Prisons: Safety and Security

Debate between Baroness Sharples and Lord Keen of Elie

Wednesday 21st December 2016 Lords Chamber

[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.

[Baroness Sharples (Con)]

How many writers in residence are there in prisons?

[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

Debate between Baroness Sharples and Lord Keen of Elie

Tuesday 15th November 2016 Lords Chamber

[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.

National Identity Cards

Debate between Baroness Sharples and Lord Keen of Elie

Tuesday 5th July 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Keen of Elie]

The Government certainly agree that the answer is not the introduction of identity cards.

[Baroness Sharples (Con)]

What is the estimated cost of identity cards?

[Lord Keen of Elie]

The estimated costs of following through on the original proposals, which began under consultation in 2003, were enacted in 2006 and implemented in 2009, were estimated in 2010 at just over £840 million.