Committee publication · Correspondence · 2 July 2025
Correspondence from the Chair to the HM Chief Inspector of Prisons dated 28 May 2025 relating to the 21 May evidence session on Prisons, Probation and Rehabilitation in Wales
From: Welsh Affairs Committee
Summary
Chair Ruth Jones writes to HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor following his 21 May evidence session on Welsh prisons, probation and rehabilitation. She requests written answers to four questions on Welsh language service access for prisoners, consistency in HMIP reporting on Welsh provision, physical infrastructure challenges in the Welsh prison estate, and maintenance priorities beyond fire safety works.
Key findings
- Committee seeks clarification on prisoner access to Welsh language services in both English and Welsh prisons
- Chair raises concerns about inconsistent HMIP reporting on Welsh language provision and proposes joint work with the Welsh Language Commissioner to develop uniform survey methodology
- Questions identify significant physical infrastructure challenges in the Welsh prison estate requiring comparative analysis with England
- Maintenance priorities in Welsh prisons need prioritisation beyond critical fire safety improvement works
Tone
ProceduralTopics
prisons-and-rehabilitationwelsh-languageinfrastructuresafeguarding
Key actors
Ruth Jones MP, Charlie Taylor, Welsh Affairs Committee, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons, Welsh Language Commissioner
Notable line
“Would you be willing to work with the Welsh Language Commissioner to design a uniform and consistent survey for Welsh- speaking prisoners …”
Key Quotes
“Unfortunately, there was insufficient time to ask all of the questions that my committee wished to pose.”
“My committee has been told that there is little consistency in the way HMIP reports on Welsh language provision in prisons in Wales.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗