Prisons: Safety and Security
Baroness Sharples Excerpts(7 years, 8 months ago)
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Lord Keen of Elie
Both Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons and the independent monitoring board reports reflect the challenges that have built up in our prisons and prison estate over many years. In respect of that, we have now announced a comprehensive programme of reform.
Lord Keen of Elie
My Lords, I am not able to answer that question immediately but I will undertake to write to my noble friend with the relevant figure.
Prison Officers’ Association: Protest Action
Baroness Sharples Excerpts(7 years, 9 months ago)
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Lord Keen of Elie
A benchmarking exercise was carried out some time ago to determine prison officer numbers in the context of the prison estate. The benchmarking exercise is being reconsidered going forward, but I am content to write to the noble Baroness outlining what the Government position is with respect to that and where we hope that it will be taken.
Baroness Sharples (Con)
Can my noble and learned friend tell us how many prisons have writers in residence? Surely if prisoners were kept occupied, this would put less pressure on prison officers.
Lord Keen of Elie
I cannot say how many prisons have writers in residence, but I would suggest that the problems within our prisons at the present time go rather deeper than occupational therapy in the form of writing. However, I will write to my noble friend with the details she requests.