Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Graham P Jones and Andrew Selous

Tuesday 8th December 2015 Commons Chamber

[Graham Jones (Hyndburn) (Lab)]

T9. Has the Minister read the recent “Locked out” report from Barnardo’s, which claims that changes to the incentives and earned privileges scheme mean that a child’s right to see their father is being withheld in order to enforce discipline? Does he think that this is good for the 200,000 children who have a parent in jail?

[Andrew Selous]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising this issue. I have met representatives of Barnardo’s on a number of occasions, and I pay tribute to the work that they do in this area. The Secretary of State and I place the highest importance on maintaining the family links of prisoners, and we will continue to look at this policy and at all policies that affect strengthening prisoners’ family relationships.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Graham P Jones and Andrew Selous

Tuesday 9th September 2014 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Selous]

I am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend for bringing a bit of balance to our discussions on HMP Northumberland. I thank him for what he has said. Of course, there are some pressures in our prisons, but prison officers are doing magnificent work every day. Frankly, it is time that was recognised and celebrated.

[Graham Jones (Hyndburn) (Lab)]

6. What estimate he has made of the number of offenders given a non-custodial sentence in the past three years who had more than 100 previous convictions.