Great news PM focusing on prison reform: putting governors in charge, reforming education and ranking our prisons

I have long campaigned on prison reform and am really proud our PM is taking up the cause.

Explaining the need for reform in what No 10 is describing as the first speech from a prime minister focusing solely on prisons since John Major in the 1990s, Cameron will say: “The failure of our system today is scandalous.”

“Forty-six per cent of all prisoners will reoffend within a year of release; 60% of short-sentenced prisoners will reoffend within the same period. And current levels of prison violence, drug taking and self-harm should shame us all.

“In a typical week, there will be almost 600 incidents of self-harm; at least one suicide; and 350 assaults, including 90 on staff. This failure really matters.”

He will argue that reoffending costs the country up to £13bn a year. But Cameron will also make a moral case for a renewed focus on cutting reoffending through education and rehabilitation, saying that for too long governments have adopted an “out of sight, out of mind” approach to prisons.

“When I say we will tackle our deepest social problems and extend life chances, I want there to be no no-go areas. And that includes the 121 prisons in our country, where our social problems are most acute and people’s life chances are most absent,” he will say.

Even the Guardian approves:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/08/cameron-give-more-power-governors-prisons-shakeup
If you want to read more my book on prison reform, Doing Time, is still available in all good book shops.

Westminster this week

The N8 Universities event on Monday promises to show good examples of the collaborative working that underpins so much of what the northern powerhouse is about. Leeds, Liverpool, York, Sheffield, Newcastle, Lancaster, Durham and Manchester universities are all coming together to showcase their collective skills of research and innovation. I also have meetings at the department for transport. We have multiple commons debates and I have meetings galore most notably the events on Wednesday to support apprenticeships, and in support of dementia research and treatment as organised by the Alzheimer's society.

Action on the flood problems that Hexhams Tyne Green suffered

In December the area around Hexham Tyne Green flooded badly when the Tyne flooded the golf course and then went through the underpass under the railway. Many houses and several businesses were severely flooded. Last week we held a successful meeting in Hexham with Network Rail, key members of the NCC team, Northumbria Water, the Environment Agency and several local residents. It was a very productive meeting and my thanks to everyone who attended. The proposal is to construct a flood barrier that continmues to permit the right of way but provides protection to the residents and businesses.