Tory MP Claire Perry is pressing the government to stage a debate on women and the prison system.
As it grapples with the economic crisis, Marlborough’s MP told the House of Commons on Wednesday: “Mahatma Gandhi said that a society can be judged by how it treats its first, its last and its lost.”
“It is my strong belief that women in the prison system and the 17,000 children a year who are separated from their mothers as a result of incarceration are among the lost.”
“Can we have a debate in Government time to review that important problem?”
Sir George Young, leader of the House, replied: “I welcome my hon. Friend’s interest in that important subject.”
“I very much hope that our new approach to the penal system of payment by results will also benefit women in prison, that new contractors with an interest in finding long-term, secure employment and accommodation for those leaving prison will come forward.”
“And that we will be able to improve our record so far and help those women rebuild their lives after leaving prison.”
