Mentions:
1: Dowey, Sharon (Con - South Scotland) His Majesty’s chief inspector of prisons recently raised serious concerns about some prisons already - Speech Link
2: Constance, Angela (SNP - Almond Valley) I have answered a number of oral and written questions about Greenock, Highland and Glasgow prisons and - Speech Link
3: Dowey, Sharon (Con - South Scotland) question of whether four drug-detection dogs, which have proved to be an important asset in preventing drugs - Speech Link
4: Constance, Angela (SNP - Almond Valley) However, it is also worth recognising that a pilot operation will commence in April in three prisons - Speech Link
5: Constance, Angela (SNP - Almond Valley) Private prisons are a legacy of previous Administrations, whether that is the Liberal-Labour coalition - Speech Link
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with G4S on trends in the (a) weight of drugs, (b) number of mobile phones and (c) number of SIM cards found in HMP Parc in 2023.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
HMPPS takes the findings of every HMI Prisons inspection seriously and responds to each with a detailed action plan that seeks to address all concerns raised within the inspection report. For privately run prisons, HMPPS works closely with the Prison operator to ensure that the expected standards are met, through the local controller team and contractual escalation route, if required. HMPPS officials meet with HMIP regularly to discuss the general landscape across the prison estate and will continue to do so. HMP and YOI Parc assess all prisoners who transfer into the prison including reviewing all previous information held on the prisoners to inform intelligence.
HMPPS continues to work extensively with G4S and is closely overseeing the prison to improve safety and reduce harm. All establishments are required to have a safety strategy in place, which includes actions to address violence. HMPPS remains committed to providing a safe, decent and secure environment for all committed to our care.
As HMP and YOI Parc is a privately operated prison, HMPPS do not hold data relating to the G4S workforce, and recruitment of healthcare staff is the responsibility of the Local Health Board, therefore, HMPPS are not the data holder for healthcare staffing information.
The information requested on finds in prisons is published at HMPPS annual digest: HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2022 to March 2023 - GOV.UK, specifically in tables 8.2b, 8.3 and 8.4 of this link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c143b41e10bf000e17cf9e/8.__Finds.ods.
Data on assaults are found in tables 8a-8f: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/662a24fb690acb1c0ba7e57c/Safety-in-custody-summary-q4-2023_final_table.xlsx.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to address alcohol harm in prisons.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
The Ministry of Justice works closely with NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to ensure that all prisoners who need it have access to high-quality alcohol and substance misuse treatment. As part of the government’s 10-year drug strategy, DHSC has made a record £532 million of additional investment through to 2024/25 to improve drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services
The MoJ is also investing to tackle drug and alcohol misuse and engage more offenders in treatment, including recruiting Drug Strategy Leads in key prisons to coordinate a whole-system approach, and Health and Justice Coordinators in every probation region to improve links between prison and local drug and alcohol treatment services.
We are also expanding the number of Incentivised Substance-Free Living Units where prisoners commit to remaining free of illicit drugs and alcohol, with regular drug testing and incentives. We now have over 60 of these wings across the estate, and are aiming to reach up to 100 by March 2025. This will dramatically expand the number of prisoners who have access to these wings.
We are committed to tackling the supply of drugs and alcohol into prison. Our £100m Security Investment Programme completed in March 2022 and delivered 75 additional X-ray body scanners, resulting in full coverage across the closed male estate. We have also installed 84 X-ray baggage scanners at 49 sites, building on the rollout of our body scanners, drug trace detection machines and metal detection archways.
May. 13 2024
Source Page: New prison punishments introduced to curb bad behaviourFound: community payback-style punishments to be imposed for the first time in prisons repairs, cleaning
May. 13 2024
Source Page: New prison punishments introduced to curb bad behaviourFound: community payback-style punishments to be imposed for the first time in prisons repairs, cleaning
Mentions:
1: Constance, Angela (SNP - Almond Valley) That has a negative impact on those who live and work in our prisons and on our wider communities, and - Speech Link
2: Findlay, Russell (Con - West Scotland) It has failed to build two new prisons—they are hundreds of thousands of pounds over budget and years - Speech Link
3: McArthur, Liam (LD - Orkney Islands) She is right: we are at a “tipping point” where“Prisons become very unsafe. - Speech Link
4: MacGregor, Fulton (SNP - Coatbridge and Chryston) considered suggestions to set up a specific facility for such prisoners to take the pressure off our prisons - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Findlay, Russell (Con - West Scotland) sub-contracted.• The same applies to Kilmarnock’s 4 drug detection dogs which have stopped £1m-plus of drugs - Speech Link
2: Mochan, Carol (Lab - South Scotland) families; helping them to deal with things that are important issues in society currently, such as drugs - Speech Link
3: Constance, Angela (SNP - Almond Valley) Often, work in our prisons is hidden. We need to recognise that what happens in prisons matters. - Speech Link
4: Constance, Angela (SNP - Almond Valley) I have outlined why the Government believes that public ownership of prisons is preferable. - Speech Link
Mar. 19 2024
Source Page: Stabilisation, detoxification and other crisis support in Scotland: Service mapping and capacity survey 2022/23Found: Responses to the prison survey were received from 12 of the 15 Scottish prisons.
Mentions:
1: Constance, Angela (SNP - Almond Valley) the forefront of managing the situation, and I would like to thank all those who are working in our prisons - Speech Link
2: Dowey, Sharon (Con - South Scotland) The SNP’s failures to deliver new prisons on time and on budget have had a damaging impact on prison - Speech Link
3: Findlay, Russell (Con - West Scotland) This Government is entirely responsible for Scotland’s prisons and has been since 2007. - Speech Link
4: Constance, Angela (SNP - Almond Valley) My work in that regard started when I was Minister for Drugs Policy, working on access to recovery and - Speech Link
5: MacGregor, Fulton (SNP - Coatbridge and Chryston) I, too, welcome the statement and the measures to keep our prisons safe.What additional supports will - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Gregory Campbell (DUP - East Londonderry) The cost of drugs is much greater than that, however, given hospitalisations and treatment, aftercare - Speech Link
2: Gregory Campbell (DUP - East Londonderry) Then €150 million of illegal drugs were seized. - Speech Link
3: Laura Farris (Con - Newbury) The supply of illegal drugs is an issue for every area of the United Kingdom. - Speech Link