Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much has been levied in financial remedies relating to each key performance indicator in the contractual agreement between his Department and HM Prison Featherstone II in each year since 2011.

Well-run prisons are fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system, and a vital part of our reform plans. Private providers play an important role in the prison estate. Performance of all providers is closely monitored and we will not hesitate to take action where standards fall short.

All private prisons are managed by a full-time, on-site controller. Where a provider fails to meet the expected level of performance, financial remedies can be applied. This ensures that providers are incentivised to properly support the rehabilitation of offenders through a safe, decent and secure regime.

The attached table provides a breakdown of financial remedies applied for both HMP Birmingham and HMP Oakwood (HMP Featherstone II was the working name during construction of HMP Oakwood).

No financial remedies were applied at either prison in 2011/12. Operation of HMP Birmingham transferred from HM Prison Service to G4S Justice Services in October 2011. HMP Oakwood opened in April 2012.