Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Williams Excerpts
Tuesday 5th September 2017

(7 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Dominic Raab Portrait Dominic Raab
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We have made considerable progress in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, and my right hon. Friend is right to say that one of the areas under review is the broadcasting of judges’ sentencing remarks in the Crown court. Last year, we conducted not-for-broadcast tests in eight Crown court centres, and we are looking at the experience from those trials with the judiciary in order to see how best to proceed.

Paul Williams Portrait Dr Paul Williams (Stockton South) (Lab)
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T10. Last year, 316 people died in our prisons. Emails from prison doctors printed in the media a few days ago say that there are not enough medical staff in our prisons and that urgent hospital referrals are being cancelled because of prison escort shortages. What are the Justice Secretary and the Health Secretary planning to do to tackle this growing healthcare crisis in custody?

Sam Gyimah Portrait Mr Gyimah
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We are very conscious that the Government have a duty of care to everyone we hold in custody. We are working with the Department of Health on a number of protocols, including some relating to mental health, as well as working to ensure that prisoners get access to the healthcare that they need, when they need it.