Prisoners: Females

(asked on 22nd October 2021) - View Source

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on improving the support available to pregnant female prisoners in Welsh prisons.


Answered by
Simon Hart Portrait
Simon Hart
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
This question was answered on 28th October 2021

I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of subjects, including the provisions for female prisoners in Wales.

On 20 September, the Ministry of Justice published a new policy on pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons, which contains a range of reforms for improving the care of pregnant women.

Women in prison are entitled to the same quality and range of healthcare services compared with that which they have access to in the community. Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service is responsible for working in partnership with local healthcare providers to secure access to these services.

In addition, the Government announced last year that the first residential women’s centre for female offenders will be in Wales. Having carefully considered the evidence, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed that the first residential women’s centre will be located in South Wales. Officials have been undertaking a scoping exercise to understand how the needs of mothers with children might be met within the pilots.

Reticulating Splines