Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) cases of covid-19 and (b) covid-19 related deaths there have been in each prison in Wales as at 1 February 2021.

COVID statistics relating to prisoners are published every month. The latest published data covers the time period up until 31^st Dec 2020 is provided below. The next monthly publication will cover data up to the end of Jan 2021 and will be published on 12^th Feb here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hm-prison-and-probation-service-covid-19-statistics-monthly.

The below cumulative positive cases of COVID-19 and COVID-19 related deaths have been confirmed for prisoners in prisons in Wales. All deaths listed have either had a laboratory confirmed positive test within 28 days of passing, a laboratory confirmed positive test within 60 days of passing or COVID 19 has appeared on the death certificate.

COVID statistics relating to staff are published every quarter. The latest published data covers the time period up until 31^st Oct 2020 and is provided below. The next statistical release will cover the time period up until the end of January 2021 and will be published on 18^th February here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-offender-management-service-workforce-statistics.

The below cumulative positive cases of COVID-19 and COVID-19 related deaths have been confirmed for staff in prisons in Wales:

These figures include both directly and non-directly employed staff. Data on positive cases is self-reported with staff members notifying their manager of a positive test result. Staff deaths related to COVID-19 includes deaths where HMPPS staff have died having tested positive for COVID-19 or where there was a clinical assessment that COVID-19 was a contributory factor in their death.

Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system. Much of the data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic has been done at pace, with recording practices evolving as we understand more about the requirements and conditions we are facing. In order to present the timeliest information, the data presented has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics.

The safety of our staff and all those under our supervision remains our top priority. We have taken quick and decisive action – backed by Public Health England and Wales – to limit the spread of the virus.