Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the report published on 15 August by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons on the lower site at Hindley Young Offenders Institution, which found that "boys sometimes had less than 15 minutes a day to exercise in the open air", whether they have any plans to reconsider national policies on how long boys spend out of their cells.
Answered by Lord Faulks
Improving outcomes in under-18 Young Offenders Institutions (YOIs) is one of the key objectives of our plans to Transform Youth Custody. A new operating specification has been developed for under-18 YOIs. This requires that every young person has access to a minimum of ten hours out of their rooms which includes a minimum of one hour in the open air each day. Our plans are to implement this revised regime across all under-18 YOIs during 2015.
We believe we need to do more than improve the existing estate which is why the Government intends to open a pathfinder Secure College, a new form of secure establishment which will put education at the heart of youth custody, in the East Midlands in 2017.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to address the findings of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons’ report of an unannounced inspection of HMP Ranby, published on 24 July, in respect of the condition of the play area for the children of those visiting prisoners, plans to develop services, the lack of a family support worker and the lack of a parenting course.
Answered by Lord Faulks
Funding has now been secured to replace and renew current toys and equipment and the list of appropriate items is being finalised. A local initiative has recently been set up whereby staff donate good quality toys and books, resulting in a significant improvement to toys and books available. Storybook dads is being delivered and extended to a larger percentage of the population. Surestart has been approached with a view to offering support during visits. A Parenting Course is being developed with a view to it being delivered by a voluntary sector organisation. Further opportunities are also being explored with voluntary sector organisations who can assist in developing the family and children pathway.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the report published on 15 August by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons on the lower site at Hindley Young Offenders Institution, which found that half the boys held on the lower site were sharing cells designed for one and that many of the cells were dirty and lacked basic amenities, what plans they have to refurbish those cells.
Answered by Lord Faulks
As with all establishment inspection reports by HMIP, NOMS will produce an action plan responding to all the recommendations made in the report within six months of the date of publication.
NOMS considers safety a top priority in all of its prisons. The prison will continue to build on its violence reduction strategy and safeguarding policy within the next 12 months to keep those in its care safe. HMYOI Hindley has also recently adopted Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint (MMPR) a new accredited restraint system developed specifically for use with young people (under 18). This provides staff with behaviour management techniques to recognise young people’s behaviour and uses approaches that minimise the need to resort to the use of force.
(HL1803)
NOMS is committed to ensuring that prison cells remain in a decent and habitable condition. Every prison cell, including at HMYOI Hindley, is subject to daily and weekly checks for damage. There are currently no plans to refurbish every cell at HMYOI Hindley. However, a number of cells will be upgraded to include new robust furniture, and new windows on a priority basis. A scheduled programme of wing and cell painting is also in place at the establishment, and work is ongoing to improve the toilet screens in a number of cells.
(HL1804)
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken in response to the report published on 15 August by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons on the lower site at Hindley Young Offenders Institution, and the report’s conclusion that the Institution "struggled to keep the vulnerable boys it held safe".
Answered by Lord Faulks
As with all establishment inspection reports by HMIP, NOMS will produce an action plan responding to all the recommendations made in the report within six months of the date of publication.
NOMS considers safety a top priority in all of its prisons. The prison will continue to build on its violence reduction strategy and safeguarding policy within the next 12 months to keep those in its care safe. HMYOI Hindley has also recently adopted Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint (MMPR) a new accredited restraint system developed specifically for use with young people (under 18). This provides staff with behaviour management techniques to recognise young people’s behaviour and uses approaches that minimise the need to resort to the use of force.
(HL1803)
NOMS is committed to ensuring that prison cells remain in a decent and habitable condition. Every prison cell, including at HMYOI Hindley, is subject to daily and weekly checks for damage. There are currently no plans to refurbish every cell at HMYOI Hindley. However, a number of cells will be upgraded to include new robust furniture, and new windows on a priority basis. A scheduled programme of wing and cell painting is also in place at the establishment, and work is ongoing to improve the toilet screens in a number of cells.
(HL1804)
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons published on 6 August on Glen Parva Young Offenders Institution, whether they have introduced measures to reduce the use of force, including full control and restraint.
Answered by Lord Faulks
As with all establishment inspection reports by HMIP, NOMS will produce an action plan responding to all the recommendations made in the report within six months of the date of publication.
HMYOI Glen Parva has already introduced an improvement plan to address the concerns raised. Safety is the Governor’s top priority and the YOI is now providing a safe and decent regime for all offenders. An external safer custody audit in June 2014 found that progress had been made since the inspection.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what changes have been made at Glen Parva Young Offenders Institution since the report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons published on 6 August, which concluded that "Glen Parva was not safe."
Answered by Lord Faulks
As with all establishment inspection reports by HMIP, NOMS will produce an action plan responding to all the recommendations made in the report within six months of the date of publication.
HMYOI Glen Parva has already introduced an improvement plan to address the concerns raised. Safety is the Governor’s top priority and the YOI is now providing a safe and decent regime for all offenders. An external safer custody audit in June 2014 found that progress had been made since the inspection.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what changes they plan to make to HMP Ranby in the light of the report of an unannounced inspection of HMP Ranby by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons published on 24 July 2014.
Answered by Lord Faulks
A comprehensive action plan incorporating essential improvements at HMP Ranby has been drawn up in response to the unannounced inspection by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons published on 24 July 2014. This plan includes a response to all recommendations made and gives specific time-bounded actions. The plan is monitored by NOMS.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken in response to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons’ findings in respect of case management procedures to support those at risk of self-harm and the number of self-harm incidents.
Answered by Lord Faulks
The Government is committed to reducing self-harm in prisons. The Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process provides a prisoner-centred, flexible case management system for prisoners identified as at risk of suicide or self-harm. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons has made recommendations about improving the operation of the ACCT system in a number of prisons during the last year, and action is being taken to address these recommendations within those prisons. Dedicated resources and additional support are being provided to improve safer custody work in prisons, including improving the consistency of the application of the ACCT system.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they plan to take to increase the number of prisoners working, in the light of the findings of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons’ report of an unannounced inspection of HMP Ranby, published on 24 July.
Answered by Lord Faulks
Since the unannounced inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons, activity spaces at HMP Ranby have increased by 95 places. Additional staff are being recruited to allow the workshops to employ further prisoners and further work has been secured.