Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Council of Europe.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary had discussions with the former Council of Europe Secretary General at the European Political Community (EPC) Summit last July. The Prime Minister met with the current Secretary General at the Budapest EPC Summit in November 2024. The Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General have both attended recent Council of Europe events in Vilnius and Strasbourg respectively.

I have regularly engaged with our Ambassador to the Council of Europe on a range of matters, and recently met with members of the UK delegation.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to support prison officers working in HMP Drake Hall in Stafford.

Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

HMP Drake Hall provides early days support for new Officers to ensure they are well informed pre-start date. The New Colleague Mentor supports staff in their first year along with an assigned mentor in addition to their Line Manager.

Line Mangers support staff through the Staff Wellbeing Offer, with referrals to Occupational Health and workplace adjustments passports if required. Staff Support networks are promoted to all staff. Onsite Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) practitioners and Care Team members are available. Staff are also able to access the Mental Health Allies service and Employee Assistance Programme.

Furthermore, Officers are allocated to training to support working with women and have touchpoint meetings with their Line Managers to aid their development and wellbeing. They have the opportunity to take part in various development schemes to help their career progression.

I recognise that prison officers work in difficult environments every day and I want to thank all prison officers for the important job they do in keeping the public safe.

The previous Government left our hardworking staff to face the brunt of prison overcrowding, which has damaged morale and put the safety and security of staff at risk. I know that a well-staffed and skilled HM Prison Service is fundamental to delivering safe, secure, and rehabilitative prison regimes and we are determined to improve their safety at work and ensure they get a fair pay reward.

St George’s Day 2025

Found: Democratic & Labour Party; Belfast South and Mid Down) Simon Hoare (Conservative; North Dorset) Leigh Ingham

Found: meeting Members present: Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Chair); Mr Clive Betts; Kirsty Blackman; Dr Rupa Huq; Leigh Ingham

Found: supported by David Baines, Shaun Davies, Dave Robertson, Laurence Turner, Liam Byrne, Maya Ellis, Leigh Ingham