Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the role of structured sport and physical activity in supporting rehabilitation outcomes.

We recognise that structured sport and physical activity can play an important role in supporting rehabilitation by improving physical and mental wellbeing, supporting positive behaviour, and encouraging engagement with wider rehabilitative activity.

All prisons are required to provide physical education. HMPPS promotes participation in activities supervised and organised as part of an establishment’s agreed physical education programme. While Prison Service Instruction 58/2011 Physical Education for Prisoners requires prisons to offer a range of sport and gym-based activity for a minimum of one hour per week for adults and two hours a week for children and young people, establishments are encouraged to align with the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendation of at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week. Provision is tailored across the adult and children’s secure estate. This includes developmentally appropriate physical education for children and young people delivered in partnership with the Youth Custody Service.

HMPPS works with national and community partners, including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, to complement physical activity delivered by PE staff. These partnerships support rehabilitation by improving health and wellbeing, building skills and encouraging positive engagement in custody and on release.

In the community, the Probation Service works with a range of partners to support access to physical activity as part of a wider rehabilitative offer.