Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his Department's policy was on temporary release from prison over the Christmas 2020 period.

By providing opportunities to work, learn and build family ties, release on temporary licence (ROTL) from prison helps prevent offenders from returning to crime when they leave prison.

Most ROTL has been suspended during the pandemic to help limit the spread of the virus and protect the NHS. Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has worked closely with public health authorities to plan when and where to re-introduce ROTL safely. Resumption of the full range of ordinary ROTL activities, including release to domestic addresses, has not been possible to date and temporary release is currently limited to essential work and compassionate reasons, such as accessing medical treatment.