UK Inquiry Tracker

Prison reform inquiry

Justice Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 5 Jul 2016 Closed: 23 Oct 2017 Parliament page

The Justice Committee issues a report giving its views on Part 1 of the Prisons and Courts Bill, which contains those parts of the prison reform agenda which the Government considers need to be pursued through legislation. The Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 23 March 2017, … Read more The Justice Committee issues a report giving its views on Part 1 of the Prisons and Courts Bill, which contains those parts of the prison reform agenda which the Government considers need to be pursued through legislation. The Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 23 March 2017, and, following the House's agreement to the holding of an early general election, will not be proceeded with in this Parliament. The Public Bill Committee charged with considering the Bill did not proceed to consider all parts of the Bill, although it did finish debating Part 1 of the Bill before Easter. The Justice Committee issued an initial call for evidence on 27 July 2016. As details of the reforms were still emerging, we posed high-level questions in our inquiry's terms of reference. In doing so we wish to seek overall views which will be followed up in greater detail with a series of sub-inquiries on the White Paper. Terms of reference: Prison reform Governor empowerment and prison performance The Committee's first sub-inquiry focused on the policies on governor empowerment and prison performance announced in the Ministry of Justice's Prison Safety and Reform White Paper . The Committee welcomed the principle of governor empowerment, but noted that greater clarity about the practical implications of these policies was required and risks would need to be mitigated. Sub-inquiry: governor empowerment and prison performance Report: Governor empowerment and prison performance Report: Governor empowerment and prison performance (PDF 682KB) Government Response Government Responses to the Committee's Reports of Session 2016–17 on: (a) Prison reform: governor empowerment and prison performance (b) Prison reform: Part 1 of the Prisons and Courts Bill Government Responses to the Committee's Reports of Session 2016–17 on: (a) Prison reform: governor empowerment and prison performance (b) Prison reform: Part 1 of the Prisons and Courts Bill (PDF 951 KB) Estate modernisation The Committee's second sub-inquiry focuses on Estate modernisation. The Government has announced it is closing some prisons and building new ones; the Committee seeks views on the Government's approach to estate modernisation within the context of its wider prison reform programme. Sub-inquiry: Estate modernisation Show less

2 Reports

2 Letters

7 Events

Activity timeline 11 events

28 Apr
2017

Report published

14th Report - Prison reform: Part 1 of the Prisons and Courts Bill

19 Apr
2017

Correspondence

Letter dated 28 March 2017 from Sam Gyimah MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, to Bob Neill MP, Chair, Justice Committe…

7 Apr
2017

Report published

12th Report - Prison reform: governor empowerment and prison performance

7 Mar
2017

Correspondence

Letter dated 28 February 2017 and annexe from Sam Gyimah MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, to Bob Neill, Chair, Justi…

28 Feb
2017

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

Committee event

21 Feb
2017

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Committee event

31 Jan
2017

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster

Committee event

18 Jan
2017

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster

Committee event

14 Dec
2016

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House

Committee event

29 Nov
2016

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Committee event

15 Nov
2016

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Not available

Committee event

Reports 2 reports · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
14th Report - Prison reform: Part 1 of the Prisons and Courts Bi…	HC 1150	28 Apr 2017	0
12th Report - Prison reform: governor empowerment and prison per…	HC 1123	7 Apr 2017	0

Correspondence 2 letters

19 Apr 2017 Letter dated 28 March 2017 from Sam Gyimah MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, to Bob Neill MP, Chair, Justice Committee, on prison safety and reform

Parliament page

7 Mar 2017 Letter dated 28 February 2017 and annexe from Sam Gyimah MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, to Bob Neill, Chair, Justice Committee, on prison safety and reform

Parliament page