Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Dartmoor, published in December 2023, what was the result of the radon inspection at HMP Dartmoor in 2020; and what steps were taken after this inspection.

HMPPS is continually investing in the prison estate to ensure that prisons remain safe, decent, and secure. Our investment each year ensures that all prisons will remain operational.

This includes the continuing programme to improve fire safety across the estate, as per our commitment to the Crown Premises Fire Safety Inspectorate to make all accommodation compliant by the end of 2027, major upgrades to security and investment in safety and decency across all prisons.

Radon occurs naturally in various parts of the UK including Dartmoor, and we monitor for its presence in accordance with HSE guidelines. Elevated radon readings were found at Dartmoor in 2020 in subterranean areas adjacent to the kitchen and workshops. Temporary mitigations have been in place at Dartmoor in those areas since 2022 following advice from specialist contractors, pending permanent mitigations that are near completion. Further specialist advice has been commissioned following the recent identification of elevated radon levels in some accommodation areas of the prison. We are closely monitoring radon levels on site and taking appropriate steps to ensure the safety of staff and prisoners.