Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether vape pens have been used to start fires in prisons; and if he will make a statement.

There is evidence, as part of wider data collected on fires in prisons, which confirms vape pens have been used as a source of ignition.

We will never compromise on the safety of those in our care, and staff are trained to respond to emergency situations in a timely, appropriate manner. The Government is taking unprecedented action to improve safety in custody. We have invested significantly in increase staff numbers, recruiting an additional 4,366 (full time equivalent) prison officers between October 2016 and June 2019, surpassing our original target of 2,500. We will continue to recruit officers to ensure prisons are safe and decent.