Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to COVID-19: National Framework for Prison Regimes and Services, as updated on 18 August 2021, how the factors of (a) vaccination coverage, (b) immunity through previous infection and (c) low clinical risk, stated as contributing to low risks in prisons where covid-19 infection is present, will be measured; and who will have access to information about those factors for each prison.

Covid-19 continues to present a unique set of challenges that we must address to maintain services in custody and the community. We are working very closely with public health authorities to ensure our approach is based on the best scientific advice available. We have well-developed policies and procedures in place to manage outbreaks and infectious diseases.

The National Framework for Prison Regimes and Services sets out how decisions on progression between the various Regime Stages are taken. Ministers set national parameters, but decisions on the most appropriate stage for each individual establishment are taken locally, based on a holistic assessment of data, and overseen by the operational prison command structure. The assessment includes information supplied by local NHS healthcare teams on vaccination coverage and known health conditions in the prison, alongside local risk factors such as age demographics, community prevalence and staffing levels. All decisions are supported by advice and guidance from Public Health England and Wales.