Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 9 May 2025 to Question 50011 on HMP/YOI Downview: Transgender People, when the seven male prisoners held at HMP Downview will be moved to the men's prison estate; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure the (a) safety, (b) privacy and (c) dignity of female prisoners held in HMP Downview.
Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
This Government inherited the policy regarding allocation of transgender prisoners from the previous government and have not moved any transgender women into the women’s estate since taking office.
We are reviewing transgender prisoner policy in light of the Supreme Court ruling and will set out any changes to our approach in due course.
E Wing prisoners are held separately to other prisoners at HMP Downview. They cannot be given any access to the general women's estate in the prison unless risk-assessed as being safe to do so. If they are given access, this will be directly supervised by staff.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Data (Use and Access) Bill [Lords] on the capture of sex data in public services.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Data Bill does not alter data collection practices for public services.
Public service providers processing personal data are still subject to compliance requirements under data protection legislation.
The Government accepts the Supreme Court Ruling. We are working through this judgement carefully, including on how public services collect (and subsequently process) sex data in public services.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of trends in levels of recruitment and retention in the armed forces on operational capacity.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The current Government inherited a crisis in recruitment and retention from the last administration, and we are committed to addressing this through a range of targets, initiatives and measures.
The Ministry of Defence continually monitors the recruitment and retention trends across the Armed Forces and makes assessments of the impact these trends may have on a particular capability as well as our overall operational capabilities. I hope that the hon. Member will understand that details on operational capacity are not made public to preserve the operational security of HM Armed Forces, but improving both recruitment and retention are priority areas for Armed Forces.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has help increase the speed of the delivery of Challenger 3 main battle tanks, in the context of the supply chain.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We are engaged with the supply chain and additional resources have been directed towards ensuring the materials required for Challenger 3 main battle tanks are available to meet the delivery timescales.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the system for legally purchasing firearms; and whether her Department plans to improve the (a) licensing, (b) monitoring and (c) enforcement processes.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
We keep firearms licensing controls under constant review to safeguard the public against the misuse of licensed firearms. We will shortly be refreshing the Statutory Guidance to tighten the criteria applied by police forces when considering if someone is suitable to have a firearms certificate, including handling of domestic abuse allegations, treatment of violent offences, the impact of dishonesty, and the role and arrangements for referees supporting an application.
Firearms licensing fees were increased to enable full cost recovery on 5 February 2025, giving effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto. The extra income from fees will help police forces to better resource and train their firearms licensing teams. Later this year we will also be publishing a new consultation on greater alignment of shotgun and firearms controls and other proposals for making changes to firearms legislation.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to stop biological males being housed in E wing at HMP Downview.
Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As of 1 May 2025, there were 7 transgender women held on E Wing. Other than on E Wing, there were no transgender women held in HMP Downview. The figures are compiled from local operational data and are therefore not directly comparable with official statistics on transgender prisoners covering the whole estate.
This Government inherited the policy regarding allocation of transgender prisoners from the previous Government and has not moved any transgender women into the women’s estate since taking office.
We are reviewing transgender prisoner policy in light of the Supreme Court ruling and will be able to say more about this in due course.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason Hatchlands Primary School in Redhill has withdrawn from the breakfast club trial.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Schools were able to apply to join the breakfast clubs early adopter scheme in November and December last year. The department published an updated list of successful schools on 22 April.
The department has been working closely with schools on the scheme to ensure their plans are deliverable to have breakfast clubs up and running from the first day of summer term. The department will not be discussing the circumstances and decisions of any individual school.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when biological male prisoners at HMP Downview will be transferred to male prisons.
Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As of 1 May 2025, there were 7 transgender women held on E Wing. Other than on E Wing, there were no transgender women held in HMP Downview. The figures are compiled from local operational data and are therefore not directly comparable with official statistics on transgender prisoners covering the whole estate.
This Government inherited the policy regarding allocation of transgender prisoners from the previous Government and has not moved any transgender women into the women’s estate since taking office.
We are reviewing transgender prisoner policy in light of the Supreme Court ruling and will be able to say more about this in due course.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many biological male prisoners are held in E Wing in HMP Downview.
Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As of 1 May 2025, there were 7 transgender women held on E Wing. Other than on E Wing, there were no transgender women held in HMP Downview. The figures are compiled from local operational data and are therefore not directly comparable with official statistics on transgender prisoners covering the whole estate.
This Government inherited the policy regarding allocation of transgender prisoners from the previous Government and has not moved any transgender women into the women’s estate since taking office.
We are reviewing transgender prisoner policy in light of the Supreme Court ruling and will be able to say more about this in due course.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many biologically male prisoners are held at HMP Downview.
Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As of 1 May 2025, there were 7 transgender women held on E Wing. Other than on E Wing, there were no transgender women held in HMP Downview. The figures are compiled from local operational data and are therefore not directly comparable with official statistics on transgender prisoners covering the whole estate.
This Government inherited the policy regarding allocation of transgender prisoners from the previous Government and has not moved any transgender women into the women’s estate since taking office.
We are reviewing transgender prisoner policy in light of the Supreme Court ruling and will be able to say more about this in due course.