Question
One former Conservative Minister wrote a book that discussed the prison system’s failure to reform. Will the Minister confirm that she has looked at Rory Stewart’s book and his concerns that the Department lacked project management capabilities and support from the Treasury, and required a longer tenure for Prison Ministers? Would she recommend the book to the shadow Minister?
Answer
Indeed, Conservative Members have made a plethora of public commentary on such issues. As well as the book my hon. Friend mentioned, the former Prime Minister herself and her policy chief admitted that not enough prison places were built. I would be interested not only in whether Conservative Members might want to read the aforementioned book, but in whether they will apologise for the failures of the previous Government—this would be a good opportunity to do that.80% point-scoring
Verdict: RED (12/100)
The reply does not answer most of the question. It does not say whether the Minister has read Rory Stewart's book, and it gives no government view on whether Prison Ministers need longer tenure. It only partly touches the concerns about project management and Treasury support, mentioning the book and past shortfalls in prison places without a departmental position. On whether the Minister would recommend the book, it responds with a call for an apology rather than a direct answer, so the questioner would likely need to ask again.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the Minister has looked at Rory Stewart's book on the prison system. | Not Addressed | Generic | The reply says Conservative Members have made lots of public commentary on such issues but never says whether the Minister has looked at Rory Stewart's book, so the personal question goes unanswered. |
| The Department's view of Rory Stewart's concern that the Department lacked project management capability and support from the Treasury for prison reform. | Partially Addressed | Generic | The reply mentions the book and the former government's admitted shortfall in prison places, which is adjacent to prison reform, but gives no departmental view on the stated concerns about project management capability or Treasury support. |
| The Government's view on Rory Stewart's concern that Prison Ministers required a longer tenure. | Not Addressed | Generic | Nothing in the reply addresses the government's view on whether Prison Ministers need longer tenure; the statements are about reading the book and apologies. |
| Whether the Minister would recommend Rory Stewart's book to the shadow Minister. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply mentions whether Conservative Members might want to read the book but never states whether the Minister would recommend it to the shadow Minister, and it turns the point into a demand for an apology instead of a direct answer. |