Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Laurence Robertson Excerpts
Tuesday 18th October 2022

(2 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Gareth Johnson Portrait Gareth Johnson
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I make no apologies for locking up criminals. I have confidence in the good blend of district judges and justices of the peace in the magistrates courts. We have not seen how the existing increase in powers has been borne out, and we have not seen what the impact will be. We will keep that under review and, until we have that information, I cannot add anything further.

Laurence Robertson Portrait Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury) (Con)
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8. What recent steps his Department has taken to help support the mental health of prisoners.

Rob Butler Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rob Butler)
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The Government published the draft Mental Health Bill in June, and it is now subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. It includes vital reforms to support people with serious mental illness in the criminal justice system by speeding up access to specialist in-patient care and treatment, and it seeks to end the use of prison as a place of safety. The Bill will introduce a new statutory time limit of 28 days for transfers from prison to hospital.

Laurence Robertson Portrait Mr Robertson
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As the Minister is aware, a very high percentage of prisoners have mental health problems. It may also be the case that they end up in prison because of mental health issues. Will the Ministry of Justice work more closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and other people who can provide mental health services to try to stop the spiral?