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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-02-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2016 to Question 23552, how many times police cells were used to hold prisoners overnight who were aged (a) 15 to 17, (b) 18 to 20 and (c) 21 and over in each month in 2014 and 2015.

Andrew Selous

We will always have enough prison places for those sent to us by the courts and will do so in a way that gives taxpayers the best possible value for money.

There are no plans to re-activate police cells under Operation Safeguard. No police cells have been used under Operation Safeguard since October 2008. This means the number of prisoners held temporarily overnight in police cells has fallen from over 50,000 in 2008.

Tables 1 and 2 show the number of prisoners, by the requested age groups, who were temporarily held overnight in police cells in England and Wales each month in 2014 and 2015. No prisoners aged 15 to 17 were held overnight in police cells in 2014 and 2015.

Table 1: 18 year olds and above during 2014

Table 2: 18 year olds and above during 2015

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-02-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2015 to Question 18874, when his Department plans to write to clarify the date captured in the other category; and if he will place a copy of that letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

Mr Shailesh Vara

My Department takes the issue of security within courts extremely seriously. Working with our security suppliers, officials continue to analyse the data within the other category to ensure the data provided answers question 18874 and provides detail on “other weapons” as requested.

I will write a letter to honourable member soon and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-02-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many police officers have been convicted of an assault committed while on duty in each year since 2010.

Andrew Selous

The information requested can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-02-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the status is of (a) the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman and (b) any other investigation into the death in custody of HM Prison Holloway prisoner Sarah Reed who was pronounced dead on 11 January 2016.

Andrew Selous

Every death in custody is a tragedy and we work hard to learn the lessons from each death. All deaths in prison custody are subject to a police investigation, an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) and a Coroner’s inquest.

I can confirm that each of these processes has begun following the death of Ms Reed, and I extend my condolences to her family and friends. Until investigations have concluded it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-02-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential costs and benefits of reducing the mandatory retirement age of magistrates from 70 to 60; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Shailesh Vara

The Government position remains that a retirement age of 70 for all judicial office holders is appropriate.

A mandatory retirement age of 70 means both judges and magistrates can continue to make a contribution to society whilst allowing for regular recruitment of the judiciary.

It also enables the judiciary to have the correct number of judges and magistrates, while preventing them from retiring on an ad hoc basis, and ensuring judicial independence is protected.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-02-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 January 2016, WS499, how much the Government spent on work on the criminal legal aid tendering process before deciding not to go ahead with that process.

Mr Shailesh Vara

This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.