Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many audits of prisons for maintenance of fire safety equipment have returned a finding of (a) amber-red and (b) red in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

We recognise the importance of ensuring good quality of fire safety equipment, and since June 2016 Level 2 audits have been carried out at all 111 HMPPS prison establishments for the two fire Statutory and Mandatory Compliance Standards. Previously Service Providers had been responsible for assuring compliance, however accurate information for this period is not held.

The table below provides the numbers of prisons which currently have amber/red and red ratings for maintenance of fire safety equipment. Actions plans have been put in place to improve the condition of equipment at all these prisons.