Speeches by Farnsworth.

“That is really interesting because we are talking about NEETs quite a lot at the moment: people not in education, employment or training. It is really interesting that there is no data collected specifically on prison release on that point.”

“Dr Jo, you have hit on something that is really important to me and my colleagues in Derbyshire. Lee will know that Derbyshire county council and the ICB have recently failed quite dramatically an Ofsted report on their SEND provision, so I am really interested to hear what you say. MOJ data shows that 55% of prisoners…”

“I have some questions about prison libraries. I was celebrating World Book Day with my children last week and having long conversations about reading for pleasure. I was heartened to read in our brief that the Prison Rules 1999 say that a library should be provided in every prison and, subject to the directions of the …”

“The 317 pages of the Bill make satisfying reading for this former Crown prosecutor—satisfying because I know it is packed full of measures that will make the streets safer for my constituents. Amber Valley is a brilliant place to live, but sadly it is not without incidents of antisocial behaviour. That is an important …”

“I am pleased that the Government are committed to tackling the mental health epidemic among adults and children in this country, especially with the specialist mental health professionals that will be installed in every school—parents in my constituency of Amber Valley will welcome that. Does my hon. Friend agree that …”

“I am absolutely flabbergasted by some of the things that the shadow Justice Secretary, the right hon. Member for Newark (Robert Jenrick) said today. I assure him that this backlog has not materialised just over the last eight months. I can say that as a Crown prosecutor who worked throughout the 14 years of the last Go…”

“I have three great towns in my constituency—Heanor, Ripley and Alfreton—but sadly, Amber Valley is not immune to issues with off-road bikes. My hon. Friend talks about intelligence leading to solving crimes. Does she agree that community policing and the increased numbers of officers that the Government will provide wi…”

“I don’t doubt it. I agree that for the people, the staff involved, it is an incredible opportunity that they can move between Departments. What I am concerned about is what we have been seeing in the courts. Nick just mentioned the word “stressful”. I am concerned about people leaving because of the impact that the cur…”

“I see. The digital, as we know, has caused problems in terms of the finances.”

“Off the back of what you were saying about the 1,000 staff you have retained—rightly so, in my opinion—and stepping away from the courts and looking at the wider MOJ, staffing in Ministry headquarters has increased by 66%, with an increase of slightly under 3,000 full-time equivalent staff in ’23-24, while we know ther…”

“But under pressure.”

“Is there an issue in HMCTS of career progression opportunities for staff?”

“There are quite a lot of internal transfers within the civil service, aren’t there, particularly in HMCTS? Do you know why people are moving Departments? What is driving that?”

“In HMCTS, you have the highest turnover of staff: 14.5% in ’23-24 against the civil service rate of 7.5%. Does that concern you? Do you think that is a problem?”

“Thank you. That is really helpful. Are you expecting to have to make any more efficiency savings for the next year, for ’24-25 and beyond, at the moment that are not medical and are simply efficiency savings?”

“Were the efficiency savings just because of that restructure, or were there efficiency savings elsewhere as well?”

“Thank you very much. You have probably gathered that I am interested in the people side of things, having worked in the courts for many of the 21 years that I was in the CPS. If we can turn to staffing, that is something I am interested in. Let’s stick at the moment with the cost side of things. I know we have concentr…”

“Amy, you have said it is in your interests to work with the contractors to make sure that things are better. My concern is that because the contracts are clearly not working, as we hear time and again, and we have given you some examples from the frontline, as it were, it must take up a lot of your time and effort tryi…”

“As long as we do it next, due to my commitments.”

“My name is Linsey Farnsworth. I am the Member of Parliament for Amber Valley. My interests are on the website, but of particular relevance today: I am a non-practising solicitor, formerly of the Crown Prosecution Service, and I am the mission delivery champion for the Safer Streets Mission.”