Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has issued guidance to prison officers on ensuring political neutrality.

All civil servants are contractually bound by the Civil Service Code to serve the Government of the day. In HMPPS, this is reinforced through the Outside Activities Policy and the Conduct and Discipline Policy. These require employees to remain politically neutral at all times and to avoid political activity on duty, in uniform or on official premises. Employees are signposted to guidance on conduct for civil servants at each election period and during party conference season to ensure clear expectations of behaviour.