Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government on how many occasions pelargonic acid vanillylamide incapacitant spray was (1) drawn, and (2) drawn and deployed, in prisons in (a) 2022, and (b) 2023, on individuals classified with the W3 Gypsy or Irish Traveller ethnicity code.

The requested information is shown in the table below.

Pelargonic acid vanillylamide incapacitant (PAVA) spray is made available to protect staff and prisoners in the adult estate in the event of serious violence, or where there is an imminent risk of serious violence. Clear guidance has been issued to staff, to ensure it is used only where appropriate. Our hardworking prison officers are brave public servants doing exceptionally difficult jobs, this Government will do everything we can to keep them safe.