Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect on public safety of the proposed early release of prisoners during the covid-19 outbreak.

Public protection is paramount; only risk-assessed prisoners who are within two months of their release date will be considered for temporary early release from jail.

No high-risk offenders, including those convicted of violent or sexual offences, anyone of national security concern or a danger to children, will be considered for release, nor any prisoners who have not served at least half their custodial term. Additionally, no offender convicted of COVID-19 related offences, including coughing at emergency workers or stealing personal protective equipment, will be eligible.

Prisoners who pass the stringent criteria for release will be subject to strict conditions, and will be electronically monitored, including with GPS tags, to enforce the requirement to stay at home. Offenders can be immediately recalled to prison for breaching these conditions or committing further offences.

No prisoner will be released early if they have symptoms of coronavirus or without housing and health support being in place.