Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Prisons

Monday 27 April 2020 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 6 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial assurances were given regarding the adequate supply of personal protective equipment for prison officers.
  • Feedback from prison officers in Suffolk and Norfolk indicated social distancing guidelines were not being followed and there was a limited supply of PPE.
  • The Secretary of State instructed all prison staff to adhere strictly to the guidelines set out by HMPPS to prevent over-enthusiasm from undermining safety measures.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alan Mak Con Havant
Justice & Courts NHS
Context

The Member of Parliament inquired about measures being implemented to prevent and control the spread of coronavirus within prisons.

Question

Prison officers, including those from Havant, are working on the frontline to tackle covid-19 on the prison estate. Can my right hon. and learned Friend assure me that they have the right protective clothing and equipment to keep them safe?

Answer from Robert Buckland (The Secretary of State for Justice)

Indeed, we continue to focus effort on ensuring that we have an adequate supply of personal protective equipment in all its forms and reliable supply chains too. Our reporting shows that we have a sufficient level of supply to meet our current forecast demand position on most items, including aprons, eye protection, gloves, masks and hand sanitiser. We are currently running low, however, on coveralls, where there is a shortfall in the low thousands.

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Q2 Peter Aldous Con Barrhead and Erskine
Justice & Courts
Context

The Member of Parliament inquired about measures being implemented to prevent and control the spread of coronavirus within prisons.

Question

I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that answer. The feedback that I am receiving from officers working in prisons in Suffolk and Norfolk is that social distancing guidelines are not being adhered to and that there is a limited amount of PPE, with a notable absence of face masks. Can he assure the House that he will work with prison officers and their representatives to address those understandable worries?

Answer from Robert Buckland (The Secretary of State for Justice)

My hon. Friend can be assured that my officials work closely with the Prison Officers Association. The restricted regimes we have put in place mean that prisoners are spending more of their time in their cells, to support social distancing. When they are allowed out of their cells—for example, for exercise, association or showering—it is on a rota basis, in small, manageable groups supervised by officers, allowing for social distancing to be maintained.

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Q3 Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Sunderland West
Justice & Courts
Context

The Member inquired about assessments made by the Department regarding the readiness of UK prisons to handle a potential coronavirus pandemic.

Question

While most prisons are taking every precaution to prevent the spread of covid-19, union sources report that some rogue governors are attempting to return to business-as-usual practices, such as unlocking large numbers of prisoners and restarting training courses. Does the Secretary of State condemn that reckless behaviour and agree that all governors should be following official guidance, without exception?

Answer from Robert Buckland (The Secretary of State for Justice)

The hon. Lady is right to point out the danger of over-enthusiasm going ahead of the guidance. My advice—my instruction—to everybody involved in this is to stick to the guidelines set out clearly by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service.

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Q4 Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley Central
Justice & Courts Employment
Context

The Member thanked the Secretary of State for his tribute to prison workers and requested a statement recognizing their sacrifices on International Workers' Memorial Day.

Question

Tomorrow the nation will mark International Workers' Memorial Day with a minute's silence, to pay tribute to workers—including prison officers —who have lost their lives while protecting us. Will the Secretary of State join me in recognising the dedication and sacrifice of our prison staff and thank them for performing a vital public service while putting their own health and safety at risk?

Answer from Robert Buckland (The Secretary of State for Justice)

I am extremely grateful to the hon. Gentleman for reminding the House and the country of the sacrifice made by many dedicated public workers, including our incredible prison staff. I will be speaking again to the Prison Officers Association later this afternoon to extend my continued thanks to them and their members for their dedication.

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Q5 Bob Neill Con Chair of the Select Committee on Justice
Justice & Courts
Context

The Chair expressed concern about strain placed upon overcrowded prisons and requested confirmation that targeted early release measures will be taken to comply with legal obligations.

Question

Does my right hon. and learned Friend accept that although the rates of infection are mercifully much lower than expected and anticipated—we are glad of that—very great strain is none the less being placed particularly upon overcrowded, older and Victorian and local prisons, which are frequently carrying far more prisoners than they were intended for? Will he confirm that the Government will use all measures, including, where appropriate, targeted early release, to meet our legal responsibilities in domestic and European law to protect the welfare of prisoners in the state's custody and that of staff employed to carry out their duties in safeguarding those prisoners?

Answer from Robert Buckland (The Secretary of State for Justice)

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for pointing out the vital importance of maintaining HMPPS's current approach... He is right to point out the early release scheme. It is but a part of a co-ordinated strategy that has included the compartmentalisation of prisoners to prevent the seeding and feeding of the infection, and that, together with the increased capacity we are developing at pace, plus a reduction in the overall number of prisoners in the estate, has helped us reach a position where, while we are not out of the woods, we are coping and dealing well with the threat of covid-19.

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Q6 David Lammy Lab Tottenham
Justice & Courts
Context

The shadow Secretary of State asks for an update on the number of released prisoners and deaths among prison staff and inmates.

Question

He requests details on the current state of the early release programme, highlighting the importance of a clear exit strategy to manage tensions in prisons during the pandemic. He notes that under current restrictions, prisoners cannot remain confined for 23 hours daily, posing risks to both them and prison staff.

Answer from Robert Buckland (Secretary of State for Justice)

Welcomes the shadow Secretary back to his position; confirms that 33 prisoners have been released so far from an initial target of up to 4,000. Acknowledges 15 prisoner deaths and five staff deaths due to covid-19 as of Saturday evening. Emphasizes ongoing compartmentalization efforts and increased capacity creation to manage prisoner numbers and reduce virus spread.

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