All 1 Debates between Andrew Lewer and Damian Hinds

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Lewer and Damian Hinds
Tuesday 21st February 2023

(1 year, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Andrew Lewer Portrait Andrew Lewer (Northampton South) (Con)
- Hansard - -

19. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department’s policy on the allocation of transgender prisoners in England and Wales.

Damian Hinds Portrait The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Damian Hinds)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

This question relates to the previous question, as well. Since the 2019 strengthening of our policy, there have been no assaults or sexual assaults committed by transgender women in women’s prisons, and last year we further strengthened that policy.

Andrew Lewer Portrait Andrew Lewer
- View Speech - Hansard - -

I welcome the fact that the Government are issuing new guidance on the accommodation of such prisoners, but does my right hon. Friend agree that having no biological male imprisoned in a woman’s prison should be a strong principle henceforth? Does he agree that women’s prisons and the women within them must not be used as therapeutic support for trans-identifying male prisoners?

Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I am happy to confirm to my hon. Friend, as I said a moment ago, that safety must come first. We want to support everybody who is in our care and who we are keeping inside for the protection of the public. We need to make sure that safety in prisons is as strong as it can be, and I can confirm to my hon. Friend that following the policy updates, transgender women with male genitalia will not be held in the general women’s estate except in truly exceptional circumstances. Exemptions will require sign-off by a Minister to ensure they can be considered only in the most truly exceptional cases.