MPs consider criminal justice bill

The Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill is set to complete its passage through Parliament this week, with some 'ping-pong' between the Commons and the Lords expected.

MPs were set to debate Lords amendments to the Bill on Tuesday, and Wednesday if necessary, and will not be allowed to leave Westminster on Thursday until Royal Assent has been achieved.

The truncated timetable has been necessary to put on the statute book clauses banning prison officers from going on strike, before a no-strike deal expires on Thursday.

A number of compromises have already been necessary in order to meet the deadline, with more expected this week.

Following the HM Revenue and Customs data loss fiasco, peers have supported an amendment tabled by Liberal Democrat Lady Miller which would make it a criminal offence to carelessly release or lose personal information.

However in the wake of lobbying from sections of the media concerned about restricting press investigations, ministers have also moved their own amendments to water down penalties for misusing personal data.

The Police Federation and Prison Officers Association (POA) have also written to MPs asking them to back a Lords amendment to the Bill which would require a vote in both houses before the government could block future police pay awards.

Meanwhile the justice secretary has rejected claims from the POA that the public is being placed at a "massive risk" by the transfer of some dangerous criminals to open jails.

Jack Straw said: "The numbers of absconds from prisons is at its lowest level in the last 10 years, despite an increasing population.

"Public protection is paramount and all prisoners located in open conditions have been rigorously risk assessed."