Prison Maintenance: Insourcing

Baroness Meacher Excerpts

Thursday 23rd January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Timpson (Lab)]

The noble Lord is correct that the security of our prisons is of utmost importance and that we need all our security apparatus working correctly. We have had years of underinvestment in our prison estate. I am pleased that the Government are spending £520 million from this year until the end of 2026 on lots of projects, including improving our security.

[Baroness Meacher (CB)]

My Lords, the Minister touched on this in his earlier comments. Does he agree that all prisoners should have an opportunity to work and earn while they are imprisoned?

[Lord Timpson (Lab)]

As someone who has employed many people in prison over many years, I am a big fan of enabling people to gain skills and confidence so that when they are released, they are less likely to come back. But it is all about risk, and not everybody in prison is ready to work within prison. The first workshop I opened was in HMP Liverpool, where we taught people to repair shoes and watches—due to risk assessments, we were not allowed to teach people to cut keys.