Feltham B Prison for Young Adults (Hansard, 15 October 2001)

§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Rooker)
My Lords, the Prison Service was able to direct substantial new investment into Feltham B from April this year. Consequently, more than one-third of the recommendations in Sir David's report have already been implemented. In particular, purposeful activity hours have been increased and now average more than 20 a week.

§ Lord Judd
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Does he agree that this is precisely the kind of Question in respect of which the whole House will miss the voice of Lord Longford?
Does my noble friend agree that in an institution charged with the safety and well-being of highly disturbed young people it is totally unacceptable that in that institution there was in September a tragic suicide; that there had been a suicide a year previously; and that there was a most ugly murder? Does he further agree that there is no room for complacency?
Does that not raise the issue of the prevailing culture within the Prison Service—a battle that must be won in order to ensure that those who join the service do so in the cause of rehabilitation and the real fight of turning young people into decent citizens?

§ Lord Rooker
My Lords, yes, in respect of my noble friend's first point, it was a privilege to be in this House in July during one of its many debates—as I was warned—on prisons. I was able to listen to Frank Longford speak in that debate and afterwards told people what a privilege that was.
As regards my noble friend's substantive point on self-inflicted wounds and self-inflicted deaths, I cannot comment on the tragedy which occurred in late September or on the previous one, save to say that full inquiries are taking place. Furthermore, there is an action plan to ensure that young people are inducted into such establishments and that there is a proper programme tailored to their individual needs. We hope to reach the point when they have telephone cards and people to speak to who will listen to what they say, and not the isolation which can build up to such tragedies.
There is still a lot to do and I make no bones about that. Nevertheless, we are working hard on Feltham and on Feltham B in particular. There is much to do between now and January when Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons will return to the prison.

§ Lord Peyton of Yeovil
My Lords, is the Minister aware that the mention of Sir David Ramsbotham's name in the Question will be taken by some as an opportunity to pay a real tribute to the courage, intelligence and honesty with which he performed a difficult job? If it is true that by chance some of Sir David's comments may have caused a little discomfiture in the higher realms of the Home Office, then as far as many of us are concerned he was the better for that.

§ Lord Rooker
My Lords, I hate to quote myself but I remember that in answering a Question in the summer I made it clear that it is no good appointing an independent investigator or regulator to conduct an inquiry and to compile a report and then complain about the report. That response was made in respect of Sir David Ramsbotham and I made it clear that that was my view. Indeed, I pay tribute to his work.
I am prepared to admit that Sir David's 1996 report on Feltham B was dealt with inadequately and that his 1998 report made us move up a few gears because clearly there was much to do. Both Houses have paid tribute to his work; he has illustrated many shortcomings and we are trying to put them right.

§ Lord Dholakia
My Lords, does the Minister accept that the success of Feltham A has been the result of more resources, a more liberal regime and the fact that standards were set by the Youth Justice Board? Has he in mind proposals whereby the Youth Justice Board or a single body can set up standards so that we can monitor progress in Feltham B where the regime is still most restrictive and poor and where to a great extent the situation has not improved as we thought it would?

Lord Roolker
My Lords, the noble Lord is right. Since being in post I have visited only one young offender institution. which is Prescoed. The difference in the treatment of under 18s and over I 8s is clear. The Youth Justice Board ensured that massive resources have been directed at the younger people.
The situation is tragic in places such as Feltham where offenders move from one section to the other and where resources have not been adequate. Nevertheless, the new governor and the team are working their socks off in order to ensure success and that we complete the rest of the action plan. It is to be hoped that there will be better news to report early next year after the inspectorate has returned on 14th January. New resources have been put into Feltham B and there is the opportunity for association and education one no longer has to choose between—one and the other—but we still have a long way to go.