Morton Hall

A 35% cut in the education provision at Morton Hall has led to redundancies within the teaching staff and a significant reduction in educational classes available to prisoners. Education and workshops play an important role in maintaining the mental state of prisoners while at Morton Hall and in their rehabilitation into society after leaving prison. Will the Minister please take steps to restore the education provision to former levels thereby allowing an improved offering of courses to prisoners? Is it possible for this prison to meet the standards required by the prison inspectorate (Appendix E) without the resource needed to provide meaningful education and activity for all? (7.1).

When prisoners have an ERS date there are often delays to them leaving even if they have agreed to go. Can the Minister provide the reasons for these hold ups and reduce the extra time men spend in prison? (7.3.4).

Regarding the question you raise in terms of HO processing, since my response to your last annual report early in September 2024, the Government has laid legislation to expand the early removal scheme. This will enable the deportation of FNOs sooner. It is estimated that this will reduce demand by up to 500 prison places per year based on current removal rates. HM Prison and Probation Service is investing £5 million for 82 new FNO specialist roles in prisons to both identify offenders who want to leave the UK and ensure the speedier deportation of prisoners who have no right to be in this country. The Government’s sharpened focus on this issue is already making a difference in that we have seen a 10% increase in early removal scheme returns between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025, compared to the same period 12 months prior.

Why was the project to build a small secure house block abandoned after considerable expenditure and disruption had taken place? It is disappointing to see money wasted on incomplete initiatives (2.6).

Will HMPPS take steps to improve the transfer of prisoners’ property from one facility to another in a timely and secure manner thereby minimising risk of property loss? Will HMPPS review current prisoner property record management and introduce improvements to the existing system (e.g. an electronic tracking system) which will minimise losses of prisoner property following inter-prison transfers (5.8).

I empathise with the Board’s frustrations regarding the unacceptable levels of property losses or delays when a prisoner is transferred. It is an issue that is frequently raised across the prison estate and as such is something to which HMPPS is currently giving further attention. Careful consideration is being given to the findings in the IMB national thematic report on how property loss impacts on prisoners, as well as those received from independent prisoner complaint investigations following a thematic review of the property complaints they have received in the last five years. Since receiving the reports, Governors and other senior leaders have been reminded of the most important property handling points. This includes the need to ensure compliance with volumetric control limits. HMP Morton Hall has recognised that it has not always effectively managed these previously and as such there have been delays as excess property has been sent separately. Within the last three months, new processes have been introduced to ensure prisoners only have the volume of property they are allowed and have been given options as to what to do with additional property to reduce the volume when they move on. The reception staff are building relationships with the escort contractor and receiving prisons to improve processes and are now following up missing property from the transferring establishment swiftly. These measures have resulted in HMP Morton Hall seeing a significant reduction in the number of complaints about follow on property for Q1 2025/26 compared to Q1 2024/25.

Will HMPPS work with Lincolnshire Police to create a prison liaison officer role to support Morton Hall to improve positive outcomes for crimes committed by prisoners or visitors while in Morton Hall? (4.3.3).

How will HMPPS reduce vetting times for staff under consideration for employment at Morton Hall? The current vetting period is around 40 weeks, which risks losing potential entrants (5.5.1).

Will HMPPS impose a consistent rule on possession of electronic items (notably X-Boxes) across the prison network so that the same rules are in place at all establishments? (5.8.7).

Will HMPPS reconsider a facility upgrade for Torr, Sharman and Johnson units to allow industrially-rated washing machines to be installed (5.1.2).

Although funding is currently unavailable to improve the electrical network to allow for industrial machines to be installed, Ministry of Justice property services will complete survey work to inform a new capital bid for when additional funding becomes available. In the meantime, HMP Morton Hall have implemented a specific monitoring system of washers and dryers to identify items that need replacing and any areas where improvements can be made to the way in which appliances are managed to extend their life. This will also provide information for a business case should it be deemed value for money to upgrade the electrical supply.

Will HMPPS take steps as necessary to fund activities and grant a sufficient education provision to ensure every prisoner can be allocated a work role or be engaged in education as outlined in HMIP Expectations 64.1? (7.1).

Could the Governor monitor any increased levels of self-harm and review the efficiency of the ACCT process (4.2.3).

Will the Governor consider providing additional training for prison staff likely to be involved in use of force incidents (especially planned ones), primarily to ensure the safety of all involved (4.4).

Could the Governor consider introducing a more objective evaluation criteria for determining eligibility for prisoner enhanced status (5.6.3).

Could the Governor set up an improved accountability or traceability system for loan items for the library aimed at reducing losses (7.1.12).

Could the Governor request more frequent attendance of HO staff at resettlement meetings to improve meeting efficiency (7.5.3).