Justice Week 8-12 December 2008

December 11, 2008

Minister questioned on Justice Week in the House

It was Ministry of Justice Question Time in the House on 9th December and MPs made specific interventions to raise the fact that it is Justice Week.

John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): What plans the Secretary of State for Justice has for future levels of funding for front-line services in the criminal justice system?

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Maria Eagle): The comprehensive spending review 2007 settlement agreed for the Ministry of Justice requires us to live within the funding available. Budgets for 2009-10 will be agreed shortly, and we will then be in a position to inform Parliament more fully of the impact of this work on the Ministry of Justice. We are prioritising and protecting front-line services, but we are looking at how we can improve performance and efficiency across the Department. We are, of course, involving our Department’s trade unions in ongoing discussions in this regard.

John McDonnell: My hon. Friend will be aware that this week has been designated justice week by the justice trade unions, and they will be lobbying the House tomorrow on their concerns about future budgets. Has she seen the report launched yesterday by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, which demonstrates that although the Government have increased resources within the individual budgets of prisons, the probation service and the courts, that has not matched the work loads? Would she therefore be willing to meet a delegation from the justice trade union group to discuss the report and its implications for future budget planning?

Maria Eagle: On my hon. Friend’s last point, I would of course be more than happy to meet him and any delegation that he wishes to bring in respect of the particular point that he makes. I have not yet had a chance to see that report, but I would be very happy to read it.

The Justice Unions Parliamentary Group also organised for the issue prison over-crowding to be raised in the House of Lords on Wednesday 10th, during Starred Questions, with planned interventions from Baroness Howe, Baroness Stern, Baroness Linklater and Lords Ramsbotham.

Posted by kfalcon at December 11, 2008 04:19 PM