HMP Birmingham

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Khalid Mahmood

Monday 19th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I have been discussing with the Health Secretary how we can improve mental health provision in prisons and in the criminal justice system overall. We are giving governors power over mental health commissioning jointly with the NHS to make sure that we have the right services in our prisons.

[Mr Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham, Perry Barr) (Lab)]

Further to the question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Ms Stuart), did the Secretary of State read the report and take absolutely no action at all?

[Elizabeth Truss]

We are talking to governors across the estate, including the governor at HMP Birmingham. Many of our prisons face these issues. That is why we have already taken action on psychoactive substances, are taking action on mobile phones and are recruiting staff, including at HMP Birmingham.