Ministers questioned on mothers in prison
12 March 2019
The Joint Committee on Human Rights examines the right to family life: children whose mothers are imprisoned.
- Watch Parliament TV: The right to family life: children whose mothers are in prison
- Inquiry: The right to family life: children whose mothers are in prison
- Joint Committee on Human Rights
Purpose of the session
The session will cover the following:
- What do we know about the number of mothers in prison and the numbers of children whose mother/ primary carer is in prison? What are the barriers to collecting this data?
- How can we ensure there is more accurate and reliable information about how many children are affected by their mother being in prison?
- When sentencing mothers and primary carers, should the criminal court prioritise the best interests of children in a similar way to the family court?
- What support should be provided for family members and others who step in to care for children while their mother is in prison?
- Is it acceptable to use the child's ability to see their mother as part of the regime for regulating behaviour?
These are just some of the issues which will be raised with ministers in this inquiry's final evidence session.
Witnesses
Wednesday 13 March, Committee room 1, Palace of Westminster.
3.15pm
- Edward Agar, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Home Office
- Nadhim Zahawi, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families
Further information
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