Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what programmes are available in the prison service to help prisoners with gambling problems.

The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) commissions providers to deliver a broad range of high quality, accredited, interventions to address the particular risks and needs of offenders. With the introduction of “Through the Gate” services in May 2015, all prisoners irrespective of their sentence length are screened on entering prison for issues including debt and offered a package of support in prisons and on release to address their offending based on individual circumstances. Support available to problem gamblers includes debt advice but could also include referral to specialist organisations such as Gamblers Anonymous or Gamcare, as well as services provided through the chaplaincy and the Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) such as money management courses.

In addition, all prisoners are seen by healthcare services on reception and can be referred to mental health and addiction services to help address problem gambling.