§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to ensure that women sentenced to prison terms are allowed time to put their families' affairs in order before their sentences begin. [106187]
§ Mr. BoatengSection 1 of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 enables a court to defer passing sentence on an offender only to enable it to have regard to the offender's conduct after conviction or to any change in circumstances. There is no power to defer sentence to enable people to arrange child care, and such a change would require primary legislation.
Where a custodial sentence is likely to be imposed, National Standards require the writers of pre-sentence reports to identify any expected adverse effects for offenders and their family, including the issue of child care where appropriate.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to remodel under-used open prison facilities for the use of women prisoners and their children. [106186]
§ Mr. BoatengIn September 1997 the Director General of the Prison Service announced a review of five open prisons. The review was initiated against a background of a rising prisoner population which indicated the need to provide more spaces in secure accommodation, in particular the creation of more female places.
The review is specifically required to consider the feasibility of re-roling Morton Hall male open prison to a closed female prison, and upgrading the security of Drake Hall open female prison to that of a closed female prison. The review is also looking at Kirkham, North Sea Camp and Standford Hill. All three establishments are currently open prisons for adult males. The work of the review team will not conclude until the spring and no decisions in respect of the open estate are expected before then.
The provision of mother and baby units is being considered in plans for any new prison for women.