Whatton

The problems we referenced in our previous report regarding IPP prisoners persist. There are a large number of IPP prisoner at HMP Whatton and the Board is concerned that they may feel pressure or mental stress, because they are unable to see any future that may make the present tolerable. Is the Minister planning to consider IPP prisoners’ welfare and wellbeing? If not, can you explain why?

You once again raised the Board’s concern that many of the men at HMP Whatton serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences experience a substantial degree of pressure and emotional strain due to the uncertainty of their future. This is a serious and important issue. The Government remains very mindful of the specific challenges faced by those serving IPP sentences and is determined to continue making progress in a way that supports safe and sustainable release, without compromising public protection. Nationally, a refreshed IPP Action Plan strengthens how sentence plans are developed and delivered, ensures prisoners are held in establishments that are appropriate to their needs and places clearer expectations on regular, meaningful reviews of progression. The Action Plan also introduces measurable targets to improve transparency and accountability in how progress is monitored across the system.
The collaborative work continues with NHS England to improve mental health support for prisoners, including those serving IPP sentences. This includes a comprehensive review of service specifications, clearer pathways for clinical assessment and the introduction of a statutory 28-day time limit for the Mental Health Act transfers where inpatient treatment is required. These improvements are supported by suicide and self-harm prevention work, the Listener Scheme and mental health awareness training for staff, all of which help ensure that individuals receive the right support at the right time.
Locally, I welcome the dedicated keyworker support provided to IPP prisoners at HMP Whatton. This regular contact helps monitor wellbeing, reduces isolation and keeps individuals engaged in purposeful activity and opportunities for personal development.
Thank you for continuing to highlight this issue. The welfare, support and progression of those serving IPP sentences remain key priorities and we will continue to strengthen both national systems and local practice to support these individuals.

The resourcing of the prison, from catering to building repairs and development, is not being met satisfactorily, in the Board’s view. It is apparent that all aspects of funding must meet difficult rising base costs. How does the Prison Service plan to ensure that funding will meet the rising costs of food and maintenance so that health and safety standards are maintained?

HMPPS recognises the Board’s concern that rising baseline costs are placing pressure on catering and estate maintenance. Across the national estate, HMPPS continually reviews investment requirements, drawing on comprehensive condition surveys that assess the fabric, cells and critical assets of each prison. These surveys inform long-term forward maintenance registers, enabling works to be prioritised effectively against future capital budgets where demands exceed available funding. Budgets for prisoner food have increased incrementally to reflect rising costs, rising from £2.18 per prisoner per day in 2022–2023 to £3.01 in 2024–2025, with allocations for 2025–2026 further uplifted in line with inflation funding received by HMPPS. Governors also retain the flexibility to manage their overall budget locally and may supplement food provision where needed to maintain nutritional standards.
At HMP Whatton, a recent review of the catering menu has expanded available choices in line with the national food budget uplift. The establishment continues to make active use of produce grown on site, including fresh vegetables, salads and fruits to support menu variety and resilience. Several infrastructure projects are at various stages of planning and preparation. The fire safety project remains in its early development phase, and water pipe replacement is being scoped. A new rapid deployment unit is scheduled for installation during 2026, which will provide an additional 59 places once operational. A replacement stair lift for the multifaith area has been delivered.

What steps will the Prison Service take to ensure reliable access to chaplaincy facilities for prisoners with mobility issues, given that the stair lift remains unreliable and no progress has been made on repairs since the last report?

While the work is pending on the installation of the stairlift, prisons are expected to ensure that prisoners with mobility challenges can continue to access worship and pastoral support through reasonable adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. Nationally, all requests for maintenance or accessibility improvements are considered within the constraints of significant demand across the estate. Once a bid for work is submitted, HMPPS must prioritise projects carefully to ensure funding is directed to areas that pose the greatest risks to life, operational capacity and decency. These principles guide the allocation of resources and the sequencing of works, including at HMP Whatton.

The IMB has observed - and noted - changes in the provision of education and training for prisoners, including bringing in different qualifications with the new PES/education contract. We anticipate that staff will raise standards and improve outcomes for prisoners, in particular the acquisition of life and social skills in preparation for release. How will data be collated to give firm evidence of improvement?