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Written question asked by Bishop of Gloucester (Bishops (affiliation)) on Monday, 12 January 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 January 2026. It was answered by Lord Timpson (Labour) on Monday, 19 January 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Prisons: Telephones

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government how much it costs per minute to make a call from (1) a prison wing payphone, and (2) an in-cell phone, to (a) a landline, and (b) a mobile phone, at (i) weekdays and (ii) weekends.

Answer

Calls from prison wing payphones and in-cell phones are charged at the same national rates.

Calls to UK landlines:

  • 2.48 pence per minute during the week midnight Sunday to midday Friday

  • 2.20 pence per minute during the weekend midday Friday to midnight Sunday

Calls to UK Mobiles

  • 5.50 pence per minute during the week Sunday to midday Friday

  • 3.60 pence per minute during the weekend midday Friday to midnight Sunday

The Ministry of Justice has reduced call rates in the public prison estate by negotiating a 20% reduction to all UK landline and UK mobile numbers. These rates have applied since 1 April 2025 and support the Department’s commitment to maintaining family contact.

Source: Ministry of Justice letter to the Justice Committee, July 2025: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/48682/documents/255236/default

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL13459
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Fees and charges Prisons Telephones
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk