Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure prison staff, prisoners and visitors are adhering to social-distancing advice in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

In line with the latest Government advice, as of 24 March all non-essential activities in prisons involving groups of people should be stopped. This includes social visits, education, non-essential work, association, communal dining, periods of mass prisoner movement, religious services and access to the gymnasium. Guidance on these temporary measures has been issued to both staff and prisoners.