Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Report on a scrutiny visit to HMP High Down by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (23 March and 7 – 8 April 2021), what were the (a) sequence of events and (b) reasons for HM Prison and Probation Service's decisions in connection with the re-categorisation of that prison.

The HMPPS Reconfiguration Project is a whole-system approach across the adult male prison estate. It aims to rebalance existing prison capacity and planning for the best use of new-build capacity (as it comes online) to ensure there is a sufficient supply of suitable prison places to meet demand. Over time, reconfiguration will reduce local (reception) prison places and increase much-needed category B training places. It will also help to smooth transition from prison to the community by increasing category C capacity and access to resettlement places.

We remain absolutely committed to ensuring reconfiguration takes place safely as soon as it is operationally possible. The stability of the prison estate remains our priority and no prison will re-role until it is safe and ready to do so.

Therefore, we continue to work with HMP High Down, as well as with other key stakeholders, to prepare for its re-role to a category C training/resettlement prison. The prison and all stakeholders are involved in the readiness processes to ensure that the courts currently serving HMP High Down only transfer to HMP Wandsworth when all parties are satisfied that they are ready, and it is safe to do so.