Asked by: Matt Rodda (Labour - Reading East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress the review has made on the handling and supervision of Khairi Saadallah.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
This was a terrible crime, and the Court imposed a whole life order on Khairi Saadallah.
The Probation Service has completed a Serious Further Offence (SFO) review into how Saadallah was managed, which has been shared with those bereaved relatives and surviving victims who requested it. The SFO review identified some improvement actions in relation to risk assessment practice and case recording, which are being delivered as part of a formal action plan.
Additionally, there was a review into how we can more effectively support terrorism-risk offenders with mental health problems and so better address risk. The findings are aligned with the Rapid Review of Mental Health Provision for Offenders, commissioned by the Criminal Justice Task Force.
An independent reviewer is also undertaking a Serious Case Review looking at how the relevant agencies worked together under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) to manage the risk he posed.
Asked by: Matt Rodda (Labour - Reading East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
What progress he has made on a review into the Reading terror attack in June 2020.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
This was a terrible crime, and the Court imposed a whole life order on Khairi Saadallah. The Probation Service has completed a Serious Further Offence (SFO) review into how Saadallah was managed, which is being shared with the bereaved families and with surviving victims.
An independent reviewer is also undertaking a Serious Case Review looking at how the relevant agencies worked together under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) to manage the risk he posed.
Asked by: Matt Rodda (Labour - Reading East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the reasons are for the time taken in selling Reading Gaol; and when negotiations on the sale of that site will be concluded.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
There have been some delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. The sale of Reading Prison is progressing and we expect to conclude negotiations with the preferred bidder this autumn. All matters relating to negotiations for the sale are commercially confidential.
There is no current deadline for the negotiations with the preferred bidder for Reading Prison.
Asked by: Matt Rodda (Labour - Reading East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress has been made on the negotiations with the preferred bidder for Reading Gaol.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
There have been some delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. The sale of Reading Prison is progressing and we expect to conclude negotiations with the preferred bidder this autumn. All matters relating to negotiations for the sale are commercially confidential.
There is no current deadline for the negotiations with the preferred bidder for Reading Prison.
Asked by: Matt Rodda (Labour - Reading East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the deadline is for the negotiations with a preferred bidder for Reading Gaol; and what procurement process his Department plans to use to reopen its search for a new preferred bidder in the event that negotiations break down.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
There have been some delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. The sale of Reading Prison is progressing and we expect to conclude negotiations with the preferred bidder this autumn. All matters relating to negotiations for the sale are commercially confidential.
There is no current deadline for the negotiations with the preferred bidder for Reading Prison.
Asked by: Matt Rodda (Labour - Reading East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in what form payment for the Reading Gaol site will be made, and whether that payment will be phased or paid as a lump sum.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The marketing of the former prison at Reading has been completed and we have selected a preferred bidder. We are in commercial negotiations with the preferred bidder and details of the terms of the bid including the price are commercially sensitive and confidential until the sale has completed. We will always seek best value for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Matt Rodda (Labour - Reading East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what due diligence process the Department followed to assess the preferred bidder for Reading Gaol; and whether Departmental staff or contactors undertook that process.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Departmental staff and the Department’s real estate advisors were involved in the evaluation of all bids received for Reading prison. The evaluation process covered a range of factors in assessing which bid represented the best value for the Department and the taxpayer.
Asked by: Matt Rodda (Labour - Reading East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what impact assessment the Government has made of the covid-19 outbreak on the sale of Reading Gaol and the preferred bidder’s financial status.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The department continues to keep all of its property transactions under review. We are in commercial negotiations with the preferred bidder and all matters relating to the bid including the preferred bidder’s financial status are commercially sensitive and confidential. We will always seek best value for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Matt Rodda (Labour - Reading East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to announce the preferred bidder in relation to the sale of Reading Prison.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
There are no plans to formally announce the preferred bidder or details of the bid until the sale has completed. We expect to make an announcement about the sale in the summer.
Asked by: Matt Rodda (Labour - Reading East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
What progress his Department has made on the sale of HMP Reading.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
We have marketed the former HMP&YOI Reading site. We are considering all the bids received carefully.
We will always seek best value for the taxpayer when disposing of surplus property assets. The number of bids, the identity of any bidders and the nature of the bids are commercially sensitive.