Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Prison Conditions

Tuesday 28 January 2025 · 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 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Liz Saville Roberts raised concerns about the insufficient funding to address the maintenance backlog in prisons.
  • Blair McDougall questioned the Minister about the case of Katie Allan, a young woman who died by suicide in Polmont young offenders institution.
  • The Minister offered to meet with Blair McDougall and the families concerned to discuss the case further.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Liz Saville Roberts PC Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Justice & Courts
Context

The right hon. Lady raised concerns about the squalid state of prisons and criticised the privatisation model for prison maintenance, citing a £2 billion maintenance backlog.

Question

I rise as the co-chair of the justice unions parliamentary group. The emergency extra money to tackle the squalid state of our prisons is welcome, but given the £2 billion maintenance backlog, the reality is that the extra money will not touch the sides. This shows exactly why the privatisation of prison maintenance is a failed model. Private contractors may win contracts on low bids, but billions come in as extra cost later. Does the Minister seriously think that current prison maintenance providers offer good service and value for money to the taxpayer?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir Nicholas Dakin)

The right hon. Lady is right. We inherited contracts that were already well progressed; for best value and to move things forward quickly, we decided it was important to keep going with that process. However, I can assure the House that we have an open mind regarding private and public sector contracts in the future. The important thing is to get best value for money and get the job done.

Partly answered
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Q2 Blair McDougall Lab East Renfrewshire
Justice & Courts Mental Health
Context

The hon. Member raised the tragic deaths of Katie Allan and William Brown in Polmont young offenders institution, highlighting a fatal incident inquiry that found errors by the Scottish Prison Service contributed to their deaths.

Question

Katie Allan was a beautiful and bright young woman, and would have been a constituent of mine but for the fact that, aged 21, she found herself, after a youthful stupid mistake, in Polmont young offenders institution, where she died from suicide. The fatal incident inquiry recently published into her death and the death of William Brown found that they both might be alive today were it not for a catalogue of errors by the Scottish Prison Service. The families of those who have lost children in such circumstances are campaigning for Crown immunity to be removed from prisons across Britain, so that there is proper accountability and more young lives are not lost. Will the Minister meet the families to discuss that proposal?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir Nicholas Dakin)

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. He draws attention to a deeply disturbing case. I am very happy to meet him and the families concerned.

Answered
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