Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lucy Frazer and Lilian Greenwood

Tuesday 14th January 2020 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Frazer]

We have to recognise that the treatment of women in prison, their sentences and the treatment once they are sentenced might be different from men and if they are victims of crime. In our female offenders strategy, we recognise different treatment; but of course people who commit crimes must be punished for them.

[Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab)]

I listened carefully to the Minister when she said that prison officers can access training. Does she agree that it should be mandatory for prison officers who are working with pregnant women to have such training, and can she confirm what proportion of prison officers have already accessed that training?

[Lucy Frazer]

At least one prison officer in each establishment has already undertaken the training, so there is specialist support, and more women than that have done it; I would be very happy to provide the figures in due course.