Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to improve its procedures for implementing the recommendations made by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.

Her Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) has set up a new team within its assurance function that is responsible for co-ordinating the response to HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) reports.

The team has developed a risk based, three-tiered approach to monitoring progress against HMIP recommendations. Establishments are now subject to self-assessment exercises, face to face challenge meetings, or in depth follow up audits to determine how well they have responded to recommendations from their most recent HMIP inspection. The analysis of this work is provided to the Prison Management Committee and the Agency Leadership Team, to inform HMPPS on how well prisons are responding to HMIP recommendations, and to identify areas where progress is of concern.

The HMPPS assurance teams also carry out audit visits ahead of HMIP Independent Reviews of Progress and regularly meet with HMIP colleagues to review progress made on implementing recommendations

The HMPPS Prison Group Director structure is designed to improve support to prisons through smaller groups with closer oversight and grip of assurance processes, including implementation of HMIP recommendations.