Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Tania Mathias Excerpts
Tuesday 24th January 2017

(7 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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The hon. Lady is absolutely right that mental health is a major issue. We are giving governors more power over the commissioning of mental health services in prison. I also want to see better diagnosis of mental health issues earlier in the criminal justice system, when people appear in court and when they are on community sentences.

Tania Mathias Portrait Dr Tania Mathias (Twickenham) (Con)
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Will the Secretary of State set a high standard for employment projects in prisons along the lines of the experience in Padua? I am sure that she is aware of Pasticceria Giotto, an outstanding and exporting bakery business.

Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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I thank my hon. Friend for her comments. Catering and bakery is a big area in which we do a lot of training already. We are working with organisations like Costa Coffee to get people into employment. We also have the Bad Boys Bakery at Brixton, which produces some excellent cakes.

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Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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I want to promote both English and Scots law internationally; I think they are both huge assets to our country, and a very important part of commerce and business and the trust people have in our system. When I meet the Scottish Justice Minister, I will be delighted to meet some law firms up in Scotland.

Tania Mathias Portrait Dr Tania Mathias (Twickenham) (Con)
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T2. I welcome the Government’s commitment to creating the status of guardian for the property and affairs of a missing person. This is much wanted and much needed by the affected families. Will the Minister tell us when this legislation will be brought before the House?

Oliver Heald Portrait The Minister for Courts and Justice (Sir Oliver Heald)
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We welcome the Bill from my hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Kevin Hollinrake) on this subject, because we are determined to provide help to the families left behind when a person goes missing. It is our policy to introduce legislation, but we also now look forward to responding to my hon. Friend’s Bill on Second Reading.