Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Sam Gyimah and Amanda Solloway

Tuesday 7th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gyimah]

Mutual assistance across both sectors is in place in the event of an incident to provide immediate support to those prisons in need. Private sector prisons can therefore provide support to public sector prisons—and vice versa—in the event of a serious threat or incident.

[Amanda Solloway (Derby North) (Con)]

17. What steps the Government are taking to make prisons safer and more secure.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Sam Gyimah)]

We are taking urgent action to improve prison safety and security, alongside reforms to overhaul the system to focus on the rehabilitation of offenders. This includes tackling the supply and demand of drugs, drones and phones, which drive prison violence and undermine safety, and redoubling our efforts to address the record levels of suicide and self-harm.

[Amanda Solloway]

I am the rapporteur to the Joint Committee on Human Rights, which is conducting an inquiry into mental health and deaths in prisons. Last week, we took evidence from four serving prisoners, including on the issue of safety. One young man told us that he had received only two days’ advance notice of when he was due to be released, causing him great anxiety about accommodation and having a sufficient support network. Will the Minister undertake to look at the resettlement problem?

[Mr Gyimah]

I would be surprised if the gentleman my hon. Friend mentions was informed of his release only two days in advance, but I would of course be happy to look into the situation in more detail.