House of Commons – Jan. 27, 2016 – 178

I beg to move, That this House believes UK prisons are in crisis;

notes the increasingly high rates of violence, self-harm and drug use in prisons, and the resulting pressure on the NHS;

further notes that the last report by the outgoing Chief Inspector of Prisons warned that outcomes across the prison estate were the worst for ten years;

believes that no prison staff should have to go to work facing a threat to their safety;

notes with concern the decision of the Scottish Government, announced in its recent draft Scottish Budget for 2016-17, to reduce funding for the Scottish Prison Service by almost £40 million in cash terms;

is appalled by the disturbing allegations of violence at Medway Secure Training Centre;

regrets the Government’s inadequate response to the Harris Review and to mental health in prisons;

is concerned that re-offending rates are so high;

believes the Government lets down victims of crime by failing to enshrine their rights in law;

regrets the Government’s reckless privatisation of the probation service and the job losses in community rehabilitation companies;

and calls on the Government to put all G4S-run prisons, STCs and detention centres into special measures, to immediately review the implementation of Transforming Rehabilitation and to publish the Memorandum of Understanding on Judicial Cooperation with Saudi Arabia.