Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to make it a criminal offence to knowingly communicate with a person detained in the criminal justice system using an electronic communications system.

It is already an offence to have or use a mobile phone in prison without authorisation. We therefore have no plans to create a new offence of knowingly communicating with someone in the criminal justice system using devices such as mobile phones.

We are taking urgent and decisive action to tackle the threat of illegal phones including detection dogs, body scanners and intelligence-led searches. We also continue to utilise Telecommunications Restriction Orders to block specific mobile phones being used in prisons.

To reduce demand for illicit mobile phones, we are also expanding the roll out of in-cell telephones. These operate under strict controls with the aim of improving rehabilitation, cutting crime and protecting the public.