HMP Birmingham

Debate between Karl Turner and Elizabeth Truss

Monday 19th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

I will look at the issue that my hon. Friend raises.

[Karl Turner (Kingston upon Hull East) (Lab)]

I thank the Justice Secretary for the time she afforded me earlier to discuss the incident at HMP Hull at the weekend. She will know that Rob Nicholson, the Prison Officers Association rep in Hull, described the situation at the weekend as a

“powder keg...waiting to go off.”

The prison was put on lock down and was said to be on the brink of riot. Prison officers tell me that they are afraid to go to work. What can she do to assure the public and those prison officers that they are safe to go to work?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I have discussed with the head of the Prison Service the two specific incidents at Hull, which were dealt with. The issue is being dealt with across the board.

Prison Officers Association: Protest Action

Debate between Karl Turner and Elizabeth Truss

Tuesday 15th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

I thank my hon. Friend for her question. The prisons Minister will be visiting HMP Lewes on Friday, when he will follow up some of the issues she raises.

[Karl Turner (Kingston upon Hull East) (Lab)]

We have nearly 7,000 fewer prison officers in our prisons than in 2010. The Secretary of State is now desperately trying to recruit 2,500 prison officers, yet she comes to that Dispatch Box and attacks prison officers for taking desperate measures because their safety is at risk every day. How does she think that will help with recruitment?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I support prison officers, who do a fantastic job. The people I am attacking are those in the Prison Officers Association who have called this illegal action, despite the fact that we were in talks with them and there was an offer on the table, which has not been responded to. I wholeheartedly support the good work of prison officers across the country, and I want them to benefit from the improvements we are making on the frontline and to safety. We are launching a new apprenticeship programme to recruit more people, and we have a new programme encouraging the brightest and best graduates to become prison officers. Of course these things will take time, but I have also talked today about the measures we are taking in the short term to stabilise the situation in our prisons.

Prison Safety and Reform

Debate between Karl Turner and Elizabeth Truss

Thursday 3rd November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Karl Turner (Kingston upon Hull East) (Lab)]

Is not the truth that we have 3,500 fewer prison officers in our prisons than in 2010? At the same time deaths and suicides in prisons are dramatically up, and assaults on prison officers are up as well. Will the right hon. Lady just come to that Dispatch Box and say, “I admit it: too little, too late”?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I have been clear that staffing is an issue. That is why we are investing in 2,500 more prison officers, but it is not the only issue. We also have an issue with drugs, drones and phones, which we are dealing with, and we have just rolled out testing for new psychoactive substances such as Spice and Black Mamba, which the prisons and probation ombudsman has said have been a game-changer in the system. We are also changing the way we deploy staff, so that there is a dedicated officer for each prisoner, helping keep them safe, but also making sure they are on the path to reform—getting off drugs, getting into work and getting the skills they need to succeed outside.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Karl Turner and Elizabeth Truss

Tuesday 6th September 2016 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

This is an important reform; we need to get it right. We will be introducing proposals in due course. We will deliver on this manifesto commitment.

[Karl Turner (Kingston upon Hull East) (Lab)]

Which convention rights does the Justice Secretary propose to leave out of the Bill of Rights?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, and I remember with fondness our time together on the Justice Committee, where he had many good thoughts to put forward. We will be putting out our proposals in due course, which will discuss these issues in detail, but one of the important points is that we want the ultimate arbiter of those rights to be the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.