National Preventive Mechanism Eighth Annual Report 2016–17 was announced by the Prime Minister.48 The UK continued to receive international criticism for its plans to scrap the Human Rights Act and/or leave the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. In June 2016, then Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Baroness Anelay expressed her determination to ‘strengthen the UK’s voice in the international system, including on the important human rights priority of torture prevention’ at an event organised to mark the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of OPCAT.49 She also announced that the total value of Foreign and Commonwealth Office-funded work on torture prevention during the year would be £725,000 and that this would be delivered through projects in 20 countries. Prisons and reform At the State opening of Parliament in May 2016, the Queen announced that her government would legislate to reform prisons in England and Wales. Prison governors would be given ‘unprecedented freedom’ and would be able to ensure prisoners received better education. The plans would include replacing old prisons.50 A White Paper setting out these plans in more detail was published in November 2016.51 In February 2017, the Secretary of State for Justice announced the creation of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to replace the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). HMPPS would take full operational management for prisons, while the Ministry of Justice would take on responsibility for future policy direction, setting standards, scrutinising prison performance and commissioning services. The government also announced that an additional £100 million would boost frontline prison staff by an extra 2,500.52 As part of the reform plans, in February 2017 the Prisons and Courts Bill was introduced to Parliament. This Bill aimed to introduce ‘statutory purposes’ of prisons: to protect the public, reform and rehabilitate offenders, prepare prisoners for life outside prison, and maintain an environment that is safe and secure. It would enshrine the Secretary of State’s responsibility for prisons into law. Importantly, the Bill also introduced measures that would strengthen the role of HMI Prisons, including recognition of HMI Prisons as an entity, reference to OPCAT, a requirement on government to respond to HMI Prisons' recommendations, and an ‘urgent notification’ process for HMI Prisons to report ‘significant concerns’. The Bill had reached Committee stage at the end of the reporting year and was widely supported by different political parties. Non‑governmental organisations (NGOs) lobbied for ‘the provision of an environment which is 48. The Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP. Letter to Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, 13 October 2016, http://www.parliament.uk/ documents/joint-committees/human-rights/correspondence/2016-17/HH_to_MF_re_derogation.pdf [accessed 09/11/17]. 49. The Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE, ‘Speech to mark the 10th Anniversary of OPCAT’, 29 June 2016, https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/speech-to-mark-the-10th-anniversary-of-opcat [accessed 09/11/17]. 50. See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/biggest-shake-up-of-prison-system-announced-as-part-of-queens-speech [accessed 09/11/17]. 51. Ministry of Justice, 2016, Prison Safety and Reform, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prison-safety-andreform [accessed 09/11/17]. 52. See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/justice-secretary-launches-new-prison-and-probation-service-to-reformoffenders [accessed 09/11/17]. 22