Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that all new prisons will have adequate accommodation for the provision of mental health services.

Our prison estate reforms will benefit prisoners with mental health concerns through replacing up to 10,000 old and unsuitable places with modern and fit for purpose ones and through reconfiguration. This includes pushing ahead with plans to close or redevelop older prisons and open new accommodation in this parliament.

This will help deliver prisons that are safer and more secure, so our staff can work more closely with offenders to change their lives and turn their back on crime for good.

My Department has taken expert advice from clinicians, commissioners and social care experts on the design of the new prisons to ensure that we create the right environment for treatment and care. We continue to work closely with our health partners to support the commissioning of high quality services in all prisons.