Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nicholas Dakin and John Slinger

Tuesday 8th July 2025 Commons Chamber

[John Slinger (Rugby) (Lab)]

When I visited HMP Onley, the nearest prison to my constituency, I had the great privilege to be given a tour by the governor, Mark Allen and to see the excellent work of the staff. I wonder whether the Secretary of State would comment on the importance of offerings by organisations and companies such as Greene King which provide cafés and restaurants so that prisoners can be rehabilitated while they are in prison.

[Sir Nicholas Dakin]

Greene King does outstanding work, as do other organisations in our prison service. They are important partners in delivering better justice.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nicholas Dakin and John Slinger

Tuesday 5th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[John Slinger (Rugby) (Lab)]

4. What steps her Department is taking to support prison officers. 

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir Nicholas Dakin)]

By immediately reducing prison overcrowding, we have made prisons safer to work in. We have also accepted the 5% pay award recommended for prison officers in full.

[John Slinger]

I have been made aware of the consequences of 14 years of neglect of our Prison and Probation Service by the Conservative party: the critical overcrowding due to the lack of investment; staff at all levels feeling exhausted, scared, demotivated, disenfranchised and undervalued; officers facing unacceptably high levels of violence and drug abuse; and bullying between prisoners. What is the Department doing to rectify the consequences of this litany of neglect by the so-called party of law and order, to give our prison officers the support they deserve?

[Sir Nicholas Dakin]

My hon. Friend tells it how it is. The Conservative party left our Prison and Probation Service in a mess. Our job, on behalf of the British people, is to clean up that mess. That is what we are doing.