Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Ian Lavery Excerpts
Tuesday 3rd November 2015

(9 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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As I acknowledged earlier, the criminal courts charge is a cause of concern across the House, but it is also important that we maintain a balance between the funding of our courts coming from the taxpayer and that coming from those who use our courts. My hon. Friend makes a valuable submission on which I shall reflect.

Ian Lavery Portrait Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab)
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HMP Northumberland, like many other prisons, is awash with the legal high, spice. It is creating a really dangerous environment for prison officers and offenders alike. What action is the Minister taking to tackle that very dangerous situation?

Mike Penning Portrait The Minister for Policing, Crime and Criminal Justice (Mike Penning)
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As the House is aware, we have just come out of the Committee stage on the new psychoactive substances Bill. I amended the provisions in Committee with the support of Her Majesty’s Opposition and the Scottish National party to make it a criminal offence to have spice, or any other NPS, in prison. That was at the request of the governors and the officers’ union.