Shadow Justice Secretary asks about HMP Birmingham
4 September 2018 (updated on 4 September 2018)
Shadow Justice Secretary, Richard Burgon, asked an urgent question on the Government's plans for HMP Birmingham, following the Government's decision to take over the running of the prison.
The Minister of State for the Ministry of Justice, Rory Stewart, answered on behalf of the Government.
The Minister stated that the Government had decided that G4S was not be able to turn around the significant problems of HMP Birmingham and the Government therefore decided to take over control of the running of the prison.
He went on to state that the Government had brought in a highly experienced governor from the public sector, Mr Paul Newton, who has taken over as the governor of the prison. Secondly, the number of prisoners has been reduced by 300. Thirdly, we have brought in an additional 32 highly experienced public sector prison staff in order to support the team on the ground.
Shadow Justice Secretary, Richard Burgon responded to the Government Minister by the damning report into HMP Birmingham, as well as from the failings in the probation system, that the costly privatisation experiment in our justice system should be ended. He also went on to state that one of the biggest failings of privatisation was inability to hold corporations such as G4S to account.
- Watch Parliament TV: Shadow Justice Secretary asks about the Government's plans on HMP Birmingham
- Read Commons Hansard for the full exchange: Shadow Justice Secretary asks about the Government's plans on HMP Birmingham
Image: PA
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