Concerted Indiscipline: Prison Response

The Secretary of State Was Asked – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 7 March 2017.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Gavin Shuker Gavin Shuker Labour/Co-operative, Luton South 12:00, 7 March 2017

What steps she is taking to review the capability of (a) HM Prison Service and (b) contracted-out prisons to respond to incidents of concerted indiscipline.

Photo of Sam Gyimah Sam Gyimah The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice

All prisons, both private and public, face the same challenges to safety and security. We are continually reviewing and supporting prisons across the estate to mitigate and manage serious threats and incidents.

Photo of Gavin Shuker Gavin Shuker Labour/Co-operative, Luton South

On how many occasions in the past year have private prisons required the support of the public Prison Service to deal with prison indiscipline?

Photo of Sam Gyimah Sam Gyimah The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice

Mutual assistance across both sectors is in place in the event of an incident to provide immediate support to those prisons in need. That means that private sector prisons can provide support to public sector prisons—and vice versa—in the event of a serious threat or incident.

Secretary of State

Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.