Improving the prison estate

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 4 Jun 2020 Closed: 2 Dec 2020 Parliament page
In the 2015 Spending Review the Government committed £1.3bn in to provide up to 10,000 prison places as part of the Prison Estate Transformation Programme (PETP), to be partially funded from the sale of prisons. The Ministry of Justice contracted out facilities management of prisons to private companies Amey and … Read more
6 Recommendations
30 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
3 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 6 events
14 May
2021
Correspondence
30 Apr
2021
Correspondence
11 Feb
2021
Correspondence
18 Nov
2020
Report published
11 Sep
2020
Report published
29 Jun
2020
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
29 Jun 2020
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Improving the prison estate
Clive Beard · Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service Dr Jo Farrar · Ministry of Justice Sir Richard Heaton · Ministry of Justice
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifteenth Report - Improving the prison estate HC 244 11 Sep 2020 36 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
36 results
2 Recommendation Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
We are disappointed that the Ministry places inadequate importance on the living conditions of female...
We are disappointed that the Ministry places inadequate importance on the living conditions of female prisoners. Twelve of the 117 prisons in England & Wales hold female offenders, none of which are in Wales. Despite women making up 5% of … Read more
Government Response
The government accepted the recommendation, committing to write to the Committee by January 2021 with plans to improve conditions in women's prisons and an update on longer-term estate planning.
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3 Recommendation Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
In 2015, the Ministry failed to protect taxpayers’ interests through its naïve approach to the...
In 2015, the Ministry failed to protect taxpayers’ interests through its naïve approach to the outsourcing of facilities management services. The Ministry admits that its approach prioritised delivering at speed and achieving predicted £79 million in cost savings at the … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees to the recommendation, stating the Prison Estate Asset Capture Survey will complete by March 2021 to inform future contracts and asset management. They confirm detailed asset records are already being captured for new prison builds using a Building Information Management system.
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4 Recommendation Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
We are not convinced that the Ministry’s plans to create more capacity will allow it...
We are not convinced that the Ministry’s plans to create more capacity will allow it to match the expected increase in the prison population whilst keeping prisoners safe under its care. Rising demand for prison places, places being taken out … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the recommendation and will publish prison population projections by the end of 2020, forecasting future changes. By April 2021, the department will provide an update on progress, including plans for managing capacity and COVID-19 in the prison estate, meeting the committee's requested deadline.
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5 Recommendation Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
The Ministry’s efforts to reduce the £18.1 billion cost of reoffending are being put at...
The Ministry’s efforts to reduce the £18.1 billion cost of reoffending are being put at risk by the absence of a cross-government strategy. Reoffending has a substantial cost to the economy, in addition to its considerable impact on the emotional … Read more
Government Response
The government accepted the recommendation for a cross-government reducing reoffending strategy, stating its ambition was outlined in the Smarter Approach to Sentencing White Paper. They committed to publishing an update 'in due course' and writing to the Committee with further details before the end of 2020, integrating it with the long-term estates strategy.
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6 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
The Ministry is still reeling from the long-term consequences of its unrealistic 2015 Spending Review...
The Ministry is still reeling from the long-term consequences of its unrealistic 2015 Spending Review settlement, and bears the financial and human cost of sustained underinvestment. The Ministry admits that its 2015 Spending Review settlement was over-optimistic and fundamentally unbalanced. … Read more
Government Response
The government's response consisted of boilerplate text about the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme and a list of historical Treasury Minute responses, completely failing to address the recommendation regarding the Ministry's 2015 Spending Review lessons and 2020 Spending Review preparations.
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1 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence...
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison & Probation Service on improving the prison estate.1
Government Response
The government response discussed NHS resilience, social care, supply chains, Test and Trace, and vaccines, none of which were related to the committee's observation about taking evidence on the prison estate.
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7 Conclusion Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
Deteriorating conditions within the prison estate have been a concern for many years.
Deteriorating conditions within the prison estate have been a concern for many years. HM Inspectorate of Prisons (the Inspectorate) has consistently reported that many prisoners endure unsafe, poor and overcrowded living conditions. Between 2015–16 and 2019–20, the Inspectorate rated more … Read more
Government Response
The government accepted the observation as a recommendation, committing to update the Committee in January 2021 on prison building plans and strategy scope, consult in early 2021, and publish a comprehensive strategy by summer 2021.
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8 Conclusion Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
Poor conditions and crowding within the prison estate are in large part the result of...
Poor conditions and crowding within the prison estate are in large part the result of historical under-investment in maintenance. HMPPS regularly has to take prison cells out of permanent use because of the state of disrepair. Between 2009–10 and 2019–20, … Read more
Government Response
The government accepted the observation as a recommendation, committing to update the Committee in January 2021 on prison building plans and strategy scope, consult in early 2021, and publish a comprehensive strategy by summer 2021.
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9 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
Lack of investment has also resulted in severe maintenance backlogs within the prison estate.
Lack of investment has also resulted in severe maintenance backlogs within the prison estate. As at April 2019, HMPPS had around 63,200 outstanding maintenance jobs. HMPPS also estimated that it would cost £916 million to address its backlog of major … Read more
Government Response
The government agreed with the committee's observation, committing to publish prison population projections by the end of 2020 and provide an update on new prison builds and temporary accommodation plans by April 2021, but did not specify concrete new actions directly addressing the maintenance backlog.
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10 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
Research commissioned by HMPPS found that the prison environment, including the condition of accommodation, played...
Research commissioned by HMPPS found that the prison environment, including the condition of accommodation, played a role in how prisoners behave.20 Between 2015 and 2018, among adult prisoners, key indicators of poor safety in prisons reached all- time highs. This … Read more
Government Response
The government response merely restated the committee's observation about the link between prison environment and prisoner behavior, and statistics on assaults, self-harm, and deaths, without adding any new information or committing to action.
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11 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
We asked HMPPS why it tolerated such unacceptable levels of prisoner assaults on staff and...
We asked HMPPS why it tolerated such unacceptable levels of prisoner assaults on staff and what it was doing to reduce levels of assaults on staff and self-inflicted deaths. HMPPS asserted that it was very concerned by the number of … Read more
Government Response
The government response merely reiterates the committee's summary of HMPPS's existing assurances regarding efforts to reduce prisoner assaults on staff and self-inflicted deaths, without providing any new information or further government position.
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12 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
Against a backdrop of worsening living conditions for prisoners, HMPPS changed the way in which...
Against a backdrop of worsening living conditions for prisoners, HMPPS changed the way in which it maintains prisons and launched a programme to improve the condition and suitability of prison accommodation. In 2015 it contracted Amey and Carillion to provide … Read more
Government Response
The government response is a truncated copy of the committee's conclusion and does not provide a substantive response.
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13 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
We last examined the Ministry’s progress in outsourcing its probation services in May 2019.
We last examined the Ministry’s progress in outsourcing its probation services in May 2019. We concluded that in its haste to rush through its reforms, the Ministry of Justice had not only failed to deliver its ‘rehabilitation revolution’ but left … Read more
Government Response
The government response is a truncated copy of the committee's conclusion and does not provide a substantive response.
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14 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
We asked the Ministry why it kept making the same mistakes when it came to...
We asked the Ministry why it kept making the same mistakes when it came to contracting out services and how it would avoid these in future. The Ministry told us that it would no longer let contracts using the approach … Read more
Government Response
The government response is a truncated copy of the committee's conclusion and does not provide a substantive response.
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15 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
Following Carillion’s collapse in January 2018, the Ministry established Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL), a...
Following Carillion’s collapse in January 2018, the Ministry established Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL), a not-for-profit government company, to assume responsibility for its work.29 The Ministry told us that its contract with Carillion was “a mess” and badly managed.30 It … Read more
Government Response
The government response was a direct copy of the committee's conclusion, reiterating the description of events and the Ministry's statements about its commercial function, without providing any additional information or a government stance.
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16 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
One of the consequences of the Ministry not understanding its assets prior to letting the...
One of the consequences of the Ministry not understanding its assets prior to letting the contracts was that demand for reactive maintenance work as a result of poor-quality assets or vandalism cost the taxpayer almost £143 million more than expected … Read more
Government Response
The government response is a truncated copy of the committee's conclusion and does not provide a substantive response.
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17 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
We asked the Ministry what percentage of those in prison were women and how many...
We asked the Ministry what percentage of those in prison were women and how many prisons in England and Wales held female offenders. The Ministry accepted that these were numbers that it could reasonably be expected to know, but it … Read more
Government Response
The government response is an exact copy of the committee's conclusion and does not provide a substantive response.
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18 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
As a result of our questioning, we were concerned that the female prison estate was...
As a result of our questioning, we were concerned that the female prison estate was a Cinderella service within the prison system. HMPPS removed plans to build new places for female prisoners from the Prison Estate Transformation Programme, as its … Read more
Government Response
The government response is a verbatim copy of the committee's text, including its concerns and questions, and does not provide an actual substantive reply or engagement with the issues raised.
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19 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
One of the largest women’s prisons, HMP Holloway in London, was closed in 2016.
One of the largest women’s prisons, HMP Holloway in London, was closed in 2016. HMPPS sold the prison in March 2019 and generated £81.5 million from the proceeds.41 We were concerned that such a large amount of money had come … Read more
Government Response
The government response merely reiterates the committee's concern about the reinvestment of HMP Holloway sale proceeds into the female prison estate, without providing any new information, clarification, or commitment.
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20 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
We acknowledged that the female prison estate was a small part of the overall prison...
We acknowledged that the female prison estate was a small part of the overall prison estate, but asked whether the Ministry thought it was nonetheless important to ensure that some of its reinvestment benefitted women prisoners to avoid them becoming … Read more
Government Response
The government response is a truncated copy of the committee's conclusion and does not provide a substantive response.
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21 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
In its written evidence, De Montfort University told us that ‘softer’ services such as contact...
In its written evidence, De Montfort University told us that ‘softer’ services such as contact with family, education, work based training, peer support and therapy were of huge importance in the rehabilitation of prisoners. It also told us that therapeutic … Read more
Government Response
The government response is a truncated copy of the committee's conclusion and does not provide a substantive response.
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22 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
We also received written evidence from the Prison Reform Trust, which told us that women...
We also received written evidence from the Prison Reform Trust, which told us that women continue to serve their sentences largely in prisons designed for men and in locations far from home.48 We were therefore concerned that there were no … Read more
Government Response
The government response is a truncated copy of the committee's conclusion and does not provide a substantive response.
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23 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
Rising demand for prison places, places being taken out of use and delays in building...
Rising demand for prison places, places being taken out of use and delays in building new prisons have put significant pressure on the capacity of the prison estate. At December 2019, the prison population had reached 98% of the usable … Read more
Government Response
The government response is a truncated copy of the committee's conclusion and does not provide a substantive response.
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24 Conclusion Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
We asked HMPPS how it was managing crowding in prisons given the extent of the...
We asked HMPPS how it was managing crowding in prisons given the extent of the issue. HMPPS told us that its reconfiguration programme across the prison estate would help ensure that people were in the right environment for their sentence, … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee's finding and will write to the Committee by January 2021 to update on prison building plans, intending to consult in early 2021 and publish a comprehensive strategy by summer 2021.
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25 Conclusion Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, HMPPS expected demand for prison places to rise because of the...
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, HMPPS expected demand for prison places to rise because of the government’s August 2019 announcement to recruit an additional 20,000 police officers. The NAO reported that HMPPS could need new prisons to be ready from late … Read more
Government Response
The government accepted the observation as a recommendation, committing to update the Committee in January 2021 on prison building plans and strategy scope, consult in early 2021, and publish a comprehensive strategy by summer 2021.
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26 Conclusion Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
By 19 June 2020, some 500 prisoners and 10 children in custody had tested positive...
By 19 June 2020, some 500 prisoners and 10 children in custody had tested positive for COVID-19. A further 992 staff within HMPPS had tested positive for the virus. Up to 26 June 2020, 44 people categorised as ‘HMPPS service … Read more
Government Response
The government committed to publishing prison population projections by the end of 2020 and providing an update by April 2021 on its COVID-19 management strategy for the prison estate, including plans for temporary accommodation. They also highlighted progress on new prison builds to deliver 10,000 new spaces by 2026.
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27 Conclusion Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
When infections take hold in prisons they can be very serious, so we were relieved...
When infections take hold in prisons they can be very serious, so we were relieved to hear that the scale of the pandemic in prisons had not been as bad as was predicted at the outset. The Ministry and HMPPS … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the implied recommendation on managing the prison estate, committing to publish prison population projections by the end of 2020, continue new prison builds, and provide an update by April 2021 on progress, including plans for temporary accommodation.
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28 Conclusion Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
As part of our inquiry, we received written evidence from the Prison Reform Trust, Professor...
As part of our inquiry, we received written evidence from the Prison Reform Trust, Professor Nicola Padfield the University of Cambridge, and from Professor Loraine Gelsthorpe at the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge. They told us that … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee's observation and commits to publishing prison population projections by the end of 2020. They also highlight ongoing new prison builds to deliver 10,000 spaces by 2026 and will provide an update by April 2021 on progress and temporary accommodation plans.
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29 Conclusion
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
Both the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge and the Prison Reform Trust...
Both the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge and the Prison Reform Trust told us that while the worst-case scenario for deaths from the pandemic had been avoided, the cost to the mental health of prisoners was certain … Read more
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30 Conclusion Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
The prison population fell during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of the cancellation of...
The prison population fell during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of the cancellation of jury trials and fewer cases coming through from the courts.67 In March 2020, almost half of all courts were closed and jury trials were paused … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the implied recommendation to manage the impact of court backlogs on the prison estate, committing to publish prison population projections by end of 2020 and provide an update on progress and temporary accommodation plans by April 2021.
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31 Conclusion Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
The Ministry and HMPPS told us that the fall in cases coming through from the...
The Ministry and HMPPS told us that the fall in cases coming through from the courts, and the subsequent lower demand for prison places, had given it the headroom it needed to manage the prison estate during the pandemic. They … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee, stating it will publish prison population projections by end 2020 to forecast changes and confirms new prisons are on track for delivery by 2026. It will also provide an update by April 2021 on progress and plans for expected use of temporary accommodation.
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32 Conclusion Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
In its written evidence to us, The Prison Reform Trust asserted that there was nothing...
In its written evidence to us, The Prison Reform Trust asserted that there was nothing in the government’s planning, short or long term, which would better prepare the prison service for a future outbreak of COVID-19 or a similar pandemic. … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee's observation, committing to publishing prison population projections by end 2020 and providing an update on progress and plans for temporary accommodation by April 2021. It also confirms new prisons are on track and the COVID-19 strategy for prisons is continually assessed.
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33 Conclusion Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
Almost half of those who spend time in prison will go on to reoffend within...
Almost half of those who spend time in prison will go on to reoffend within a year of their release. Reoffending costs society and the economy £18.1 billion each year. Over half of this (£10 billion) is the direct costs … Read more
Government Response
The government agreed with the committee's observation on the need for a strategic approach to reoffending and outlined its ambition in the Smarter Approach to Sentencing White Paper. It committed to publishing an update on this work and providing further details to the Committee before the end of 2020, integrating it with the long-term estates strategy.
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34 Recommendation Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
In our 2019 review of the Ministry’s progress in transforming rehabilitation, we concluded that the...
In our 2019 review of the Ministry’s progress in transforming rehabilitation, we concluded that the Ministry would not make sustained progress with reducing reoffending until it could provide the support offenders desperately needed on leaving prison, including securing stable accommodation. … Read more
Government Response
The government agreed with the recommendation for a cross-government strategy to reduce reoffending, acknowledging past delays and committing to publishing an update in due course and writing to the Committee with further details before the end of 2020.
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35 Conclusion Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
The way offenders were treated on their release from prison has a significant impact on...
The way offenders were treated on their release from prison has a significant impact on how they re-integrate into society.80 We received written evidence from Middlesex University, which told us that poor or inadequate resettlement pathways had resulted in lack … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the implied recommendation for a strategic approach to reoffending, committing to publishing an update and further details before the end of 2020. This approach will focus on ensuring individuals have jobs, homes, and medical treatment, building on cross-government work and dovetailing with the long-term estates strategy.
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36 Conclusion Accepted
Fifteenth Report - Improving the p…
In April 2020, the Chief Inspector of Prisons similarly found that, within local prisons, resettlement...
In April 2020, the Chief Inspector of Prisons similarly found that, within local prisons, resettlement assessments and planning for release had been limited as a result of COVID-19. It found that good efforts had been made to address accommodation needs … Read more
Government Response
The government accepted the observation as a recommendation, committing to a strategic approach to reoffending, including publishing an update by March 2021, focusing on ensuring prison leavers have jobs, homes, and medical treatment.
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Government Response AI assessment · 35 of 6 classified
Accepted 18
Acknowledged 1
Not Addressed 16
Total 6 recs + 30 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
14 May 2021 Correspondence from Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive, HM Prison & Probation Service, re Update response to PAC 15th Report of Session 2019-2021: Improving the prison estate, dated 30 April 2021
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30 Apr 2021 Correspondence from Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive, HM Prison & Probation Service, re Updated repose to the Public Accounts Committees 15th Report Session 2019-2021: Improving the prison estate, dated 5 February 2021
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11 Feb 2021 Correspondence from Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive, HM Prison & Probation Service, re COVID-19 and the Prison Estate, dated 09 February 2021
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