The main way that privatised prisons make money is by cutting staff and staff wages. We have all seen the terrible effect this has in the problems at HMP Birmingham. Order in the prison had completely broken down, this ultimately means that justice isn’t done and the chances of rehabilitation are slim to none.

Following the scandal the Government have reduced number of prisoners and increased staff in order to stabilise it. This has had a positive effect but it must become a permanent change, not just a temporary measure that gets quietly dropped at a later date.

This week, I asked Prisons Minister Rory Stewart whether, despite their failings, the prison would be handed back to G4S from the Government once the situation has stabilised. Disappointingly, his answer to my question on this suggests that they will. They have clearly learnt nothing from this scandal.