Prison and Youth Custody Centre Safety Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Prison and Youth Custody Centre Safety

Alex Chalk Excerpts
Wednesday 19th July 2017

(7 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Phillip Lee Portrait Dr Lee
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The unit to which my hon. Friend refers has been set up by the Department to ensure that the recommendations are followed. I gather that this is the first time that such a unit has been created. With regard to youth justice and to women’s justice, the key is to build a network over time—it will take a long time—that allows people to be held closer to home, so that families, and mothers in particular, can stay in contact with their children. That is our intention. I have mapped out the country with regard to women’s justice and youth justice to ensure that what we bring forward fits the framework, so that we can deliver time in prison closer to home for women and young people.

Alex Chalk Portrait Alex Chalk (Cheltenham) (Con)
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There is a grave situation in our prisons, and the Minister is being typically frank in acknowledging that. One problem is the large cohort of prisoners languishing on indeterminate sentences for public protection. Will the Minister confirm that the Government are committed to getting that number down as quickly as possible?

Phillip Lee Portrait Dr Lee
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That has been a long-running issue in the prison system, and the answer to my hon. Friend’s question is yes.