Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, quizzed the Minister for Justice today about the need to introduce more spartan conditions for prisoners.
He put the question to Minister Jeremy Wright during Justice Questions, following a query on contraband in prisons.
Gavin asked: “Many of my constituents in South Staffordshire believe that many prisoners have far too many home comforts in their cells, and that there is far too much contraband in the prison system. What action has my hon. Friend taken to make sure that we run a spartan regime, and not a holiday camp?”
The Minister assured Gavin that prisoners within his constituency of South Staffordshire would no longer be watching Sky TV or 18 rated DVDs.
He also told him that the Justice Department was working to ensure that prisoners earn any privileges or incentives which they receive.
Jeremy Wright MP said: “My hon. Friend can reassure his constituents that prisoners will no longer watch Sky subscription television channels, and they will no longer watch 18-rated DVDs. As my hon. Friend knows, we are looking comprehensively at the incentives and earned privileges scheme in prisons to make sure that prisoners earn any incentives and privileges that they receive.”
Following the Questions, Gavin said: “I am very pleased that decisive action has been taken to make sure that we have a strong regime in terms of dealing with prisoners.
“It is not a holiday camp, people don’t expect it to be a holiday camp and we want to create a proper disincentive to make sure people don’t want to go back into prison.”
South Staffordshire has one of the highest prison populations in the UK. There are three prisons based within the constituency: HMP Featherstone, HMP Oakwood and HMP Brinsford.