Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to negotiate a reciprocal agreement with the Australian government on uprating state pensions.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are no plans to negotiate a new reciprocal social security agreement with Australia.
UK State Pensions are payable worldwide, without regard to nationality, and are only uprated abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so - for example in countries with which we have a reciprocal agreement that provides for up-rating.
The policy on up-rating UK State Pensions paid overseas is a longstanding one and has been supported by successive Governments for over 70 years.
Up-rating is based on levels of earnings growth and price inflation in the UK which has no direct relevance where the pensioner is resident overseas.
Over many years, priority is given to those living in the UK when drawing up expenditure plans for additional pensioner benefits.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the merits of the use of snares.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.
The Government will introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation. As outlined in our manifesto, we will bring an end to the use of snare traps. We are considering the most effective way to deliver this commitment and will be setting out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the Target Operating Model on Divisional Sex Offender Units.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many requests were completed by frontline HM Prison and Probation Service staff for prisoners to be exempted from the End of Custody Supervised Licence scheme in each month since October 2023; and how many and what proportion of these requests were granted by senior HM Prison and Probation Service managers.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
End of Custody Supervised Licence began in October 2023. Analysis of its use will be based on at least one year’s worth of data, and published in line with the same approach we take for other statistical releases such as deaths of offenders in the community.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many qualified probation officers were in post at the end of March in each year since 2020.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
Staffing levels across HMPPS are publicly available in the “HM Prison and Probation Service workforce quarterly” Official Statistics release, published at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-offender-management-service-workforce-statistics.
Information on the number of staff by grade is available in Table 3 of the accompanying data tables, which can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6644d719ae748c43d3793c71/hmpps-workforce-statistics-tables-mar-2024_final.ods.
As of 31 March 2024, there were 5,139 full-time equivalent (FTE) Probation Officers in post. This is an increase of 718 FTE since 31 March 2023.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the number and proportion of prisoners that were released under the End of Custody Supervised License scheme who were homeless upon their release from prison in each month since October 2023.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) began in October 2023. Analysis of its use will be based on at least one year’s worth of data and published in line with the same approach we take for other statistical releases such as deaths of offenders in the community. We cannot provide any breakdowns of the ECSL cohort ahead of publication because they would give an early indication of that cohort and hence these statistics.
Release under ECSL follows the same planning and arrangements as release at the normal automatic release point and that includes making suitable arrangements for accommodation.
We know that having a safe place to stay helps cut crime which is why we are investing in our ground-breaking transitional accommodation service so prison leavers can have a guaranteed 12 weeks of basic, temporary accommodation to provide a stable base on release.
His Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service has a statutory duty in England to refer someone at risk of homelessness to a local authority for assistance and we have worked closely with DLUHC on the design and delivery of its Accommodation for Ex-Offenders scheme.
In 2022/23, 86% of prisoners were accommodated on first night of release, up from 80% in 2019/20.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Approved Premises referrals were submitted by probation staff to accommodate people released on an End of Custody Supervised Licence in each month since October 2023; and how many and what proportion of those referrals were rejected.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) began in October 2023. Analysis of its use will be based on at least one year’s worth of data and published in line with the same approach we take for other statistical releases such as deaths of offenders in the community. We cannot provide any breakdowns of the ECSL cohort ahead of publication because they would give an early indication of that cohort and hence these statistics.
HMPPS currently delivers 104 Approved Premises across the country to accommodate higher risk prison leavers and people on probation. They provide a high level of supervision in a controlled environment and are closely integrated with Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).
Beyond their role in public protection, Approved Premises can also play a key role in improving the rehabilitation of prison leavers, ensuring they have a place to stay upon release, and a stable environment from which to engage with wider support including helping source employment opportunities and engage with drug and alcohol treatment.
Overall, we provide 2,357 spaces and accommodate approximately 11,300 individuals each year in Approved Premises.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of people released on an end of custody supervised licence were subject to a serious further offence review in each month since October 2023.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) began in October 2023. Analysis of its use will be based on at least one year’s worth of data and published in line with the same approach we take for other statistical releases such as deaths of offenders in the community.
Figures on the number of serious further offence (SFO) reviews for 2023/24 will be published in October 2024. Figures will be accessible using the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/proven-reoffending-statistics
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of people released on End of Custody Supervised Licence were assessed as posing a high risk of harm in each month since October 2023.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) began in October 2023. Analysis of its use will be based on at least one year’s worth of data and published in line with the same approach we take for other statistical releases such as deaths of offenders in the community.
There are strict eligibility criteria for release on ECSL.
Only some offenders due for automatic release on licence at the half-way point of their sentence are eligible to be considered for release under these arrangements. Offenders whose release is a matter for the Parole Board to assess are not in scope.
It remains at the discretion of the prison service to prevent the ECSL release of any prisoners where releasing an offender earlier presents a heightened risk than if they were released at their automatic release date. HMPPS senior leaders will take decisions over exclusions following advice from HM Prison and Probation Service staff.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of people released on an End of Custody Supervised Licence were subsequently (a) recalled back to prison and (b) subject to a Death Under Supervision Review in each month since October 2023.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) began in October 2023. Analysis of its use will be based on at least one year’s worth of data and published in line with the same approach we take for other statistical releases such as deaths of offenders in the community.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) carries out independent investigations into complaints and deaths in custody. This includes deaths of recently released prisoners that occur within 14 days of release from prison (except homicide).
Fatal Incident reports are published on the PPO website - Fatal Incident reports | Document Types | Prisons & Probation Ombudsman (ppo.gov.uk)