Summary

  • MPs on the Justice Committee conducted an inquiry into HM Chief Inspector of Prisons’ relationship with the Ministry of Justice.

  • MPs met at 11.30am for Northern Ireland questions; followed by prime minister's questions.

  • There were two urgent questions following PMQs: one on the case of Poppi Worthington; the second on treatment of asylum seekers in Middlesbrough.

  • The main business of the day was the report stage of the Psychoactive Substances Bill.

  • The House of Lords assembled at 3pm; and after questions peers debated a motion to appoint a select committee to consider the impact of two clauses in the Trade Union Bill.

  • The Lords considered the Immigration Bill.

Live Reporting

Alex Partridge, Kate Whannel and Patrick Cowling

  1. The need for a protocol

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Nick Hardwick

    Mr Hardwick says: "I never thought it was appropriate for us to be sponsored by the Ministry of Justice but I lost that argument.

    "As long as we continue to be sponsored by them we need a clear protocol that sets out how that relationship should work and sets out where we should be independent and deals with proper accountability."

    Conservative Alex Chalk asks what steps should be put in to govern the relationship between the Inspectorate and the Department.

    As an example Mr Hardwick says: "I think it should be very clear for instance that our reports and findings are for the Chief Inspector to decide rather than for the MoJ."

  2. Later today

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  3. The correspondence

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    The correspondence between Mr Hardwick and the Ministry of Justice can be found on the Justice Committee's website.

  4. Chief Inspector of Prisons' relationship with the MoJ

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Committee chair Bob Neill kicks off proceedings by saying that the hearing today relates to correspondence between Nick Hardwick and the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) relating to budgets.

    Mr Hardwick responds to an initial question about the funding of the Prisons' Inspectorate by saying 80% of funding comes from the MoJ and "a decent chunk from the Home Office".

    "I fully accept that we have to be accountable for our money and take our fair share of savings," says Mr Hardwick.

    But he says that "when the Department whose services we are inspecting starts saying precisely how I should carry out those inspections then I think it becomes an issue about our independence".

    Nick Hardwick and Peter Clarke

  5. Good morning

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Today's live coverage of the Houses of Parliament begins with a Justice Committee hearing on the Chief Inspector of Prisons' relationship with the Ministry of Justice.

    Witnesses will include:

    • Nick Hardwick, outgoing HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
    • Peter Clarke, incoming HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
    • Richard Heaton, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice
    • Indra Morris, Director, Criminal Justice, Ministry of Justice