§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they agree with the Chief Inspector of Prisons that there is erosion of standards endorsed by Parliament, leading to treatment of prisoners that is contrary to the Mission Statement of the Prison Service; and whether they agree with his opinion that conditions "can only get worse as more cuts are imposed". [HL2502]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Government are aware of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons' concern to see continued improvements to prison regimes, and of the pressures facing the Prison Service. Already, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary has provided an additional £112 million in 1998–99 to increase capacity and support regime activities.
The Government's manifesto specifically commits us to the delivery of more constructive regimes for prisoners. The Prison Service have already appointed a new Director 2WA of Regimes to provide the necessary and distinct focus to develop regimes for women, young offenders and adult males. Additionally, the Government have introduced the Welfare to Work programme to prisons through a 12-month pilot in 11 prison establishments, and have announced a £3 million programme to provide pilot specialised regimes for women, young offenders and juveniles in six establishments. It is in recognition of the Chief Inspector's concerns that the Prison Service is also working to provide clearer and more consistent regime standards for all prisoner groups.