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Written question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbench) on Wednesday, 6 May 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 May 2020. It was answered by Lord Keen of Elie (Conservative) on Thursday, 21 May 2020 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Prison Visitors

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they estimate they will permit family visits to prisoners to resume.

Answer

As of 24 March, social visits in prisons in England and Wales are temporarily suspended to enable us to ensure the safe and secure functioning of our prisons, while enforcing social distancing. These measures are part of the nationwide efforts to fight coronavirus and we will review the restrictions in line with updates to public health advice.

In recognition of the importance of continued contact with family and to ensure stability in our jails, the Government has moved quickly to keep prisoners in touch with their family members. This includes the provision of 900 locked mobile phones to establishments that do not yet have in-cell telephony.

Additionally, on 15 May, the Government announced that secure video calls will be introduced to prisons and young offender institutions (YOIs) across England and Wales to maintain vital family contact for prisoners and young offenders during the coronavirus pandemic.

Following a successful trial at HMP Berwyn, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is installing the technology at 10 institutions with a wider rollout in the coming weeks.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL4119
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Prison visitors
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk