Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Independent investigation into the death of Baby A at HMP Bronzefield on 27 September 2019, published on 22 September, what discussions they have had with the Chief Inspector of Prisons.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General
The events that took place at HMP/YOI Bronzefield were unquestionably tragic, and significant improvements have since been put in place both at the prison and across the entire female estate.
The Ministry of Justice, Sodexo (the private providers who are contracted to run HMP Bronzefield) and health providers have accepted the recommendations made by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman in their thorough report and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) will continue to work closely with providers to ensure pregnant women in Bronzefield receive the best possible care. The on-site HMPPS Controller will oversee implementation of the recommendations in line with the agreed Action Plan and timelines, working collaboratively with NHSE and service providers.
A project team is coordinating the implementation of the recommendations and to take forward wider learning across all women’s prisons.
In July 2019 a fundamental review of policy relating to pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons commenced, which concluded in July 2020, and HMIP were part of the consultation group. As a result of the review, a new policy has been published and learning from these tragic events has been incorporated into the new policy where appropriate.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to update Parliament on the progress of implementing the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman recommendations for change at HMP Bronzefield, published on 22 September.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General
The events that took place at HMP/YOI Bronzefield were unquestionably tragic, and significant improvements have since been put in place both at the prison and across the entire female estate.
The Ministry of Justice, Sodexo (the private providers who are contracted to run HMP Bronzefield) and health providers have accepted the recommendations made by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman in their thorough report and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) will continue to work closely with providers to ensure pregnant women in Bronzefield receive the best possible care. The on-site HMPPS Controller will oversee implementation of the recommendations in line with the agreed Action Plan and timelines, working collaboratively with NHSE and service providers.
A project team is coordinating the implementation of the recommendations and to take forward wider learning across all women’s prisons.
In July 2019 a fundamental review of policy relating to pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons commenced, which concluded in July 2020, and HMIP were part of the consultation group. As a result of the review, a new policy has been published and learning from these tragic events has been incorporated into the new policy where appropriate.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman recommendations for change at HMP Bronzefield, published on 22 September, will be implemented in a timely fashion.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General
The events that took place at HMP/YOI Bronzefield were unquestionably tragic, and significant improvements have since been put in place both at the prison and across the entire female estate.
The Ministry of Justice, Sodexo (the private providers who are contracted to run HMP Bronzefield) and health providers have accepted the recommendations made by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman in their thorough report and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) will continue to work closely with providers to ensure pregnant women in Bronzefield receive the best possible care. The on-site HMPPS Controller will oversee implementation of the recommendations in line with the agreed Action Plan and timelines, working collaboratively with NHSE and service providers.
A project team is coordinating the implementation of the recommendations and to take forward wider learning across all women’s prisons.
In July 2019 a fundamental review of policy relating to pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons commenced, which concluded in July 2020, and HMIP were part of the consultation group. As a result of the review, a new policy has been published and learning from these tragic events has been incorporated into the new policy where appropriate.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what (a) fines and (b) other financial penalties have been paid to his Department by (i) Sodexo and (ii) Sodexo subsidiaries for failures to meet contractual obligations in each year since 2010.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
This PQ has been interpreted to mean the level of financial remedies that the Ministry of Justice has been in receipt of from Sodexo, or Sodexo subsidiaries, in relation to failure to meet contractual performance obligations since 2010.
We manage all of our privately managed prison contracts with Sodexo, or Sodexo subsidiaries, robustly and deal with any performance issues in accordance with the mechanisms of the contracts. Privately managed prison providers achieve the majority of their contractual targets; however, we will not hesitate to take action where standards fall short.
For privately managed prisons the total value of financial remedies imposed for each financial year has been provided and is included in the below table:
Financial Year | Value of Financial Remedy |
2010/2011 | £48,000 |
2011/2012 | £0 |
2012/2013 | £103,091 |
2013/2014 | £86,153 |
2014/2015 | £70,381 |
2015/2016 | £273,056 |
2016/2017 | £458,516 |
2017/2018 | £451,335 |
2018/2019 | £667,971 |
2019/2020 (Q1 only) | £15,027 |
For CRCs the total value of financial remedies imposed for each financial year has been provided and is included in the below table:
Financial Year | Value of Financial Remedy |
2015/2016 | £329,250.84 |
2016/2017 | £1,029,755.43 |
2017/2018 | £116,310.20 |
2018/2019 | £113,390.62 |
For facilities management contracts the total value of financial remedies imposed for each financial year has been provided and is included in the below table:
Calendar Year | Value of Financial Remedy |
2018 | £107,000 |
2019 (Year to date) | £31,500 |
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2019 to Question 237103 on Prisons: Security, what financial contribution was made by (a) G4S, (b) Serco and (c) Sodexo to support the installation of X-ray body scanners at each of the establishments they operate.
Answered by Rory Stewart
I am unfortunately unable to disclose any financial information in relation to the provision of these scanners within the prison estate as it is commercially sensitive. The Ministry of Justice is currently engaged in a procurement exercise to enable future purchase of this equipment and any declaration of cost and values may prejudice the outcome of this exercise.
I am able to confirm, however, that the Ministry of Justice funded the purchase and installation of the scanners for all public sector prisons but did not contribute to the cost of purchase or install of the equipment for any of the privately-managed prisons.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with Sodexo Justice Services as a result of the findings of the HM Inspectorate of Probation report of 29 March 2019 on ways to provide more extensive training for Probation Officers in assessing and managing risk of harm to others.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) report into South Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) awarded the service a rating of ‘requires improvement’. The Ministry of Justice recognises the importance of the findings of HMIP in relation to CRCs and will work with the provider to ensure that an appropriate plan is in place to address the identified areas for improvement.
We take seriously concerns raised by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) and others over staffing levels. All CRC contracts require the maintenance of a sufficient level of competent and adequately trained staff. We will work with South Yorkshire CRC to ensure that the issues of shortages of qualified probation officers and the assessment and management of risk of harm to others are addressed.
We have been clear that probation services need to improve and are taking decisive action to stabilise and improve the delivery of probation services, We are investing an additional £22m a year to ensure that CRCs deliver an enhanced Through the Gate service to offenders leaving prison. This will include sustained support to find accommodation and employment on discharge.
We have also taken decisive action by ending current CRC contracts early and last year, conducted a consultation on future arrangements. The proposals include measures to ensure the probation workforce is better supported to build their careers and deliver a high-quality service to offenders, such as introducing a standard training framework for staff and a national professional register to recognise the specialism and value of probation work. We are considering the feedback received and will set out detailed plans later this year.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the HM Inspectorate of Probation report of 29 March 2019 on the South Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company, what steps his Department is taking to work alongside HM Inspectorate of Probation, the Chief Inspector of Probation and Sodexo Justice Services to address the matters raised in that report.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) report into South Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) awarded the service a rating of ‘requires improvement’. The Ministry of Justice recognises the importance of the findings of HMIP in relation to CRCs and will work with the provider to ensure that an appropriate plan is in place to address the identified areas for improvement.
We take seriously concerns raised by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) and others over staffing levels. All CRC contracts require the maintenance of a sufficient level of competent and adequately trained staff. We will work with South Yorkshire CRC to ensure that the issues of shortages of qualified probation officers and the assessment and management of risk of harm to others are addressed.
We have been clear that probation services need to improve and are taking decisive action to stabilise and improve the delivery of probation services, We are investing an additional £22m a year to ensure that CRCs deliver an enhanced Through the Gate service to offenders leaving prison. This will include sustained support to find accommodation and employment on discharge.
We have also taken decisive action by ending current CRC contracts early and last year, conducted a consultation on future arrangements. The proposals include measures to ensure the probation workforce is better supported to build their careers and deliver a high-quality service to offenders, such as introducing a standard training framework for staff and a national professional register to recognise the specialism and value of probation work. We are considering the feedback received and will set out detailed plans later this year.
Asked by: Lord Field of Birkenhead (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which service providers are contracted to carry out third party cleaning contracts for his (a) Department and (b) executive agencies; if he will list all of the services delivered by third party contractors to his (i) Department and (ii) executive agencies; and how many people working for those third party contractors are paid less than the Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.y the Living Wage Foundation.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Cleaning services in the MoJ are typically undertaken by outsourced providers as part of large Facilities Management (FM) service contracts. Providers to the MoJ HQ and probation estate are OCS and Sodexo, to the court and tribunal estate are G4S and Mitie, and to the prison estate Amey, Gov Facilities Services Ltd (GFSL) and Mitie. Rates of pay for cleaners are determined by their respective employers and not held by the Ministry of Justice. All outsourced providers are required to pay as a minimum, either the National Minimum Wage or the National Living Wage.
A list of all services delivered by third party contractors to the Department is not held in a centralised location, the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his letter to the Justice Select Committee of 19 January 2018 on Carillion facilities management contracts, which stated that the outsourcing of facilities management services is a model that is widely used within the UK for many public services, which other contracts with his Department follow the same model of outsourcing.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
The Department has the following outsourced facilities management contracts:
Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (Custodial)
Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service
Ministry of Justice Shared Estates Cluster
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps HM Prisons and Probation Service has taken to ensure that the joint responsibility for health and safety in Approved Premises is written into an agreed safe system of work with Sodexo and OCS.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The new arrangements for night cover will promote the health and safety of those who live and work in in Approved Premises (AP) and of the community at large. Under previous arrangements in some AP, only one member of staff was required to be awake during the night hours. The new contracts will ensure that two staff are on duty and awake during the night in all Approved Premises. This model has been in operation for many years in certain parts of the country and has provided an effective service.
The new contracts make appropriate provision to protect the health and safety of staff, service users and members of the public. Services must be delivered in full compliance with statutory obligations and the Health & Safety Executive’s Approved Codes of Practice. Suppliers must be able to provide professional advice to their own staff, sub-contractors and the client where required.
The Ministry of Justice will audit a random sample of the suppliers’ safe systems of work to determine the appropriateness and effectiveness of the systems. Feedback on improvements or deficiencies will form part of the monthly governance meetings and quarterly commercial meetings with suppliers.