Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to provide (a) personal protective equipment, (b) covid-19 tests and (c) covid-19 vaccinations to prison officers.

The Government is very clear that our prison staff are vital key workers, and many are going above and beyond the call of duty to keep the public, their colleagues, and prisoners safe.

HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) staff are maintaining social distancing of two metres wherever possible. However, we are following the public health advice on the use of medical face masks alongside other items of personal protective equipment (PPE) where close contact is sustained, essential and unavoidable. We have worked closely with suppliers to ensure adequate supply of soap, cleaning materials, and PPE for staff. HMPPS also issued a face mask strategy for staff and prisoners which sets out when face coverings must be worn.

A comprehensive regular testing regime of both staff and prisoners is in place across the estate and is key in helping to prevent the spread of the virus.

Vaccines are at the centre of the Government’s plan to ensure life can return to as normal as soon as possible. As we have done since the beginning of the pandemic, we are working very closely with public health bodies and the NHS to plan collaboratively for future vaccine delivery. During the first phase of vaccine delivery, priorities have been decided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and those priorities apply equally to prison staff who fall within the groups identified. We are currently in discussion with the Department of Health and Social Care about how and when priorities for vaccinations in future phases of delivery will be administered to prisoners and prison staff