Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Gavin Robinson Excerpts
Tuesday 11th March 2025

(1 day, 15 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nicholas Dakin Portrait Sir Nicholas Dakin
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Where they were blocking, we are building, building, building. HMP Millsike, the UK’s first all-electric prison, will open in just a few weeks and deliver 1,500 places. Just last week, the Prisons Minister in the other place attended a groundbreaking at HMP Highpoint, and we have already secured full planning permission for a new prison in Leicestershire and outline planning permission for a new prison in Buckinghamshire. We are getting on with the job.

Gavin Robinson Portrait Gavin Robinson (Belfast East) (DUP)
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The Minister will know that the increase in prisoner numbers is often because of the logjam within the Crown court system, and there are too many on remand who are then convicted and released with time served, with no opportunity for rehabilitation or mentoring. Will he confirm that that forms part of the sentencing review or the Leveson review?

Nicholas Dakin Portrait Sir Nicholas Dakin
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That is why we are doing this big system relook. The right hon. Member is right to draw attention to this. We are going to tackle it and sort it out.