Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been admitted to prison since the start of the covid-19 lockdown on 23 March 2020; and how many of those prisoners were tested for covid-19 as part of the prison admission process.

Prison receptions data covering January – March 2020 is planned for publication in July 2020 and receptions data covering April – June 2020 is planned for publication in October 2020.

Although official statistical prison receptions data is unavailable at this time, our published management information suggests that as of 24th April, the prison population is 81,124[1], showing a reduction of 2,744 since 28th February 2020 and giving the estate headroom of 4,381. This data is not yet verified.

Although tests are conducted on symptomatic prisoners, COVID-19 testing is not as yet a routine part of the prison reception process. New cohorting strategies have been developed however, and as a result prisons are implementing units to isolate the sick, shield the vulnerable and cohort new arrivals to reduce risk of transmission.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-population-figures-2020