Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison cell fires there were in 2025, broken down by institution.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
The information requested is provided in the following table:
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The overwhelming majority of the cell fires were classed as ‘minor’ and were quickly dealt with by staff. Medical assessment is provided to anyone who may have been exposed to smoke or heat. Where it is found that a fire is the result of arson, or recklessness, the prisoner responsible will face robust punitive action, which can include further criminal charges. All operational staff receive training in responding to fire incidents, including the use of specialist safety and firefighting equipment. |
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the findings of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons regarding release date errors at HMP Pentonville.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
Releases in error have been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government.
The Government is determined to fix the issue of mistaken releases and ensure the public is properly protected and on 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point action plan setting out initial steps to address the issue.
Work is already underway to address the areas identified for improvement by the Inspectorate. This includes establishing a specialist headquarters team to provide guidance to prisons to mitigate the risk of early or late releases, which is actively supporting HMP Pentonville as part of the Urgent Notification response.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which prisons have humanist pastoral support provided through prison chaplaincy services.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
We recognise and respect the right of prisoners to register and practice their faith or belief while in custody. Chaplaincy plays a critical and unique role in the work of prisons and the life of prisoners. It not only provides advice on faith and belief matters but also offers pastoral care regardless of an individual’s faith or belief, in support of HM Prison and Probation Service’s commitment to decency, safety and rehabilitation.
Specifically Humanist/Non-Religious pastoral support is available from chaplains at the following prisons:
Aylesbury
Bullingdon
Channings Wood
Dovegate
Durham
Frankland
Highpoint
Isis
Pentonville
Stafford
Wayland
Wormwood Scrubs
Asked by: Pete Wishart (Scottish National Party - Perth and Kinross-shire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Immigration Officers are were employed in the operational arm of the Foreign National Offender Returns Command Immigration Prison Team on 29 August 2025; which prisons those officers are based in; and whether they are located (a) within the prison estate, (b) in embedded hubs or (c) in other facilities.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Home Office does not hold central data on the number of visits conducted by immigration officers in UK prisons.
However, as of 29 August 2025, there were 77 Immigration Officers employed by Foreign National Offender Returns Command. These officers are located within the Immigration Prison Team (IPT), which covers all prisons in the UK. Most of the IPT’s officers are based in prisons. Some are located in Home Office premises, from where they conduct prison visits.
The number of Immigration Officers embedded in a hub and the prisons they cover are:
Embedded Hub | Prisons Covered | Number of IOs (some of which will be part-time) |
HMPs Pentonville and The Mount | HMPs Pentonville & The Mount Feltham YOI HMP Ford HMP Lewes | 7 |
HMP The Verne | HMP The Verne HMP Ashfield HMP Bristol HMP Cardiff HMP Channings Wood HMP Eastwood Park HMP Erlestoke HMP Exeter HMP Guys Marsh HMP Leyhill HMP Parc HMP Swansea HMP Usk HMP Prescoed | 4 |
HMP Highpoint | HMP Highpoint HMP Bure HMP Chelmsford HMP Hollesley Bay HMP LIttlehey HMP Norwich HMP Peterborough (Female) HMP Warren Hill HMP Wayland HMP Whiteland | 5 |
HMP Hewell | HMP Hewell HMP Birmingham HMP Brinsford HMP Dovegate HMP Drake Hall HMP Featherstone HMP Foston Hall HMP Long Lartin HMP Oakwood HMP Onley HMP Rye Hill HMP Stafford HMP Stoke Heath HMP Sudbury HMP Swinfen Hall | 9 |
HMP Risley | HMP Risley HMP Altcourse HMP Berwyn HMP Buckley Hall HMP Forest Bank HMP Garth HMP Haverigg HMP Hindley HMP Kirkham HMP Lancaster Farms HMP Liverpool HMP Manchester HMP Preston HMP Styal HMP Thorn Cross HMP Wymott | 6 |
HMP Moorland | HMP Moorland HMP Fosse Way HMP Gartree HMP Hatfield HMP Hull HMP Humber HMP Leicester HMP Lindholme HMP Nottingham HMP Whatton HMP Ranby | 6 |
HMP Maidstone | HMP Maidstone HMP Cookham Wood HMP East Sutton Park HMP Elmley HMP Rochester HMP Standford Hill HMP Swaleside | 5 |
HMP Huntercombe | HMP Aylesbury HMP Bullingdon HMP Bedford HMP Five Wells HMP Grendon HMP Spring Hill HMP Woodhill | 5 |
HMP Wormwood Scrubs | HMP Wormwood Scrubs HMP Bronzefield HMP Winchester | 4 |
HMP Wandsworth | HMP Wandsworth HMP Brixton HMP Highdown | 4 |
HMP Morton Hall | HMP Morton Hall HMP Lincoln HMP Stocken HMP Lowdham Grange HMP North Sea Camp HMP Peterborough (Male) | 5 |
HMP Barlinnie | HMP Barlinnie HMP Addiewell HMP Castle HMP Huntly HMP Cornton Vale & YOI HMP Dumfries HMP Edinburgh HMP Glenochil HMP Greenock HMP Kilmarnock HMP Low Moss HMP Perth & YOI HMP Shotts HMP Stirling Polmont YOI N Ireland HMP Hydebank Wood HMP Maghaberry HMP Magilligan | 4 |
Asked by: Pete Wishart (Scottish National Party - Perth and Kinross-shire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visits by Immigration Officers have taken place in each Scottish prison in each year since 2015.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Home Office does not hold central data on the number of visits conducted by immigration officers in UK prisons.
However, as of 29 August 2025, there were 77 Immigration Officers employed by Foreign National Offender Returns Command. These officers are located within the Immigration Prison Team (IPT), which covers all prisons in the UK. Most of the IPT’s officers are based in prisons. Some are located in Home Office premises, from where they conduct prison visits.
The number of Immigration Officers embedded in a hub and the prisons they cover are:
Embedded Hub | Prisons Covered | Number of IOs (some of which will be part-time) |
HMPs Pentonville and The Mount | HMPs Pentonville & The Mount Feltham YOI HMP Ford HMP Lewes | 7 |
HMP The Verne | HMP The Verne HMP Ashfield HMP Bristol HMP Cardiff HMP Channings Wood HMP Eastwood Park HMP Erlestoke HMP Exeter HMP Guys Marsh HMP Leyhill HMP Parc HMP Swansea HMP Usk HMP Prescoed | 4 |
HMP Highpoint | HMP Highpoint HMP Bure HMP Chelmsford HMP Hollesley Bay HMP LIttlehey HMP Norwich HMP Peterborough (Female) HMP Warren Hill HMP Wayland HMP Whiteland | 5 |
HMP Hewell | HMP Hewell HMP Birmingham HMP Brinsford HMP Dovegate HMP Drake Hall HMP Featherstone HMP Foston Hall HMP Long Lartin HMP Oakwood HMP Onley HMP Rye Hill HMP Stafford HMP Stoke Heath HMP Sudbury HMP Swinfen Hall | 9 |
HMP Risley | HMP Risley HMP Altcourse HMP Berwyn HMP Buckley Hall HMP Forest Bank HMP Garth HMP Haverigg HMP Hindley HMP Kirkham HMP Lancaster Farms HMP Liverpool HMP Manchester HMP Preston HMP Styal HMP Thorn Cross HMP Wymott | 6 |
HMP Moorland | HMP Moorland HMP Fosse Way HMP Gartree HMP Hatfield HMP Hull HMP Humber HMP Leicester HMP Lindholme HMP Nottingham HMP Whatton HMP Ranby | 6 |
HMP Maidstone | HMP Maidstone HMP Cookham Wood HMP East Sutton Park HMP Elmley HMP Rochester HMP Standford Hill HMP Swaleside | 5 |
HMP Huntercombe | HMP Aylesbury HMP Bullingdon HMP Bedford HMP Five Wells HMP Grendon HMP Spring Hill HMP Woodhill | 5 |
HMP Wormwood Scrubs | HMP Wormwood Scrubs HMP Bronzefield HMP Winchester | 4 |
HMP Wandsworth | HMP Wandsworth HMP Brixton HMP Highdown | 4 |
HMP Morton Hall | HMP Morton Hall HMP Lincoln HMP Stocken HMP Lowdham Grange HMP North Sea Camp HMP Peterborough (Male) | 5 |
HMP Barlinnie | HMP Barlinnie HMP Addiewell HMP Castle HMP Huntly HMP Cornton Vale & YOI HMP Dumfries HMP Edinburgh HMP Glenochil HMP Greenock HMP Kilmarnock HMP Low Moss HMP Perth & YOI HMP Shotts HMP Stirling Polmont YOI N Ireland HMP Hydebank Wood HMP Maghaberry HMP Magilligan | 4 |
Asked by: Pete Wishart (Scottish National Party - Perth and Kinross-shire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, where the embedded hubs for the Immigration Prison Teams are located; which prisons are included in each hub; and how many Immigration Officers are employed in each hub.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Home Office does not hold central data on the number of visits conducted by immigration officers in UK prisons.
However, as of 29 August 2025, there were 77 Immigration Officers employed by Foreign National Offender Returns Command. These officers are located within the Immigration Prison Team (IPT), which covers all prisons in the UK. Most of the IPT’s officers are based in prisons. Some are located in Home Office premises, from where they conduct prison visits.
The number of Immigration Officers embedded in a hub and the prisons they cover are:
Embedded Hub | Prisons Covered | Number of IOs (some of which will be part-time) |
HMPs Pentonville and The Mount | HMPs Pentonville & The Mount Feltham YOI HMP Ford HMP Lewes | 7 |
HMP The Verne | HMP The Verne HMP Ashfield HMP Bristol HMP Cardiff HMP Channings Wood HMP Eastwood Park HMP Erlestoke HMP Exeter HMP Guys Marsh HMP Leyhill HMP Parc HMP Swansea HMP Usk HMP Prescoed | 4 |
HMP Highpoint | HMP Highpoint HMP Bure HMP Chelmsford HMP Hollesley Bay HMP LIttlehey HMP Norwich HMP Peterborough (Female) HMP Warren Hill HMP Wayland HMP Whiteland | 5 |
HMP Hewell | HMP Hewell HMP Birmingham HMP Brinsford HMP Dovegate HMP Drake Hall HMP Featherstone HMP Foston Hall HMP Long Lartin HMP Oakwood HMP Onley HMP Rye Hill HMP Stafford HMP Stoke Heath HMP Sudbury HMP Swinfen Hall | 9 |
HMP Risley | HMP Risley HMP Altcourse HMP Berwyn HMP Buckley Hall HMP Forest Bank HMP Garth HMP Haverigg HMP Hindley HMP Kirkham HMP Lancaster Farms HMP Liverpool HMP Manchester HMP Preston HMP Styal HMP Thorn Cross HMP Wymott | 6 |
HMP Moorland | HMP Moorland HMP Fosse Way HMP Gartree HMP Hatfield HMP Hull HMP Humber HMP Leicester HMP Lindholme HMP Nottingham HMP Whatton HMP Ranby | 6 |
HMP Maidstone | HMP Maidstone HMP Cookham Wood HMP East Sutton Park HMP Elmley HMP Rochester HMP Standford Hill HMP Swaleside | 5 |
HMP Huntercombe | HMP Aylesbury HMP Bullingdon HMP Bedford HMP Five Wells HMP Grendon HMP Spring Hill HMP Woodhill | 5 |
HMP Wormwood Scrubs | HMP Wormwood Scrubs HMP Bronzefield HMP Winchester | 4 |
HMP Wandsworth | HMP Wandsworth HMP Brixton HMP Highdown | 4 |
HMP Morton Hall | HMP Morton Hall HMP Lincoln HMP Stocken HMP Lowdham Grange HMP North Sea Camp HMP Peterborough (Male) | 5 |
HMP Barlinnie | HMP Barlinnie HMP Addiewell HMP Castle HMP Huntly HMP Cornton Vale & YOI HMP Dumfries HMP Edinburgh HMP Glenochil HMP Greenock HMP Kilmarnock HMP Low Moss HMP Perth & YOI HMP Shotts HMP Stirling Polmont YOI N Ireland HMP Hydebank Wood HMP Maghaberry HMP Magilligan | 4 |
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison cell fires there were in 2024, broken down by institution.
Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Vice Chamberlain (HM Household) (Whip, House of Commons)
The overwhelming majority of the cell fires were considered ‘minor’ and quickly dealt with by staff, and medical assessment is provided for anyone who may have been exposed to smoke or heat. Where it is found that a fire is the result of arson, or of recklessness, the prisoner responsible will face robust punitive action, which can include further criminal charges. All operational staff receive Respiratory Protective Equipment training. Prison officers receive it as part of their Prison Officer Entry Level Training.
The requested information is provided in the table below:
Prison | Number of fires |
HM Prison Altcourse | 39 |
HM Prison Ashfield | 0 |
HM Prison Askham Grange | 2 |
HM Prison Aylesbury | 11 |
HM Prison Bedford | 55 |
HM Prison Belmarsh | 17 |
HM Prison Berwyn | 53 |
HM Prison Birmingham | 48 |
HM Prison Brinsford | 49 |
HM Prison Bristol | 48 |
HM Prison Brixton | 19 |
HM Prison Bronzefield | 36 |
HM Prison Buckley Hall | 5 |
HM Prison Bullingdon | 72 |
HM Prison Bure | 1 |
HM Prison Cardiff | 2 |
HM Prison Channings Wood | 13 |
HM Prison Chelmsford | 16 |
HM Prison Coldingley | 4 |
HM Prison Cookham Wood | 2 |
HM Prison Dartmoor | 1 |
HM Prison Deerbolt | 23 |
HM Prison Doncaster | 45 |
HM Prison Dovegate | 73 |
HM Prison Downview | 2 |
HM Prison Drake Hall | 1 |
HM Prison Durham | 16 |
HM Prison East Sutton Park | 1 |
HM Prison Eastwood Park | 3 |
HM Prison Elmley | 30 |
HM Prison Erlestoke | 17 |
HM Prison Exeter | 13 |
HM Prison Featherstone | 3 |
HM Prison Feltham | 31 |
HM Prison Five Wells | 68 |
HM Prison Ford | 0 |
HM Prison Forest Bank | 137 |
HM Prison Fosse Way | 33 |
HM Prison Foston Hall | 7 |
HM Prison Frankland | 4 |
HM Prison Full Sutton | 22 |
HM Prison Garth | 27 |
HM Prison Gartree | 13 |
HM Prison Grendon | 1 |
HM Prison Guys Marsh | 78 |
HM Prison Hatfield | 1 |
HM Prison Haverigg | 1 |
HM Prison Hewell | 10 |
HM Prison High Down | 19 |
HM Prison Highpoint | 37 |
HM Prison Hindley | 24 |
HM Prison Hollesley Bay | 1 |
HM Prison Holme House | 41 |
HM Prison Hull | 22 |
HM Prison Humber | 67 |
HM Prison Huntercombe | 15 |
HM Prison Isis | 35 |
HM Prison Isle of Wight | 20 |
HM Prison Kirkham | 0 |
HM Prison Kirklevington Grange | 0 |
HM Prison Lancaster Farms | 6 |
HM Prison Leeds | 31 |
HM Prison Leicester | 23 |
HM Prison Lewes | 42 |
HM Prison Leyhill | 0 |
HM Prison Lincoln | 5 |
HM Prison Lindholme | 96 |
HM Prison Littlehey | 3 |
HM Prison Liverpool | 32 |
HM Prison Long Lartin | 33 |
HM Prison Lowdham Grange | 79 |
HM Prison Low Newton | 0 |
HM Prison Maidstone | 3 |
HM Prison Manchester | 53 |
HM Prison Moorland | 9 |
HM Prison Morton Hall | 4 |
HM Prison New Hall | 2 |
HM Prison Northumberland | 9 |
HM Prison North Sea Camp | 0 |
HM Prison Norwich | 57 |
HM Prison Nottingham | 20 |
HM Prison Oakwood | 42 |
HM Prison Onley | 26 |
HM Prison Parc | 65 |
HM Prison Pentonville | 28 |
HM Prison Peterborough | 40 |
HM Prison Portland | 26 |
HM Prison Prescoed | 2 |
HM Prison Preston | 12 |
HM Prison Ranby | 49 |
HM Prison Risley | 16 |
HM Prison Rochester | 24 |
HM Prison Rye Hill | 0 |
HM Prison Send | 0 |
HM Prison Spring Hill | 2 |
HM Prison Stafford | 1 |
HM Prison Standford Hill | 2 |
HM Prison Stocken | 20 |
HM Prison Stoke Heath | 6 |
HM Prison Styal | 26 |
HM Prison Sudbury | 2 |
HM Prison Swaleside | 116 |
HM Prison Swansea | 3 |
HM Prison Swinfen Hall | 19 |
HM Prison Thameside | 70 |
HM Prison The Mount | 13 |
HM Prison The Verne | 1 |
HM Prison Thorn Cross | 1 |
HM Prison Usk | 0 |
HM Prison Wakefield | 17 |
HM Prison Wandsworth | 98 |
HM Prison Warren Hill | 1 |
HM Prison Wayland | 22 |
HM Prison Wealstun | 56 |
HM Prison Werrington | 15 |
HM Prison Wetherby | 23 |
HM Prison Whatton | 0 |
HM Prison Whitemoor | 23 |
HM Prison Winchester | 23 |
HM Prison Woodhill | 83 |
HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs | 6 |
HM Prison Wymott | 11 |
Total | 2931 |
Data source: HMPPS Fire Reporting Tool, Sphera Cloud
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2023 to Question 5663 on Garth Prison: Education, how (a) many hours of teaching time were lost and (b) much money was recovered from education providers as a result of prison education classes not going ahead in HMP (i) Garth, (ii) Bristol, (iii) Pentonville and (iv) Ranby during the second quarter of the 2023-24 financial year.
Answered by Edward Argar
We have introduced robust contractual levers into the current education contract which has seen a decrease in the teaching time lost through the education provider. The introduction at site level of Heads of Education, Skills and Work will increase the focus on ensure operational staff are able to ensure learners arrive in education.
The table below shows the number of planned learning hours lost in the second quarter of 2023-24 due teacher vacancy or sickness (Ed), or for operational reasons (Op), at HMP Bristol, HMP Garth, HMP Pentonville and HMP Ranby.
Learning hours lost, 1 July – 30 September 2023
HMP | Hours lost (Ed) | Hours lost (Op) |
Bristol | 263 | 134 |
Garth | 183 | 140 |
Pentonville | 53 | 507 |
Ranby | 8 | 376 |
Total | 507 | 1157 |
*These are preliminary data and have not yet been reconciled with the provider
In total, 507 hours of teaching were lost owing to a failure by the provider to deliver against the commissioned provision. £60,047 has been recovered from the providers. The cost of hours lost for operational reasons is not recoverable from the provider.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2023 to Question 1241 on Five Wells Prison: Education, how (a) many hours of teaching time were lost and (b) much money was recovered from education providers as a result of prison education classes not going ahead in HMP Five Wells in each of the last two quarters.
Answered by Edward Argar
We have introduced robust contractual levers into the current education contract which has seen a decrease in the teaching time lost through the education provider. The introduction at site level of Heads of Education, Skills and Work will increase the focus on ensure operational staff are able to ensure learners arrive in education.
The table below sets out the information requested for HMP Garth, HMP Bristol, HMP Pentonville, and HMP Ranby, for the first quarter of 2023-24. The data for Quarter 2 are in the process of quality assurance and validation, and are not currently available.
The education contract for HMP Five Wells is not managed by HMPPS. The information requested in relation to HMP Five Wells is therefore not available.
Quarter 1 2023-24
Prison | Education hours lost |
Garth | 397.5 |
Bristol | 187 |
Pentonville | 496 |
Ranby | 812 |
Prison | Amount recoverable from the provider (£) |
Garth | 4,998 |
Bristol | 1,681 |
Pentonville | 10,612 |
Ranby | 17,906 |
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2023 to Question 1242 on Garth Prison: Education, how (a) many hours of teaching time were lost and (b) much money was recovered from education providers as a result of prison education classes not going ahead in HMP Garth in each of the last two quarters.
Answered by Edward Argar
We have introduced robust contractual levers into the current education contract which has seen a decrease in the teaching time lost through the education provider. The introduction at site level of Heads of Education, Skills and Work will increase the focus on ensure operational staff are able to ensure learners arrive in education.
The table below sets out the information requested for HMP Garth, HMP Bristol, HMP Pentonville, and HMP Ranby, for the first quarter of 2023-24. The data for Quarter 2 are in the process of quality assurance and validation, and are not currently available.
The education contract for HMP Five Wells is not managed by HMPPS. The information requested in relation to HMP Five Wells is therefore not available.
Quarter 1 2023-24
Prison | Education hours lost |
Garth | 397.5 |
Bristol | 187 |
Pentonville | 496 |
Ranby | 812 |
Prison | Amount recoverable from the provider (£) |
Garth | 4,998 |
Bristol | 1,681 |
Pentonville | 10,612 |
Ranby | 17,906 |