Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to ensure faith and pastoral care guidance for prisoners is being upheld.

The Government recognises the importance that faith and belief can have in someone’s rehabilitation, and the role it can play in reducing re-offending. That is why we have been clear that we should include this in planning and work across prisons and probation, and with communities, to strengthen support available.

Faith and belief services, together with pastoral care in prison in England and Wales, are delivered by multi-faith Chaplaincy teams in all prisons and young offender institutions in the secure state, in accordance with the requirements of the Prison Act 1952, the Prison Rules 1999, the Young Offender Rules 2000 and Prison Service Instruction 05/2016 Faith and Pastoral Care of Prisoners.

The delivery of these services is monitored through Quality, Assurance and Development visits to prisons, inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, and the annual reports of prison Independent Monitoring Boards.