Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Prisoner Rehabilitation and Education

Tuesday 9 June 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Lucy Frazer is working with HMPPS to deliver in-cell education packs for prisoners during the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • Testing for COVID-19 is available for some prisoners and staff, with plans to expand testing.
  • Prison regimes have been reduced during the pandemic, but in-cell telephony is supporting mental health through the Samaritans helpline and Listener scheme.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Dawn Butler Lab West Ham
Justice & Courts NHS
Context

Covid-19 restrictions have led to temporary suspensions of classroom education in prisons. The government has published a national framework for recovery.

Question

What steps is Lucy Frazer taking to ensure that rehabilitation and education programmes for prisoners continue during the COVID-19 outbreak? In addition, when will testing be available in prisons?

Answer from Lucy Frazer (Minister of State for Security) (Con)

In prison and community, restrictions have been designed to keep prisoners and staff safe from COVID-19. Education providers are working with HMPPS to deliver in-cell packs to support learning. Testing is available for some prisoners and staff; we will roll out increased testing as matters progress.

Answered
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Q2 Vicky Foxcroft Lab Lewisham, Deptford
Justice & Courts Employment Mental Health
Context

During the current COVID-19 crisis, prisoners are getting less than 30 minutes out of their cells each day.

Question

Prisoners are getting less than 30 minutes out of their cells per day during the current pandemic. What is Lucy Frazer doing to ensure that all prisoners have access to specialist mental health support and can continue learning vital skills for future employment?

Answer from Lucy Frazer (Minister of State for Security) (Con)

When the crisis first hit, regimes in prisons were significantly reduced but prisoners should continue having access to basic needs including food, showers, exercise, healthcare. In-cell telephony supports mental health through Samaritans helpline and Listener scheme. We can continue some offender management programmes on a one-to-one basis.

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