Committees

Officials questioned on HMP Birmingham and prison population

11 December 2018

The Justice Committee holds a combined session on HMP Birmingham and Prison Population 2022: Planning for the Future.

Purpose of the session

This session has two purposes.

It includes a one-off session on HMP Birmingham following the inspection report on this prison and the subsequent decision by MOJ to intervene in the running of the prison which is contracted to G4S.

This meeting is also the final evidence session in the Committee's long-running inquiry into Prison Population 2022: Planning for the Future.

HMP Birmingham

The Committee will question officials from the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS, the new prison Governor and G4S on problems at HMP Birmingham identified in HMI Prison's Urgent Notification and inspection report.

The session will examine:

  • Why HMP Birmingham deteriorated between Inspections to such an extent as to require an Urgent Notification by the Chief Inspector
  • Whether the contract between G4S and the Secretary of State for Justice was sufficient to enable effective management of the prison and intervention when problems arose
  • The role of HMIP in identifying and responding to problems in prisons.

Prison Population 2022

Planning for the Future: The purpose of this part of the session is to clarify further the Government's strategic approach to managing prisons and those detained in them over the next four years, including:

  • the impact of the strategic and operational approach of the Ministry and HMPPS on the day-to-day running of prisons, including measures to improve safety, decency and rehabilitation
  • the sustainability of the finances
  • the maintenance and modernisation of the prison estate.

Witnesses

Tuesday 11 December 2018 in the Wilson Room, Portcullis House.

Panel 1: 10.00am – 11.00am

  • Michael Spurr, CEO, HMPPS
  • Neil Richards, Head of Custodial Contracts, HMPPS
  • Paul Newton, Governor, HMP Birmingham
  • Jerry Petherick, G4S

Panel 2: 11.00am – 12.30pm

  • Rory Stewart MP, Minister of State for Justice, Ministry of Justice
  • Michael Spurr, CEO, HMPPS (appears in both panels)

Further information

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