Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Berwyn, published on 28 September 2021, what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) prison efficiency, (b) prison safety and (c) rehabilitation of the decision to design 70 per cent of cells at HMP Berwyn as double occupancy; and what lessons he has learnt from the experience of that design model at HMP Berwyn for the design of future prison buildings.

The perceived plastering problems at HMP Berwyn are the result of a painting defect. We are currently trialling different types and specifications of paint to identify the best solution to resolve the defective paint issues. The results from this trial will inform how we could avoid and tackle such issues should they occur in future builds.

Current and future prison builds will use a different heating system from that in use at HMP Berwyn, reflecting improvements in heating system technology and a more ambitious approach to sustainability.

Our new prison designs have incorporated the learning from HMP Berwyn and a wide range of other sources of evidence on what works to create secure, safe, and rehabilitative environments. The houseblocks are divided into smaller units rather than the large, galleried wings common in older prisons. Around 90% of prisoners in the new prisons will be held in single occupancy cells. Some double occupancy cells will be included due to the benefits that they provide for some prisoners.