Committee publication · Government Response · 3 June 2026
Government Response to the Committee's 3rd Report of Session 2024-26 on The Future of HMP Parc
From: Welsh Affairs Committee
Summary
Lord Timpson's response to the Welsh Affairs Committee's inquiry into HMP Parc acknowledges 17 deaths in 2024 and progress made since, but defends the planned expansion despite fragile improvements. HMPPS outlines measures to reduce drug ingress, strengthen mental health services, and monitor the contractor G4S, while rejecting the Committee's call to pause expansion, arguing separate project management and phased capacity increases can proceed safely.
Key findings
- Government accepts Committee's recognition of progress at HMP Parc but emphasises remaining challenges: drug availability (nearly a third of random drug tests positive), high violent incidents, elevated self-harm levels, and under-resourced mental health/substance misuse services.
- Window replacement programme due completion October 2026 (600+ installed by April 2026); government rejects accelerating pace due to capacity pressures requiring whole-wing decants and prisoner transfers.
- Government investing £40m across 34 prisons on physical security including £10m anti-drone measures; HMP Parc specifically using targeted countermeasures (windows, netting, grilles) alongside intelligence-led operations.
- Government rejects pause recommendation on expansion, arguing separate project management team prevents distraction from current improvements and phased capacity increases can proceed safely with detailed mobilisation assurances on staffing, safety and security.
- HMPPS deploying STEPs peer mentor model, additional resources for high-risk prisoners, and improved monitoring through full-time on-site Controller team and quarterly contract review meetings with G4S.
Government position
Rejects. The government acknowledges serious failings in 2024 and accepts the need for continued improvement, but rejects the Committee's recommendation to pause the expansion. It argues: (1) expansion is managed by separate G4S team and will not distract from current safety improvements; (2) prison capacity expansion is essential policy (10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy targets 14,000 additional places by 2031); (3) any capacity increase will be phased and gradual with detailed assurances on staffing, safety, security, healthcare, education and operational readiness; (4) HMPPS has robust contract management and oversight arrangements in place to hold the operator accountable. Government positions expansion as compatible with—not contrary to—safety improvements.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Lord Timpson, Ruth Jones MP, Welsh Affairs Committee, G4S, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP), Charlie Taylor, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Notable line
“HMPPS would not activate any additional capacity unless assured that the stability and safety of the prison would not be affected.”
Key Quotes
“Every death in custody is a tragedy, and I recognise the profound distress and grief these deaths will have caused.”
“HMPPS accepts that progress remains fragile and that continued focus is required to embed sustained improvement and ensure the safety of prisoners and staff remains the overriding priority.”
“… further accelerating the window replacement programme would require whole-wing decants at HMP and YOI Parc. Due to capacity pressures across the estate, this would involve transferring individuals to other prisons, leading to unnecessary disruption.”
“The expansion is being project managed by a separate team within G4S and therefore will not take the focus away from the senior leadership at the prison in ensuring they make the necessary improvements to services at HMP and YOI Parc.”
“Any increase in capacity would be introduced gradually and in a phased, controlled way to ensure that this would not compromise the safety, stability or wellbeing of prisoners and prison staff.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗