Policy > All-Party Parliamentary Group on Penal Affairs...

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Penal Affairs

Originally formed in 1980, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Penal Affairs aims to increase its members’ knowledge of penal affairs and to work through parliamentary channels for reform of the penal system.

The group meets regularly and hears presentations from a wide range of people and organisations. Full minutes of meetings are available in this section.

Governance of the APPGPA

At the inaugural meeting held on 17 June 2025, Pam Cox MP was elected chair of the group. She replaced Andrew Selous MP who was the previous chair before the dissolution of parliament for the 2024 general election.

The other elected officers of the group are Tessa Munt MP, Baroness Prashar CBE and Lord Garnier KC. The group is listed in the Register of All-Party Groups.

The Prison Reform Trust’s deputy director, Mark Day, is clerk to the group. Emily Evison provides administrative assistance.

Page 4

All APPPAG

April 2014 — Prisoners’ Families

Minutes of the All-Party Penal Affairs Parliamentary Group held on 1st April 2014 at 5.00 pm in Committee Room 5, House of Commons Prisoners’ Families Speakers: Deborah Cowley, Director, Action for Prisoners’ Families Andy Keen–Downs, Chief Executive, Pact Gillian and Cassie: Members of Prisoners’ Families Present Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, in the chair Lord […]
February 2014 — Robin Corbett Award and Parole Board

Lord Ramsbotham opened the meeting by welcoming everyone to the annual presentation of the Robin Corbett awards. However before that he had a very sad duty to perform. Over the Christmas recess, his Co-Chair, Paul Goggins MP, had died. He could think of few people who had enjoyed so much respect, throughout the House, for being […]
December 2013 — Will Small Charities Be Squeezed Out Of Transforming Rehabilitation Plans?

Minutes of the All-Party Penal Affairs Parliamentary Group held on 3 December 2013 Will small charities be squeezed out of Transforming Rehabilitation plans? Speakers: Clive Martin, Director, Clinks Vicki Helyar-Cardwell, Director, Criminal Justice Alliance Present Paul Goggins MP, in the chair Baroness Howe Lord Hodgson Lord Fellowes Lord Judd Paul Goggins MP welcomed everyone to […]
November 2013 — Reforming The Coroner Service

Minutes of the All-Party Penal Affairs Parliamentary Group held on 5th November 2013 Reforming the Coroner Service Speaker: HHJ Peter Thornton QC, the Chief Coroner With additional information about deaths in custody from Deborah Coles, co-director of INQUEST Present Lord Ramsbotham, in the chair Lord Bradley Lord Dholakia Lord Fellowes Paul Goggins MP Lord Harris […]
October 2013 — Can Computers In Prison Transform Rehabilitation?

Minutes of the All-Party Penal Affairs Parliamentary Group, supported by the Parliamentary Internet and Communications Technology Forum (PICTFOR) held on 22 October 2013 Can computers in prison transform rehabilitation? Speakers: Rod Clark, Chief Executive, Prisoners Education Trust Emma, a prisoner who has experience of ICT in prison Lord Harris of Haringey, Treasurer of PICTFOR […]
June 2013 — AGM and Jeremy Wright MP

Minutes of the All-Party Penal Affairs Parliamentary Group held on 4 June 2013 Speaker: Jeremy Wright MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice Present Lord Ramsbotham, in the chair Crispin Blunt MP Lord Bradleye Lord Dholakia Lord Fellowes Paul Goggins MP Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts Baroness Howe of Idlicote Lord Judd Baroness Linklater […]
May 2013 — The Role Of The DPP and Crown Prosecution Service

Minutes of the All-Party Penal Affairs Parliamentary Group on 14 May 2013 Prosecuting in the public interest? The role of the DPP and the Crown Prosecution Service Speaker: Keir Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions. Present Paul Goggins MP, in the chair Baroness Berridge Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone Lord Carlile QC Baroness Howe of Idlicote Baroness […]
April 2013 — Probation

Speakers: Sebert Cox OBE, Chairman, Probation Association Sue Hall OBE, Chair, Probation Chiefs Association Lord Ramsbotham, in the chair Present Tom Blenkinsop MP Jenny Chapman MP Pat Glass MP Paul Goggins MP Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts Baroness Howe Bishop of Liverpool Earl of Listowel Claire Perry MP Ian Swales MP Mike Wood MP Lord […]
March 2013 — Mentoring

Minutes of the All-Party Penal Affairs Parliamentary Group, held on 5 March 2013 at 5.00 pm in Committee Room 6, House of Commons Mentoring Offenders Speakers: Madeleine Rudolph, Commissioning Advisor – Mentoring, Volunteering and Service User Engagement, Ministry of Justice (NOMS) Jane Barkes, Project Manager of the Footprints (Mentoring) Project for Ex Offenders returning to […]
February 2013 — Prisons, Probation And The Rehabilitation Revolution

Minutes of the All-Party Penal Affairs Parliamentary Group, held on 5 February 2013 at 5.00 pm in Committee Room 6, House of Commons Speaker: Michael Spurr, Chief Executive Officer, National Offender Management Service Present Lord Ramsbotham, in the chair Lord Davies of Oldham Paul Goggins MP Lord Grocott Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts Baroness Howe […]
December 2012 — Neurology, Acquired Brain Injury and Criminal Justice

Minutes of the All-Party Penal Affairs Parliamentary Group, held on 4 December 2012 at 5.00 pm in Committee Room 4, House of Lords Speakers: Professor Huw Williams, Centre for Clinical Neuropsychology Research, University of Exeter, and Dr Maggie Atkinson, The Children’s Commissioner for England Present: Lord Ramsbotham, in the chair Paul Goggins MP Lord Hodgson […]
October 2012 — Criminal Cases Review Commission

Minutes of the All-Party Penal Affairs Parliamentary Group, held on 23 October 2012. Speaker: Richard Foster CBE, Chair, Criminal Cases Review Commission Present: Paul Goggins MP, in the chair Peter Bottomley MP Lord Fellowes Lord Toby Harris Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts Baroness Howells of St Davids Baroness Veronica Linklater Lord Low Baroness Masham Baroness […]
July 2012 — Restorative Justice

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the All-Party Penal Affairs Parliamentary Group held on 3 July 2012 at 5.00 pm in Committee Room 6 The Future Place of Restorative Justice in the Criminal Justice System Speakers: Lord McNally, Minister of State, Ministry of Justice Lizzie Nelson, Director, Restorative Justice Council Javed Khan, Chief Executive, […]
June 2012 — Prisons And Probation Ombudsman

Minutes of the All-Party Penal Affairs Parliamentary Group, held on 19 June 2012 at 5.00 pm in Committee Room 6 The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman: Pursuing fairness and safety in custody in challenging times Speaker: Nigel Newcomen CBE, The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales Present: Paul Goggins MP, in the chair Lord […]
May 2012 — Youth Justice Board

Minutes of the All-Party Penal Affairs Parliamentary Group, held on 15 May 2012 at 5.00 pm in Committee Room 6 Speaker :Frances Done CBE, Chair, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales With John Anthony, Youth Justice Board Present Paul Goggins MP, chair Lord Bradley Lord Dholakia Lord Elton Lord Judd Baroness Linklater of Butterstone […]
April 2012 — Working In Prison

Minutes of the All-Party Penal Affairs Parliamentary Group, held on 24 April 2012 at 5.00 pm in Committee Room 6 Speakers: Eoin McLennan-Murray, President, Prison Governors Association and PJ McParlin, National Chairman, POA Lord Bradley opened the meeting, explaining that he had been asked to chair the session in the absence of the Co-Chairs. He was very pleased […]