Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the announcement on 15 May 2020 to introduce video calling in the absence of family visits to prisons, when his Department plans to roll out video calling to the remainder of prisons in England and Wales.

We have introduced temporary emergency video calling in recognition of the
importance of maintaining family contact while social visits have been temporarily suspended in
prisons in England and Wales. We have published information regarding the provision of video
calls on GOV.UK and made clear we will continue to expand secure video calling to more establishments during this time. Details of which prisons are operating live services for families and friends can be accessed via the following link;

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visit-a-prisoner-using-a-video-call

At the appropriate time, we will consider future options for video calling beyond
Covid-19 restrictions.