Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many probation regions are using shipping containers as site accommodation for unpaid work staff; and at how many sites such containers are being used.

Shipping containers are used at some Community Payback sites, primarily as storage facilities. Staff working at sites with shipping containers will also have access to a Probation building in their region for office and welfare facilities.

Following unification of the service in June 2021, we are continuing to review the Community Payback estate, this includes assessing what sites are used for, the facilities available, and any storage amenities on site, including the number of shipping containers.

At this stage we are not able to provide an exact breakdown of the number of shipping containers currently on Community Payback sites.