Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken to increase the availability of stop smoking support services in prisons that have implemented a smoking ban.

Prisons are rolling out the smoke free policy, subject to a series of assessments which will test the operational stability, readiness and health readiness of the prisons to implement the policy in a safe, decent and secure way.

As the roll out of the smoke free estate continues, each new cohort of prisons preparing to go smoke free must complete a state of readiness document which details that across the establishment everything is in place to ensure a smooth transition to a smoke free establishment. This includes the information sharing plan for the prisoner population, the increase in stop smoking services, and the availability of Nicotine Replacement Therapy, and e cigarettes.