Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether prison transfers are being accepted to (a) HMP Spring Hill and (b) HMP Coldingley.

Both HMP Spring Hill and HMP Coldingley are currently accepting transfers.

In order to control the transmission of the virus, prisoners who are transferred to another prison are quarantined for 14 days upon arrival in order to manage any risks they might bring and protect the rest of a prison’s population. We are also testing all new arrivals and transfers twice in the first six days in all prisons across the estate. In addition, rapid point of care tests are being introduced in all prisons to enable prisoners to be tested prior to transfer. Any positive results or symptomatic prisoners are not transferred.

Whilst transfers into the majority of prisons have not ceased, specific prisons may have to temporarily pause their transfers in/out in the event of a declared outbreak. The timeframes associated with this pause, as well as the recovery measures required, are monitored nationally by HMPPS and taken in close consultation with public health bodies.