Written question asked by Lord Judd (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Bach (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 November 2009.

Prisons: Grendon

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that the approach to rehabilitation work with prisoners at HM Prison Grendon is not affected by new public expenditure restrictions; and how they are using experiences of that work in other prisons.

Answer: HMP Grendon is one of a number of establishments within the prison system that provides a therapeutic community-based regime for those offenders who are assessed as having a medium or high risk of harm and those diagnosed with a personality disorder. Given the current economic climate, NOMS is required to look at ways of reducing overall cost and improving efficiency. This applies to all prison establishments including HMP Grendon. NOMS and the director of offender management for the region are working closely with HMP Grendon to maintain the standards needed to deliver their therapeutic based programme. The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Community of Communities programme also has a robust accreditation scheme for therapeutic communities, including Grendon, which provides assurance to NOMS, regulators and the public that the programmes are of an acceptable quality and that quality and safety standards have been met. In addition, HMP Grendon is at the heart of the NOMS South East region project for improving staff-prisoner interaction, which is already having a positive impact in other prisons across the region.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 6214; 714 c176WA
Session: 2008-09
Subjects: Finance Prisoners Mental health services Rehabilitation HMP Grendon
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk