Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Richard Holden Excerpts
Tuesday 22nd April 2025

(1 week, 3 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nicholas Dakin Portrait Sir Nicholas Dakin
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Safety in prisons is a key priority, and we are working hard to make prisons as safe as possible. My hon. Friend is right to highlight the concerns at Parc. I have recently visited HMP Parc, as has the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for Pontypridd (Alex Davies-Jones), and the Prisons Minister in the other place. On that visit, I saw how seriously the director is taking these issues and engaging closely with families on their very real concerns.

Richard Holden Portrait Mr Richard Holden (Basildon and Billericay) (Con)
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The catastrophic security failure at HMP Frankland has exposed the danger that terrorist prisoners can pose to prison officers and other inmates across the prison estate. Will the independent review also examine the culture of gang-related violence and intimidation that have contributed to such incidents in our prisons?

Nicholas Dakin Portrait Sir Nicholas Dakin
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There is an ongoing audit of all the review’s recommendations. Our thoughts remain with our brave prison officers who were attacked, and with the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing and their families, who are understandably concerned by the shocking events in HMP Frankland. My right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor took immediate action to set a review in place.