Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the publication of the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman’s independent investigation into the death of a baby (Baby A) at HMP Bronzefield on 27 September 2019, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of ending the use of imprisonment for pregnant women.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The death of Baby A was a tragedy and we have taken a range of actions with our partners to prevent this from happening again.
Sentencing is a matter for the independent judiciary. However, we recognise the additional challenges experienced by pregnant women in prison and we are taking steps to ensure sentencing decisions are better informed by individual circumstances and that there are viable alternatives to custody.
Since the publication of the Female Offender Strategy in 2018, we have invested around £7 million in the women’s community sector to increase sustainability, enhance services and develop new provision, with a further £2.5 million being invested this year.
We are also investing in a range of initiatives that aim to encourage use of robust community sentences including Problem Solving Courts, Community Sentence Treatment Requirements, Electronic Monitoring and a Pre-Sentence Report (PSR) pilot. Specifically, we have developed a PSR checklist for women which ensures that individual circumstances, such as pregnancy, are taken into account.
Asked by: David Lammy (Labour - Tottenham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the report by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman entitled Investigation into baby death at HMP Bronzefield HMP identifies key failings, published on 22 September 2021, what steps his Department plans to take in response to the finding that every pregnancy in prison is high risk.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The death of ‘Baby A’ was a tragedy and we have taken a range of actions to prevent this from happening again in partnership with Health.
On 20 September the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) published a new policy on pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons, which contains a range of reforms for improving the care of pregnant women, including reforms that address the learning from Baby A.
As part of our reforms, we have increased central data collection on self-declared pregnancies in women’s prisons. We will be publishing annual snapshots in the HMPPS Annual Digest. The first publication on 29 July, which covers the period July 2020 - April 2021, showed that on average there were 26 women in prison self-declared as pregnant each week. At present, there is no central collection that breaks this data down into those sentenced and those held on remand, however this is collected locally by individual prisons to ensure care is appropriate.
Women in prison should have access to the same range and quality of healthcare services compared to that which they would find in the community, including midwifery, obstetric and health visiting services. For information on the commissioning of clinical services for pregnant women in prison please refer to NHS England and NHS Improvement, the responsible authority.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reassessing the requirement for women in their third trimester of pregnancy to be in custody; whether he has made an assessment of the appropriateness of other punitive measures outside of custody for all but violent inmates; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
On 20 September the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) published a new policy on pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons, which contains a range of reforms for improving the care of pregnant women. As part of the new policy, we have increased central data collection on self-declared pregnancies in women’s prisons. We will be publishing annual snapshots in the HMPPS Annual Digest. The first publication, covering July 2020-April 2021, shows that on average 26 women self-declared as pregnant each week. During this period, 31 births took place. Out of these, 28 were in hospital, two in transit to hospital, and zero in a prison.
Women in prison should have access to the same range and quality of healthcare services as they would have access to in the community, including midwifery, obstetric and health visiting services. These services are commissioned through the health sector. Care is driven by individual care plans, including birth plans where women are due to give birth during their time in custody. These are developed by specialist midwives, prison staff and other relevant agencies dependent on individual needs.
The death of Baby A was a tragedy and a range of steps have been taken to prevent it from happening again. Immediate steps were taken locally at HMP Bronzefield to safeguard women in children, including a review of commissioning arrangements and provision of additional information resources on support services. In addition, measures were put in place in all women’s prisons to ensure immediate estate wide improvements, including free access to local NHS Pregnancy advice services and additional welfare checks for all pregnant women in the third trimester.
Centrally, officials have responded directly to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) recommendations with a comprehensive action plan detailing the work that is underway to address learning. This work is being assured by a Project Board jointly chaired by Executive Director level SROs in HMPPS and NHS England and NHS Improvement, to ensure whole system improvement.
The new HMPPS policy on pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons, published 20 September, forms an important part of our national response to the learning from Baby A. This contains requirements which directly address PPO recommendations.
Sentencing is a matter for the independent judiciary. However, we recognise the additional physical, emotional and practical challenges experienced by pregnant women in prison and we are taking steps to ensure sentencing decisions are more informed. Since the publication of the Female Offender Strategy in 2018, we have made improvements to the preparation of pre-sentence reports (PSRs) through a PSR checklist for women and a Pre-Sentence Pilot that includes the targeting of fuller reports for female offenders. These take into account individual circumstances relating to pregnancy and caring responsibilities and the impact that imprisonment has on these.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps HM Prison Service has taken in response to the death of baby born to an 18 year old inmate in September 2019 at HMP Bronzefield in order to prevent that situation arising again; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
On 20 September the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) published a new policy on pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons, which contains a range of reforms for improving the care of pregnant women. As part of the new policy, we have increased central data collection on self-declared pregnancies in women’s prisons. We will be publishing annual snapshots in the HMPPS Annual Digest. The first publication, covering July 2020-April 2021, shows that on average 26 women self-declared as pregnant each week. During this period, 31 births took place. Out of these, 28 were in hospital, two in transit to hospital, and zero in a prison.
Women in prison should have access to the same range and quality of healthcare services as they would have access to in the community, including midwifery, obstetric and health visiting services. These services are commissioned through the health sector. Care is driven by individual care plans, including birth plans where women are due to give birth during their time in custody. These are developed by specialist midwives, prison staff and other relevant agencies dependent on individual needs.
The death of Baby A was a tragedy and a range of steps have been taken to prevent it from happening again. Immediate steps were taken locally at HMP Bronzefield to safeguard women in children, including a review of commissioning arrangements and provision of additional information resources on support services. In addition, measures were put in place in all women’s prisons to ensure immediate estate wide improvements, including free access to local NHS Pregnancy advice services and additional welfare checks for all pregnant women in the third trimester.
Centrally, officials have responded directly to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) recommendations with a comprehensive action plan detailing the work that is underway to address learning. This work is being assured by a Project Board jointly chaired by Executive Director level SROs in HMPPS and NHS England and NHS Improvement, to ensure whole system improvement.
The new HMPPS policy on pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons, published 20 September, forms an important part of our national response to the learning from Baby A. This contains requirements which directly address PPO recommendations.
Sentencing is a matter for the independent judiciary. However, we recognise the additional physical, emotional and practical challenges experienced by pregnant women in prison and we are taking steps to ensure sentencing decisions are more informed. Since the publication of the Female Offender Strategy in 2018, we have made improvements to the preparation of pre-sentence reports (PSRs) through a PSR checklist for women and a Pre-Sentence Pilot that includes the targeting of fuller reports for female offenders. These take into account individual circumstances relating to pregnancy and caring responsibilities and the impact that imprisonment has on these.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners for all or part of their custodial sentence have been pregnant in each of the last five years; how many of those prisoners have given birth whilst in custody; how many have given birth at an external hospital; how many have given birth at a HMP facility; how many have given birth at a HMP facility without professional medical support; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
On 20 September the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) published a new policy on pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons, which contains a range of reforms for improving the care of pregnant women. As part of the new policy, we have increased central data collection on self-declared pregnancies in women’s prisons. We will be publishing annual snapshots in the HMPPS Annual Digest. The first publication, covering July 2020-April 2021, shows that on average 26 women self-declared as pregnant each week. During this period, 31 births took place. Out of these, 28 were in hospital, two in transit to hospital, and zero in a prison.
Women in prison should have access to the same range and quality of healthcare services as they would have access to in the community, including midwifery, obstetric and health visiting services. These services are commissioned through the health sector. Care is driven by individual care plans, including birth plans where women are due to give birth during their time in custody. These are developed by specialist midwives, prison staff and other relevant agencies dependent on individual needs.
The death of Baby A was a tragedy and a range of steps have been taken to prevent it from happening again. Immediate steps were taken locally at HMP Bronzefield to safeguard women in children, including a review of commissioning arrangements and provision of additional information resources on support services. In addition, measures were put in place in all women’s prisons to ensure immediate estate wide improvements, including free access to local NHS Pregnancy advice services and additional welfare checks for all pregnant women in the third trimester.
Centrally, officials have responded directly to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) recommendations with a comprehensive action plan detailing the work that is underway to address learning. This work is being assured by a Project Board jointly chaired by Executive Director level SROs in HMPPS and NHS England and NHS Improvement, to ensure whole system improvement.
The new HMPPS policy on pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons, published 20 September, forms an important part of our national response to the learning from Baby A. This contains requirements which directly address PPO recommendations.
Sentencing is a matter for the independent judiciary. However, we recognise the additional physical, emotional and practical challenges experienced by pregnant women in prison and we are taking steps to ensure sentencing decisions are more informed. Since the publication of the Female Offender Strategy in 2018, we have made improvements to the preparation of pre-sentence reports (PSRs) through a PSR checklist for women and a Pre-Sentence Pilot that includes the targeting of fuller reports for female offenders. These take into account individual circumstances relating to pregnancy and caring responsibilities and the impact that imprisonment has on these.
Asked by: Baroness Harman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women were known to be pregnant in HMP Bronzefield in each quarter from September 2020 to June 2021.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
On 20 September the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) published a new policy on pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons, which contains a range of reforms for improving the care of pregnant women. As part of the new policy, we have increased central data collection on self-declared pregnancies in women’s prisons. We are also publishing annual snapshots in the HMPPS Annual Digest. The first publication, covering July 2020-April 2021, shows that on average 26 women self-declared as pregnant across the women’s estate each week.
Whilst Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) is a national policy used across both privately managed prisons (PMPs) and public sector prisons, information within each PMP in relation to how, who, how many and why people are on an ACCT is held solely by providers and is not routinely held or collected by HM Prison and Probation Service Controllers’ Office/MoJ.
The number of pregnant women in HMP Bronzefield in each quarter, between January 2019 and December 2020, is provided below.
Quarter | Count of Women |
Jan - Mar 2019 | 7 |
Apr - Jun 2019 | 21 |
Jul - Sep 2019 | 28 |
Oct - Dec 2019 | 25 |
Jan - Mar 2020 | 16 |
Apr - Jun 2020 | 23 |
Jul - Sep 2020 | 25 |
Oct - Dec 2020 | 28 |
It is not possible for the weekly snapshots published in the HMPPS Annual Digest to be accurately converted into quarters.
Asked by: Baroness Harman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many of those women known to be pregnant in HMP Bronzefield from March 2019 to September 2020 were under Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) monitoring for risks of self-harm and/or suicide.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
On 20 September the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) published a new policy on pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons, which contains a range of reforms for improving the care of pregnant women. As part of the new policy, we have increased central data collection on self-declared pregnancies in women’s prisons. We are also publishing annual snapshots in the HMPPS Annual Digest. The first publication, covering July 2020-April 2021, shows that on average 26 women self-declared as pregnant across the women’s estate each week.
Whilst Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) is a national policy used across both privately managed prisons (PMPs) and public sector prisons, information within each PMP in relation to how, who, how many and why people are on an ACCT is held solely by providers and is not routinely held or collected by HM Prison and Probation Service Controllers’ Office/MoJ.
The number of pregnant women in HMP Bronzefield in each quarter, between January 2019 and December 2020, is provided below.
Quarter | Count of Women |
Jan - Mar 2019 | 7 |
Apr - Jun 2019 | 21 |
Jul - Sep 2019 | 28 |
Oct - Dec 2019 | 25 |
Jan - Mar 2020 | 16 |
Apr - Jun 2020 | 23 |
Jul - Sep 2020 | 25 |
Oct - Dec 2020 | 28 |
It is not possible for the weekly snapshots published in the HMPPS Annual Digest to be accurately converted into quarters.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Independent investigation into the death of Baby A at HMP Bronzefield on 27 September 2019, published on 22 September, what discussions they have had with the Chief Inspector of Prisons.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General
The events that took place at HMP/YOI Bronzefield were unquestionably tragic, and significant improvements have since been put in place both at the prison and across the entire female estate.
The Ministry of Justice, Sodexo (the private providers who are contracted to run HMP Bronzefield) and health providers have accepted the recommendations made by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman in their thorough report and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) will continue to work closely with providers to ensure pregnant women in Bronzefield receive the best possible care. The on-site HMPPS Controller will oversee implementation of the recommendations in line with the agreed Action Plan and timelines, working collaboratively with NHSE and service providers.
A project team is coordinating the implementation of the recommendations and to take forward wider learning across all women’s prisons.
In July 2019 a fundamental review of policy relating to pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons commenced, which concluded in July 2020, and HMIP were part of the consultation group. As a result of the review, a new policy has been published and learning from these tragic events has been incorporated into the new policy where appropriate.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to update Parliament on the progress of implementing the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman recommendations for change at HMP Bronzefield, published on 22 September.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General
The events that took place at HMP/YOI Bronzefield were unquestionably tragic, and significant improvements have since been put in place both at the prison and across the entire female estate.
The Ministry of Justice, Sodexo (the private providers who are contracted to run HMP Bronzefield) and health providers have accepted the recommendations made by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman in their thorough report and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) will continue to work closely with providers to ensure pregnant women in Bronzefield receive the best possible care. The on-site HMPPS Controller will oversee implementation of the recommendations in line with the agreed Action Plan and timelines, working collaboratively with NHSE and service providers.
A project team is coordinating the implementation of the recommendations and to take forward wider learning across all women’s prisons.
In July 2019 a fundamental review of policy relating to pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons commenced, which concluded in July 2020, and HMIP were part of the consultation group. As a result of the review, a new policy has been published and learning from these tragic events has been incorporated into the new policy where appropriate.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman recommendations for change at HMP Bronzefield, published on 22 September, will be implemented in a timely fashion.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General
The events that took place at HMP/YOI Bronzefield were unquestionably tragic, and significant improvements have since been put in place both at the prison and across the entire female estate.
The Ministry of Justice, Sodexo (the private providers who are contracted to run HMP Bronzefield) and health providers have accepted the recommendations made by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman in their thorough report and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) will continue to work closely with providers to ensure pregnant women in Bronzefield receive the best possible care. The on-site HMPPS Controller will oversee implementation of the recommendations in line with the agreed Action Plan and timelines, working collaboratively with NHSE and service providers.
A project team is coordinating the implementation of the recommendations and to take forward wider learning across all women’s prisons.
In July 2019 a fundamental review of policy relating to pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and maternal separation from children up to the age of two in women’s prisons commenced, which concluded in July 2020, and HMIP were part of the consultation group. As a result of the review, a new policy has been published and learning from these tragic events has been incorporated into the new policy where appropriate.