Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he has plans to introduce variations in the standard service level agreement for contracted out services for Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service Occupational Health service.

The new standard service level agreement - with supplier OH Assist - for contracted out Occupational Health services for Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service has the flexibility for the introduction of future variations at any point during its four year duration, depending on operational need and in line with Public Contract Regulations.

As part of the Secretary of State’s strategy for prison reform, new freedoms have been afforded to Governors that enable prisons to leave national contracts, like the OH Assist Occupational Health Services contract, in order to make their own local arrangements.