Imprisonment for Public Protection (Re-sentencing) Bill [HL]

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage Excerpts

Friday 4th July 2025 Lords Chamber

Mr White developed paranoid schizophrenia while in custody as an IPP prisoner. He was repeatedly smashing his face on the floor of the maximum-security HMP Manchester. He set himself on fire in his cell. Three psychiatrists called for him to be moved to hospital and two medical reports warned that his lengthy incarceration was creating impermeable barriers to his recovery, yet he was repeatedly refused a hospital bed. So, hurrah, he will now get appropriate treatment, but we cannot continue depending on high-profile campaigns and massive political intervention for IPP prisoners to access what should be an obvious conclusion when they get ill. If we stick with the status quo position, as somebody else mentioned—

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Taylor of Stevenage) (Lab)]

I remind the noble Baroness that the advisory speaking limit for this debate is 10 minutes.

[Baroness Fox of Buckley (Non-Afl)]

I am sorry. The status quo position is that, when Mr Thomas becomes well and stable in hospital, he will be returned to the prison as an IPP-er. That seems unconscionable. All this amendment does is suggest that people are referred when they are mentally ill to a hospital and that the hospital then uses a clinical assessment to decide when they are well. When they are well, they are not dangerous and can be released. That can be part of the resentencing procedure.