Prisons Policy/HMP Long Lartin

Debate between Gavin Newlands and Sam Gyimah

Thursday 12th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gyimah]

That is an excellent point. The Tornado teams are the bravest of the brave. As we saw last night, they deal with some of the most difficult situations, and the fact that they can be mobilised relatively quickly to arrive at a prison and offer support to its frontline staff is testimony to their effectiveness and professionalism. Of course we would prefer not to have to deploy them, but when there are problems and a need to protect the public and prison officers and maintain stability and order in our prisons, they are second to none.

[Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)]

The Minister says that the Government are investing in increasing prison officer numbers, but they are only doing so after slashing funding and causing the problem in the first place. They are only 868 officers into their 2,500 target, but in any event, given an increase of more than 1,300 in the prison population in England and Wales, is 2,500 enough?

[Mr Gyimah]

The 2,500 target is obviously based on careful analysis of what we need to deliver the offender management model, which means one prison officer having a six-prisoner caseload, and it should be capable of allowing us to do so.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gavin Newlands and Sam Gyimah

Tuesday 25th April 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gyimah]

We are considering the result of that Court of Appeal case, and the Government will make their position known on it. As part of due process in prisons, if an individual is selected to go into a separation centre, it is of course right that the panel tells them why they have been selected and allows them to make representations.

[Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)]

4. What assessment she has made of the effect on the justice system of the UK leaving the EU.