Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Blair McDougall Excerpts
Tuesday 28th January 2025

(2 days, 18 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nicholas Dakin Portrait Sir Nicholas Dakin
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The right hon. Lady is right. We inherited contracts that were already well progressed; for best value and to move things forward quickly, we decided it was important to keep going with that process. However, I can assure the House that we have an open mind regarding private and public sector contracts in the future. The important thing is to get best value for money and get the job done.

Blair McDougall Portrait Blair McDougall (East Renfrewshire) (Lab)
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Katie Allan was a beautiful and bright young woman, and would have been a constituent of mine but for the fact that, aged 21, she found herself, after a youthful stupid mistake, in Polmont young offenders institution, where she died from suicide. The fatal incident inquiry recently published into her death and the death of William Brown found that they both might be alive today were it not for a catalogue of errors by the Scottish Prison Service. The families of those who have lost children in such circumstances are campaigning for Crown immunity to be removed from prisons across Britain, so that there is proper accountability and more young lives are not lost. Will the Minister meet the families to discuss that proposal?

Nicholas Dakin Portrait Sir Nicholas Dakin
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I thank my hon. Friend for his question. He draws attention to a deeply disturbing case. I am very happy to meet him and the families concerned.