Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 4 December to Question 116620, how many of the 2,718 prisoners serving Imprisonment Public Protection sentences who have passed their minimum tariff period have parole hearings scheduled for the next six months; and will he make a statement.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
In my evidence to the Justice Select Committee, on 18 October, I outlined the work that Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) was undertaking to provide as many opportunities for IPP prisoners to progress to safe release as soon as possible. This includes giving IPP prisoners the support, opportunities and motivation they need to progress more quickly.
We are also working towards opening three new IPP Progression Regimes that build on the success of the one at HMP Warren Hill, which is providing opportunities for IPP prisoners to reduce their risk where they have struggled to do so previously. HMPPS is targeting those who have had two or more unsuccessful parole hearings and carrying out psychology-led case reviews to identify new approaches to improve the prospects of achieving progression.
The Parole Board is also committed to progressing IPP prisoners towards release by providing IPP prisoners with timely access to parole reviews. Already this year the numbers of IPP prisoners has reduced from 3,528 to 3,162.
Of the 2,718 IPP prisoners - who have passed their minimum tariff period - 746 have oral hearings scheduled during the period 1 December 2017 - 31 March 2018.
The Parole Board - which is listing more cases than ever - lists cases three months in advance and I expect that further oral hearings for IPP prisoners will be listed during the next six months. The Parole Board’s aim is that IPP prisoners should be released - if it is safe to do so - or have clear plans in place that will enable them to progress.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to bring forward the parole hearings of prisoners imprisonment for public protection who have exceeded their minimum term in prison?
Answered by Sam Gyimah
As at 30 September 2017, the population of prisoners serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences in prisons in England and Wales was 3,162. Of these prisoners, 2,718 have passed their minimum tariff period.These and other statistics specific to those serving indeterminate sentences are published quarterly by the Ministry of Justice here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/offender-management-statistics-quarterly
I remain committed to ensuring IPP prisoners are able to progress towards release as soon it is safe to do so after their tariff has expired. IPP prisoners are achieving release in high numbers. In the year 2016/17, 46% of IPP prisoners achieved a release decision from the Parole Board, with a further 24% securing a progressive move to open conditions. Less than a third of hearings resulted in a negative outcome.
A joint action plan is in place, co-owned by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Parole Board, with the specific aim of providing as many opportunities for IPP prisoners to progress to safe release as soon as possible. A key part of the action plan has been to ensure that the parole process runs as smoothly as possible so as to provide IPP prisoners with timely access to parole reviews. The Parole Board has effectively eliminated its backlog and is now listing more hearings than ever before.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners imprisoned for public protection remain imprisioned; and if will he make a statement.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
As at 30 September 2017, the population of prisoners serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences in prisons in England and Wales was 3,162. Of these prisoners, 2,718 have passed their minimum tariff period.These and other statistics specific to those serving indeterminate sentences are published quarterly by the Ministry of Justice here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/offender-management-statistics-quarterly
I remain committed to ensuring IPP prisoners are able to progress towards release as soon it is safe to do so after their tariff has expired. IPP prisoners are achieving release in high numbers. In the year 2016/17, 46% of IPP prisoners achieved a release decision from the Parole Board, with a further 24% securing a progressive move to open conditions. Less than a third of hearings resulted in a negative outcome.
A joint action plan is in place, co-owned by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Parole Board, with the specific aim of providing as many opportunities for IPP prisoners to progress to safe release as soon as possible. A key part of the action plan has been to ensure that the parole process runs as smoothly as possible so as to provide IPP prisoners with timely access to parole reviews. The Parole Board has effectively eliminated its backlog and is now listing more hearings than ever before.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many victims of human trafficking have received Legal Aid in each of the last three years.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The Legal Aid Agency cannot identify all applicants for legal aid that have been victims of trafficking, as such a status is only captured in certain cases, for example where an individual is bringing a compensation claim against their traffickers. Victims of trafficking can also access other forms of legal aid, although such cases will not be discernible from the LAA’s systems.
Financial Year | Trafficking/Modern Slavery Matters |
2014-2015 | 51 |
2015-2016 | 34 |
2016-2017 | 39 |
The figures above are based on completed Legal Help/CLR and Civil Representation workload for the time periods requested.
Although our databases record matters related to victims of trafficking, in practice this will also include victims of modern slavery, which cannot be separately reported on.