Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2022 to question 33745 on Prisons, if he will take steps to ensure that all prisoners in England and Wales are afforded a minimum of at least one hour of outdoor exercise each day in compliance with the (a) United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, (b) European Prison Rules and (c) the standards of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

HMPPS recognises the importance to prisoners of outdoor exercise and spending time in the open air. Subject to weather conditions and the need to maintain good order and discipline, current policy provides for all prisoners to be afforded a minimum of 30 minutes in the open air daily. Governors strive to deliver above the minimum 30 minutes requirement where operationally possible, which means that many prisoners may regularly benefit from a greater amount of time in the open air, including through participation in activities/physical education and exercise. There are no immediate plans to review the policy.