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
2 Recommendations
34 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
3 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 7 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
29 Jun
2020
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
29 Jun 2020
View on parliament.uk
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 Conclusion
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
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: January 2021 2.2 The department accepts this recommendation and will write to the Committee in January 2021 ahead of … Read more
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3 Conclusion
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
3. 1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2021 3.2 The Prison Estate Asset Capture Survey (EACS) Programme will end on 31 March 2021. The … Read more
HM Treasury
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4 Recommendation
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
HM Treasury
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5 Recommendation
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
HM Treasury
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6 Conclusion
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
19. Nineteenth Report of Session 2019-21 The Sponsor Body (for the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster) Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster Introduction from the … Read more
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1 Conclusion
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
1. NHS resilience and recovery – Lee McDonough, DHSC; Ruth May, Chief Nursing Office for England 2. Social care resilience including workforce and minimising transmission – Michelle Dyson, DHSC 3. … Read more
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7 Conclusion
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
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Ta rget implementation date: January 2021 1.2 The department will write to the Committee in January 2021 to update them on the … Read more
HM Treasury
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8 Conclusion
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
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Ta rget implementation date: January 2021 1.2 The department will write to the Committee in January 2021 to update them on the … Read more
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9 Conclusion
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
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2021 4.2 The department will publish prison population projections by the end of 2020 and, following this, will … Read more
HM Treasury
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10 Conclusion
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
Research commissioned by HMPPS found that the prison environment, including the condition of accommodation, played a role in how prisoners behave. Between 2015 and 2018, among adult prisoners, key indicators … Read more
HM Treasury
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11 Conclusion
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
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 … Read more
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12 Conclusion
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
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 … Read more
HM Treasury
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13 Conclusion
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
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 … Read more
HM Treasury
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14 Conclusion
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
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 … Read more
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15 Conclusion
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
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 … Read more
HM Treasury
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16 Conclusion
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
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 … Read more
HM Treasury
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17 Conclusion
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
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 … Read more
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18 Conclusion
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
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 … Read more
HM Treasury
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19 Conclusion
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
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 … Read more
HM Treasury
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20 Conclusion
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
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 … Read more
HM Treasury
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21 Conclusion
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
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 … Read more
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22 Conclusion
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
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 … Read more
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23 Conclusion
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
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 … Read more
HM Treasury
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24 Conclusion
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
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Ta rget implementation date: January 2021 1.2 The department will write to the Committee in January 2021 to update them on the … Read more
HM Treasury
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25 Conclusion
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
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Ta rget implementation date: January 2021 1.2 The department will write to the Committee in January 2021 to update them on the … Read more
HM Treasury
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26 Conclusion
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
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27 Conclusion
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
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28 Conclusion
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
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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
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
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31 Conclusion
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
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32 Conclusion
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
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33 Conclusion
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
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34 Conclusion
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
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35 Conclusion
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
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36 Conclusion
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
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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
Parliament page
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
Parliament page
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
Parliament page