Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what (a) safety measures and (b) additional support his Department has put in place to ensure the wellbeing of people in prisons during current extreme temperatures; and if he will make a statement.

Prisons are appropriately prepared and are well-versed at managing situations such as heatwaves. Heatwave guidance aligned to the Heatwave Plan for England was issued to the whole prison estate on 15th June and further advice issued on 15th July to all prison governors to support them with managing the situation at the local level.

As well as providing information on safety for the general prison population and for staff, the guidance covers support for vulnerable groups identified by the UK Health Security Agency as at greater risk in heatwaves. The guidance encourages joint working with NHS prison health services to identify and support people with vulnerabilities.