Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce drug use in prisons in Hull.

Our landmark Drugs Strategy published in December 2021, is an ambitious cross government 10-year plan to address illegal drug use in both prison and the community.

We are investing a further £120m to keep drugs out of prisons and get offenders off drugs and into recovery, including in HMP Hull. This includes expanding the use of Incentivised Substance-Free Living units where prisoners commit to remain drug-free and undergo regular drug tests, rolling out up to 18 new Drug Recovery Wings which will support those recovering from opiate misuse to become abstinent, and recruiting Health and Justice Coordinators across all probation regions to ensure continuity of care for prison leavers.

Our £100m Security Investment Programme, aimed at reducing crime in prisons, was completed in March 2022. This investment included delivery of 75 additional X-ray body scanners, resulting in full coverage across the closed adult male estate. There are now 97 scanners across 95 prisons, including HMP Hull.