Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Establishment of a Royal Commission on Prisons

Tuesday 22 November 2022 · 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Grahame Morris asked the Justice Secretary about establishing a royal commission on prisons and the criminal justice system.
  • The Justice Secretary acknowledged the Conservative manifesto commitment to a royal commission on criminal justice.
  • The Justice Secretary noted that the coronavirus pandemic caused significant issues in the criminal justice system and prisons.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Grahame Morris Lab Easington
Justice & Courts
Context

The question is prompted by the need to address systemic issues in the criminal justice system, particularly in prisons which are experiencing violence, drug problems, squalor, and a lack of rehabilitation activities.

Question

If he will establish a royal commission on prisons and the wider criminal justice system. The Justice Secretary previously referred to manifesto commitments regarding this issue but it seems like a slim commitment given the current state of prisons which are in crisis with violence, drugs, squalor, and a lack of meaningful rehabilitation.

Answer from Damian Hinds

The hon. Gentleman is right about our commitment, which I referred to in my initial response. The coronavirus pandemic caused significant issues in both the criminal justice system and prisons. We have published a White Paper on prisons that outlines a strategy for improvement across all aspects of the secure estate, with progress made specifically on employment and accommodation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for a full public inquiry with statutory powers was not addressed directly.

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Q2 Grahame Morris Lab Easington
Justice & Courts
Context

The question is in response to the Justice Secretary's reference to manifesto commitments but questions their substance given the current crisis in prisons. The system faces significant challenges including violence, drugs, squalor, and inadequate rehabilitation activities.

Question

Notwithstanding that answer, which I thank the Minister for, a little earlier the Justice Secretary referred to manifesto commitments, and I remind the House that the Conservatives made a manifesto commitment to establishing a royal commission on criminal justice. Prisons in particular are at the heart of our criminal justice system, and they are in crisis, plagued by violence, drugs, squalor and a shameful lack of meaningful rehabilitation activity. Does the Minister accept that the priority must be a full public inquiry with statutory powers to find out what has gone wrong?

Answer from Damian Hinds

The hon. Gentleman is of course right about the commitment, and I referred to it in my opening response. The coronavirus pandemic changed many things including causing significant issues in the criminal justice system and prisons. We have published a White Paper on prisons that sets out a strategy for further improvement in all aspects of the secure estate, with progress made specifically on employment and accommodation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for a full public inquiry was not directly addressed.

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