Commons Sense

Hansard-based summaries and metrics

Prisons Illegal Drugs 2024-05-14

2024-05-14

View full transcript on Parliament.uk -->
TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Beth Winter
▸ Context
The number of drugs found in UK prisons over the last five years has been a concern, prompting an assessment of its implications on current policies.
What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the number of drugs found in prisons over the last five years?
Edward Argar
The Government take a zero-tolerance approach to drugs in prison, with £100 million invested into tackling contraband smuggling. In March 2023, there were 19.7% fewer incidents of drug discoveries compared to the year ending March 2019.
▸ Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Beth Winter
▸ Context
The latest HM Inspectorate of Prisons report on HMP Parc in 2022 noted that almost half of prisoners had easy access to drugs, while evidence suggests the prison is understaffed with inexperienced staff.
Would the Minister welcome a new inspection by the chief inspector given recent deaths and recorded violence at HMP Parc? Has he considered the Prison Service managing it due to its £400 million cost contract?
Edward Argar
Inspection matters are for the chief inspector, although recent challenges were addressed in an urgent question. Despite issues, Parc's contract is performing well with one measure of “good” and three of “reasonably good”. The Prison Service will continue to work with the prison.
▸ Assessment & feedback
Specific consideration for the Prison Service managing HMP Parc was not addressed directly.
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Ruth Cadbury Lab
Brentford and Isleworth
▸ Context
A report found that despite a £100 million investment for new body scanners to detect drugs, they were not staffed at HMP Bedford.
What is the point in spending £100 million on scanners if they are not even used?
Edward Argar
This investment applies across all prisons. The body scanners were used appropriately and in an appropriate manner at HMP Bedford.
▸ Assessment & feedback
The effectiveness and usage rate of the body scanners specifically at HMP Bedford was not directly addressed.
Response accuracy