Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Timpson on 10 December (HL2894), what plans they have to reform telephony arrangements in prison so costs to prisoners are reduced to help strengthen family and significant other relationships and to facilitate rehabilitation.

This Government is aware of the importance of allowing prisoners to maintain contact with family and other positive relationships, and the positive influence this can have on their wellbeing and rehabilitation. Provision of in-cell telephony is one of several ways that we enable that contact to take place.

We will shortly be commencing the reprocurement process to ensure continuation of a telephony service once our current contract terminates, and one of the key aims will be to ensure affordability for prisoners.