conservative, Carlisle ) Beth Winter

Found: Beth Winter will go first. Q253 Beth Winter: Thank you for your time today.

Found: Q3 Beth Winter: Why do we not know that? Why do we not know the impact?

Found: Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra Sharma Paula Barker Beth Winter

Found: Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra Sharma Paula Barker Beth Winter

Found: Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra Sharma Paula Barker Beth Winter

Found: Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra Sharma Paula Barker Beth Winter

Found: Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra Sharma Paula Barker Beth Winter

Found: Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra Sharma Paula Barker Beth Winter

Found: Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra Sharma Paula Barker Beth Winter

Found: Dowd Liz Saville Roberts Mrs Sharon Hodgson Mick Whitley Rachael Maskell Ian Mearns Beth Winter

Found: Dowd Liz Saville Roberts Mrs Sharon Hodgson Mick Whitley Rachael Maskell Ian Mearns Beth Winter

Found: Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra Sharma Paula Barker Beth Winter

Found: Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra Sharma Paula Barker Beth Winter

Found: Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra Sharma Paula Barker Beth Winter

Found: Dowd Liz Saville Roberts Mrs Sharon Hodgson Mick Whitley Rachael Maskell Ian Mearns Beth Winter

Found: Dowd Liz Saville Roberts Mrs Sharon Hodgson Mick Whitley Rachael Maskell Ian Mearns Beth Winter

Immigration Detention APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: McDonald MP Kate Osamor MP The Earl of Sandwich Hywel Williams MP Beth Winter MP SNP Liberal

Homelessness APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Co-Chair Jason McCartney MP, APPGEH Vice-Chair Helen Morgan MP, APPGEH Member Stuart McDonald MP Beth Winter

Homelessness APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Co-Chair Jason McCartney MP, APPGEH Vice-Chair Helen Morgan MP, APPGEH Member Stuart McDonald MP Beth Winter

Homelessness APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Link Katie Earnshaw, Emmaus Apologies: Rachael Maskell MP Nadia Whittome MP Lord Shipley Beth Winter

Homelessness APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Link Katie Earnshaw, Emmaus Apologies: Rachael Maskell MP Nadia Whittome MP Lord Shipley Beth Winter

Homelessness APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Coyle MP, APPG Co-Chair Baroness Meacher Baroness Healey Ben Everitt MP Sally-Ann Hart MP Beth Winter

Homelessness APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Coyle MP, APPG Co-Chair Baroness Meacher Baroness Healey Ben Everitt MP Sally-Ann Hart MP Beth Winter

Found: Andrew Morgan and Beth Winter MP 27/11/2023 Meeting / Cyfarfod Celtic Sea Developers Alliance 28/11/2023

Found: Cyfweliad/Interview S4C 2023-07-10 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Heledd Fychan MS, Vikki Howells MS, Beth Winter

Found: Services 2024-05-13 00:00:00 Cyfweliad/Interview Inside Housing 2023-05-14 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Beth Winter

Found: 2022-11-23 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Transport Focus Board 2022-11-23 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Beth Winter

Found: Cadeiryddion Prifysgolion Cymru/Chairs of Universities Wales 2021-11-17 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Beth Winter

<p>If you could publish that assessment, I think it could go a long way to assuaging people's concerns. So, I would welcome, please, if you could confirm if that will be published, and very shortly.</p>
<p>'Last week’s Budget was a missed opportunity, including for Cymru, resulting in continued austerity, inequality, poverty, and hardship for millions of people and leaving our public services at breaking point.'</p>
<p>Those aren't my words, but those of Beth Winter, who was, until yesterday, a Labour colleague of the First Minister. And she's right, isn't she? There was no commitment to fair funding, and so Wales's day-to-day spending settlement is less generous than that of Scotland and Northern Ireland. There was complete silence on HS2 consequentials, with Wales's comparability factor for transport shrinking from 80.9 per cent in 2015 to 33.5 per cent in 2024. And calls for the devolution of the Crown Estate were ignored again. Why are we consigned to further austerity, and why did the First Minister fail her first test to fight for what is right for Wales?</p>

<p>Thank you. As I say, there is that partnership approach going forward. Whilst the running of prisons is a reserved matter, of course, the health of prisoners here in Wales is devolved to the Welsh Government. I’ve already met with the Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation, Edward Argar, last month. I’ve also written to him this week. As you mentioned, there have been two further deaths this month. I think it’s really important that we recognise we don’t know the cause of death of the individuals. That’s a matter obviously for the coroner, and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is looking into these and will publish reports in due course, but, of course, the police did confirm in March that they believed some of the deaths were linked to substance misuse.</p>
<p>I heard the call, I think it was yesterday, in Parliament by Beth Winter to have the Ministry of Justice replace G4S in running the prison. At the current time, what's really important is we all come together to work together to ensure the safety of both prisoners and staff at Parc, but that's certainly something that I will be speaking to the Minister in the UK Government about, and, as you know, the Government supports the devolution of justice.</p>

<p>And, of course, it’s good to hear that liaison is happening, but what direct conversations is Welsh Government having with the G4S officials at Parc prison? The stories coming out of Parc prison are very concerning: two deaths within hours of each other, those being the eighth and ninth deaths in the space of two months, as well as alleged open drug use, neglect of inmates’ health—I could go on. Would she also support the calls of her colleague Beth Winter that Parc should ultimately be brought back under Government control, and would she also agree that the long-awaited devolution of justice would help us actually deal with the situation ourselves?</p>