Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many prisons have operational enhanced gate security funded by the Security Investment Programme, and whether they will publish the names of those prisons.

The Department is committed to taking every possible measure to strengthen prison security.

The Security Investment Programme was a £100 million investment to strengthen prison security. It was aimed at reducing crime in prisons, including the smuggling of illicit items such as drugs and other contraband.

Airport-style Enhanced Gate Security, comprising of metal detectors and X-ray baggage scanners, is used to search staff and visitors as they enter the prison. It is in use in 54 high-risk prison sites (both private and public sector), including all of the High Security prisons in the Long-Term High Security Estate. The Security Investment Programme funded Enhanced Gate Security to 42 of the total 54 high-risk prisons that have these physical countermeasures.

The following prisons have operational Enhanced Gate Security: