Written question asked by Andrew Murrison (Conservative) on Monday, 11 June 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 13 June 2007. It was answered by Gerry Sutcliffe (Labour) on Tuesday, 19 June 2007 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Prisons: Smoking

Question: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what assessment she has made of the impact on (a) security and (b) discipline of the terms of Prison Service Instruction 09/2007 that, where an inmate is smoking in a cell, a prison officer is not required to enter the cell until the cigarette smoke has dissipated from the location; what representations she has received in consequence of that condition; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: The arrangements set out in PSI 9/2007, which are required to comply with the Smoke Free Legislation (Health Act 2006), were operationally impact assessed by a group of senior operational managers, chaired by the deputy director general of the Prison Service, prior to implementation. Ministers have not received any representations on this matter.

Secondary information