Blakehurst Prison (Hansard, 27 November 1995)

§ Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 27 November 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons on Blakenhurst prison. The attached note, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House, gives details of the steps taken to implement each of the recommendations to the Director General of the Prison Service, the Prison Service area manager responsible for Blakenhurst and the Director of the establishment.

ANNEXE
Recommendations to the Director General
8.01 Deficiencies in meeting the contract should be addressed by all parties in particular as follows:
Examination of Contractor's financial records excluding prisoner earnings (Schedule 1.21 (v))
The Contract (Schedule 1, condition 21(v)) requires the contractor to keep books of account which are made available to inspection. The Contractor complied with the contract by making accounts available as and when requested.
Revision of Schedule 3 price (Schedule 1.21(iv))
Price revision is a commercial matter, subject to negotiation between the Contractor and the Prison Service, and dependent on consideration of the relevant indices issued by Central Statistical Office and their insertion in the price revision formula given in Schedule 3 of the contract. Both parties are complying with this procedure.
Progress reports (Schedule 1.36)
Progress reports have been supplied when requested by the Prison Service in full compliance with the contract. In addition regular meetings have been held between the Prison Service and UKDS, often with the on-site Prison Service Controller and the director of the prison present, to discuss progress as well as performance.
Identify specific records to be kept (Schedule 1.37)
Specific records have been dentified and kept by the Contractor including maintenance schedules, prisoner damage reports, escorting and prisoner population records in full compliance with the contract.
Regular reviews of cleaning programme (Schedule 2.20)
A programme was agreed formally on 23 July 1993. Weekly reports are submitted to the Controller, together with frequent reviews held at minuted meetings.
Prisoner compacts (Schedule 2.69)
A system was drawn up and agreed between Contractor and Controller on 25 June 1993 and formally reviewed on 28 April 1994. When the inspection team visited the compact was not being used because of a failure in communication between two UKDS departments. The director put the system back into use during the inspection week.
Prisoners involved in decision making and methods of doing so (Schedule 2.72)
At the time of the inspection prisoners were members of the unit and food meetings, this continues but even more prisoner involvement is planned. This arrangement complies with the contract.
Consultancy/free telephone to Citizens Advice Bureau (Schedule 2.100)
The Citizens Advice Bureau offers a consultancy on Wednesday evenings. Free telephone calls are available house block senior custody officers. This meets the requirements of the contract.
Regime review (Schedule 2.118)
Since Blakenhurst was incorporated into the Prison Service line management in April 1994, regime monitoring has been fully implemented.
Commercial arrangements for prisoners' work (Schedule 2.121) and review of Business Plan (Schedule 2.121)
It has proved difficult for UKDS to generate much commercial work for prisoners because of the shortage of high grade "real wages" work appropriate for prisoners. At present this is offered in the Komatsu Shop, which refurbishes industrial machinery. The "real wage" system began on 21 November 1994 and involves a maximum of ten prisoners.
Continuing review and improvement of the induction/assessment policy (Schedule 2.130)
Revised induction/assessment is now in operation and fully meets the contract.
Contacts by prisoners with the community prior to release (Schedule 2.131)
The arrangements for resettlement have in the past been a cause for concern because the throughcare input lacked sufficient thrust and direction. This has been much improved with the arrival of a new senior probation officer and greater cooperation. The director/chief probation officer contract has been reviewed and action taken to revitalise weak areas. The area manager has requested additional throughcare proposals from UKDS.
Treatment programme for convicted sex offenders (Schedule 2.135)
Although the Contract refers to the national "core" programme, The Prison Service subsequently agreed that this was not appropriate for a local prison. The sex offender treatment programme at Blakenhurst is an assessment programme and the contractual wording has been amended to reflect that.
8.02 The contract document should be strengthened to take fuller account of offers made in the Contractor's tender submission (2.13)
The contractor is obliged by the contract to deliver the services in conjunction with, and in the spirit of, his tender. There would be some difficulty enforcing this—a weakness that has been rectified in subsequent contracts.
8.03 The amount of assistance which can appropriately be given to the Contractor by the Controller should be defined clearly (2.22)
HMCIP felt that the Controllers were taking too active a role in management. In the early days this was the case. But it has not fettered the Controllers' capacity to inspect and monitor. When the Area Manager took line responsibility in April 1994 the Controller's role was reviewed. New job descriptions for the Controller and his deputy were agreed on 4 May 1994. They meet the point made by the Inspectorate.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE AREA MANAGER
8.04 The extent of monitoring local financial information by the Controller and area manager should be reviewed.
Under the contract, UKDS receive a lump sum for running the prison. The Prison Service has no control over how this is spent as long as the contract is not breached in any way.
8.05 The monitoring of each part of the contract should be more methodical and records should be kept of the date on which each aspect is examined.
This formal monitoring is now being carried out.
8.06 Category D prisoners should not be held in secure accommodation.
Six category D prisoners are retained for special work places and all others have been transferred.
8.07 The director should receive copies of all relevant Prison Service instructions, advice to governors and information notices including copies of briefing papers.
This is now done.
8.08 A shower should be provided in the kitchen for the inmate work party.
This is still under consideration by the director.
8.09 Consideration should be given to providing a secure treatment room on the ground floor of the hospital and one in the vulnerable prisoner unit.
This recommendation was considered but rejected by the director.
8.10 The Prison Service should take back unwanted class 1 locks and reimburse the contractor for those not used.
This has been done.
8.11 An emergency exit door should be provided in the education department leading from either the glass engraving or the cookery rooms to the outside walkway.
Automatic closures have been fitted to the door as recommended in the fire safety report of June 1993.
8.12 Technical advice should be sought about the effect of the screening of the vulnerable prisoner spur on the airflow in the event of a fire.
Advice has been received and is being considered.
8.13 Privacy screening should be provided around the bath in reception.
This has been done.
8.14 The facilities in the vulnerable prisoner unit should be upgraded to overcome the claustrophobic atmosphere and provide a proper servery, adequate storerooms and offices, and opportunities for more activities.
A storeroom has been provided together with an improved trolley system. The other recommendations were rejected on cost grounds.
8.15 Equipment required by the optician and physiotherapist should be supplied.
The equipment has been supplied.
8.16The alarm system for the hospital should be reviewed.
This has been done and the appropriate action taken.
8.17 The use of the special medical room should be reviewed in comparison with other local prisons.
This is now being done.
8.18 The security of the treatment/dispensing room should be improved.
The security of the doors has been improved.
8.19 An ultrasonic instrument cleaner should be supplied for the dentist.
This has now been supplied.
8.20 There should be a doctor's consulting suite on the VP unit with a properly equipped doctor's interview room and a separate treatment room.
This is not required. Prisoners from the VPU attend the health care centre for interviews and treatment.