Winson Green Prison: Action on Chief Inspector's Report (Hansard, 29 March 2001)

§ Lord Bassam of Brighton

In accordance with the protocol agreed between Ministers, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector and the Prison Service, an action plan will be produced within 30 working days of its publication. This will address all the report's recommendations, but some of the key developments already in hand are as follows.

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A new staff attendance system planned to come into effect next month should provide a considerable increase in out-of-cell hours. Extra education spaces will be available following the conversion of additional classrooms. A first night centre is being set up. To tackle the problems caused by overcrowding, the roll was reduced to 1,000 from November 2000, and is planned to reduce further to 800 by 1 April 2001.

Birmingham prison will be one of the first wave of pilot sites for the development of National Health Service funded "in-reach" teams to support prison healthcare staff in looking after seriously mentally ill prisoners.

A senior healthcare manager has been appointed jointly by the Prison Service and the local health authority and a new nurse manager is being seconded from the NHS to improve nursing leadership in the prison.

A major redevelopment project is planned for Birmingham prison, which will include two new houseblocks, a new healthcare centre, workshop and sports hall. This will provide safe and secure accommodation for prisoners as well as providing improved regime facilities. The proposed investment is in excess of £50 million, although this is still awaiting Treasury approval. If the necessary funding is secured, it is anticipated that the project will be completed during 2004. In the meantime, an interim refurbishment programme to improve the environment in the healthcare centre has been completed, and the reception area is also being redecorated.