Humfrey Malins

Date of Answer: 21.04.2008

Column References: 474 c1036-7

Member Tabling Question: Malins, Humfrey

Topic: Policy Formulation

Question: Of course all policy should be based on evidence. My experience in the criminal courts is that a much more effective and cheaper alternative to prison for many drug offenders is a residential drug rehab bed, yet the Home Office has never been able to undertake research into what is more effective in reducing reconviction rates. Could the Home Office take a careful look and see whether appropriate research can be commissioned?

Answering Department: Home Office

Member Answering Question: Smith, Jacqui

Answer:One of the other things that we are clear about in the drugs strategy is the need to maintain our research into the most effective forms of drug treatment. However, there is clear evidence that doubling the availability of drug treatment saw a 20 per cent. reduction in acquisitive crime. In increasing drug treatment, we have seen crime reducing. As the hon. Gentleman rightly pointed out, we now need to be clear that that increased investment in treatment is going to the most effective forms of treatment, and we will ensure that that happens. One of the other things that we are clear about in the drugs strategy is the need to maintain our research into the most effective forms of drug treatment. However, there is clear evidence that doubling the availability of drug treatment saw a 20 per cent. reduction in acquisitive crime. In increasing drug treatment, we have seen crime reducing. As the hon. Gentleman rightly pointed out, we now need to be clear that that increased investment in treatment is going to the most effective forms of treatment, and we will ensure that that happens.

Date of Answer: 11.03.2008

Column References: 473 c135

Member Tabling Question: Malins, Humfrey

Topic: Drugs (Prisons)

Question: The Minister's answers have been deeply unsatisfactory. A number of convicted women prisoners in Send prison in Surrey are bravely trying to tackle their drug addiction by going through the RAPt—the Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust—12-step rehab programme. They tell me—is this not astonishing?—that their efforts are hindered by the ready availability of hard drugs throughout that prison. It is not just one prison that we need drug-free, but Send prison and many more need to be drug-free as well. We need action, not words.

Answering Department: Ministry of Justice

Member Answering Question: Hanson, David

Answer:I know that the hon. Gentleman takes a keen interest in the matter for genuine and important reasons. If he looks at the prison update policy paper produced in January, he will see that it records what we are doing: 440 active search dogs; CCTV surveillance on all social visit areas; low-level fixed furniture in category C prisons and above; measures taken in conjunction with the police to police visiting areas; mandatory drug testing with around 60,000 random and 40,000 targeted tests each year; telephone intelligence; new machinery to recover mobile phones; and the supply of good practice to prisons to help to have effective measures nationally.

A tremendous amount of work is going on. The review that I announced today is a precursor to further recommendations coming to the Government by May this year. I intend to make further statements to the House before the end of the week on other measures that we are taking. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will support us in those efforts. I know that the hon. Gentleman takes a keen interest in the matter for genuine and important reasons. If he looks at the prison update policy paper produced in January, he will see that it records what we are doing: 440 active search dogs; CCTV surveillance on all social visit areas; low-level fixed furniture in category C prisons and above; measures taken in conjunction with the police to police visiting areas; mandatory drug testing with around 60,000 random and 40,000 targeted tests each year; telephone intelligence; new machinery to recover mobile phones; and the supply of good practice to prisons to help to have effective measures nationally.

A tremendous amount of work is going on. The review that I announced today is a precursor to further recommendations coming to the Government by May this year. I intend to make further statements to the House before the end of the week on other measures that we are taking. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will support us in those efforts.

Date of Answer: 29.01.2008

Column References: 471 c156

Member Tabling Question: Malins, Humfrey

Topic: Courts Staff (Pay)

Question: The Minister will know that the company Serco provides staff for Crown courts and magistrates courts across the London area. Those staff bring prisoners to court and then up from the cells into the dock. Is the Minister aware that courts in London are in some chaos at the moment because Serco appears to be dreadfully understaffed, not having enough people to do the job properly? Is that because the company is not efficient enough, or are the Government simply not paying the proper rate to get a proper job done?

Answering Department: Ministry of Justice

Member Answering Question: Eagle, Maria

Answer:The arrangements are contracted. Serco has standards to meet; if the hon. Gentleman is saying that those standards are not being met I shall be happy to look into specific instances that have been brought to his attention. However, the arrangements are made on the basis of a contract and as far as I am aware, they are working well. The arrangements are contracted. Serco has standards to meet; if the hon. Gentleman is saying that those standards are not being met I shall be happy to look into specific instances that have been brought to his attention. However, the arrangements are made on the basis of a contract and as far as I am aware, they are working well.

Question Number:

Date of Answer: 28.01.2008

Column References: 471 c4

Member Tabling Question: Malins, Humfrey

Topic: Sport (Girls)

Question: Will the Minister agree to meet his Home Office colleagues to discuss the need to increase participation in sport of girls and boys in our young offender prison estate, where the provision of sport for young people is still far too low?

Answering Department: Dept for Culture Media and Sport

Member Answering Question: Sutcliffe, Gerry

Answer:I heartily agree, and I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising this issue. He will know that one of my previous roles was in the Home Office, dealing with young offenders. The busiest place in a young offender institution—and, indeed, a prison—is the gym, and we must try to channel that activity into sport. I believe that there is a great role for sport to play in helping support offenders and in getting them away from offending. I heartily agree, and I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising this issue. He will know that one of my previous roles was in the Home Office, dealing with young offenders. The busiest place in a young offender institution—and, indeed, a prison—is the gym, and we must try to channel that activity into sport. I believe that there is a great role for sport to play in helping support offenders and in getting them away from offending.