Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the different categories of assaults that occur in prisons.

We publish extensive data about assaults. The most recent can be seen in Assaults in prison custody 2000 to 2017, at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/safety-in-custody-quarterly-update-to-june-2018.

That spreadsheet includes breakdowns by seriousness, assailant/victim type, weapons used and injuries sustained, as well as various demographic and offence and sentence-related factors. It also provides figures for each prison.

In order to improve safety, we have recruited 4,300 new prison officers over the last two years, with 1,400 more due to begin training soon. We are investing an extra £70 million to improve safety, security and decency, and we are equipping officers with PAVA incapacitant spray to help prevent serious harm to staff and prisoners when dealing with violent incidents. We are also tackling the drugs that we know are fuelling much of the violence in custody. This includes spending on new x-ray scanners, drug-detection dogs, phone-blocking technology and dedicated search teams.

In addition, the Government supported the recent Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act, which increases sentences for those who attack emergency workers, including prison officers.