Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, under what circumstances HM Prison and Probation Service is authorised to withdraw the use of PAVA incapacitant spray from prisons.

PAVA is intended to protect staff and prisoners in very serious assaults. Safe implementation of PAVA use is accompanied by clear and explicit guidance ensuring staff are confident as to when PAVA spray should be used. We are closely monitoring the use across all prisons where it is available.

There are no defined circumstances where we would withdraw the use of PAVA from prisons, but have, and will continue to act and give support to prisons where we see an increase in use or determine that it is being used outside policy. A full evaluation of the roll out of PAVA is currently being undertaken to consider impacts.