Prison Capacity

Chris Bryant Excerpts

Monday 16th October 2023 Commons Chamber

[Alex Chalk]

I thank the hon. Gentleman. In fairness, that was quite a good joke; it was not bad—

[Sir Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab)]

Too long! [Laughter.]

[Alex Chalk]

The hon. Gentleman made some fair points, and I will get back to him.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alex Chalk]

May I first put it on the record that no one could be a more doughty defender of the interests of the people of Buckingham than my hon. Friend, who raises with me time and again the concerns of his constituents about Grendon Springhill? I will continue to have those important conversations with him, knowing fine well that his constituents’ interests are being vigorously advanced.

[Sir Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab)]

The ministerial code says that all major announcements of Government policy should be made to the House first, yet half of what has been announced today was preluded by an op-ed written by the Secretary of State and in briefings to national newspapers over the weekend. That is a breach of the ministerial code, and when I asked Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministerial interests, whether he would investigate such breaches, he said, “Yes, in theory.” Would it not be a good idea, especially considering that the Secretary of State thinks that short and minor sanctions lead to recidivism, if there was a substantial sanction against Ministers who do that, and he reported himself to the independent adviser?

[Alex Chalk]

I am afraid that I do not accept that point.