Upon arrival, all prisoners receive a comprehensive fire safety induction covering the actions to take in the event of a fire and the risks and consequences associated with fire-setting behaviour. The quality and effectiveness of the induction process are subject to quarterly audits to ensure compliance and consistency across the prison estate.

All prisons have an adequate level of fire suppression. In the closed prison estate, 11 prisons are equipped with both fixed automatic and manual water misting systems: four of these have automatic systems in all cells, and seven have automatic systems installed in some cells, with manual provision in the remainder. The other 101 closed prisons are equipped with manual water misting systems.

H M Prison & Probation Service’s technical standards require all new closed prisons and secure accommodation blocks to be fitted with fixed automatic water misting systems in prison cells.

Upon arrival, all prisoners receive a comprehensive fire safety induction covering the actions to take in the event of a fire and the risks and consequences associated with fire-setting behaviour. The quality and effectiveness of the induction process are subject to quarterly audits to ensure compliance and consistency across the prison estate.

All prisons have an adequate level of fire suppression. In the closed prison estate, 11 prisons are equipped with both fixed automatic and manual water misting systems: four of these have automatic systems in all cells, and seven have automatic systems installed in some cells, with manual provision in the remainder. The other 101 closed prisons are equipped with manual water misting systems.

H M Prison & Probation Service’s technical standards require all new closed prisons and secure accommodation blocks to be fitted with fixed automatic water misting systems in prison cells.

The level of fire risk associated with prisoner possession of vape devices is continuously monitored through the national fire reporting system. Data gathered through this process has supported the introduction of a redesigned, lower-risk vape device, which has contributed to a 43% reduction in overall fire incidents

Other ignition sources are continuously monitored through the national fire reporting system. Analysis of incident data informs both behavioural and infrastructure-based interventions designed to reduce opportunities for fire-setting and mitigate associated risks. This includes preventative and protective measures across the estate, such as Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs), safer kettles, and the use of non-combustible furnishings, all of which are intended to reduce the likelihood of fire occurring and limit fire growth where incidents do occur.

The Prison Service has established a national working group to consider future policy options relating to vaping in prisons. This work remains at an early stage of development, and no decisions have been made. Several prisons in the north of England are also considering the practical implications of vape removal.

The Prison Service is considering the practical implications of vape removal. There are currently no active trials to prevent prisoners accessing vapes in prisons in the north of England.

Work is ongoing to establish a panel to support the Independent Review, in line with the appropriate appointment process. The panel will comprise individuals with the relevant expertise and experience to support the Review’s consideration of the matters set out in its Terms of Reference. Details of panel member appointments will be confirmed in due course.

His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service does not hold this information centrally. Individual prisons may choose to mark occasions such as Black History Month and Pride Month through local activities or events, but there is no central requirement for establishments to report these or to maintain a national record.

Under this Government, H M Prison & Probation Service has adopted a strategic approach to fire safety improvement across the prison estate, prioritising the installation of in-cell automatic fire detection (AFD) to minimise the risk of harm from fires as quickly as possible. This approach, which has resulted in approximately 4000 prison places being made fire safety compliant since July 2024, reflects the assessment that AFD provides the most significant immediate reduction in life safety risk by enabling the earliest possible identification of fire.

The current number of prison places with in-cell AFD is 70,975 out of a total of 89,795 operational places across the prison estate (79 per cent).

Under this Government, H M Prison & Probation Service has adopted a strategic approach to fire safety improvement across the prison estate, prioritising the installation of in-cell automatic fire detection (AFD) to minimise the risk of harm from fires as quickly as possible. This approach, which has resulted in approximately 4000 prison places being made fire safety compliant since July 2024, reflects the assessment that AFD provides the most significant immediate reduction in life safety risk by enabling the earliest possible identification of fire.

The current number of prison places with in-cell AFD is 70,975 out of a total of 89,795 operational places across the prison estate (79 per cent).

Provision of these groups is determined locally by Governors, in partnership with NHS providers, which are responsible for statutory mental health services. The Ministry of Justice has not formally evaluated or assessed the effectiveness of such groups to date.

H M Prison & Probation Service takes an evidence-informed approach to interventions, and recognises the contribution that well-structured peer support can play in rehabilitation.

The Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) approach to protecting the department and its data against cyber threats is contained in the MoJ's cyber security strategy (MoJ Cyber Security Strategy). This sets out how we aim to achieve our ambition to be government-leading in the provision of secure services, which includes prisons and courts data.

A range of recreational board games, including chess, is available to prisoners in five of the six prisons located in Wales. Chess facilities are currently available at HMP Cardiff, HMP Swansea, HMP Usk, HMP Prescoed and HMP Parc. HMP Berwyn does not currently have chess-related facilities. Access to chess study materials is also available through the prison library arrangements at HMP Usk and HMP Prescoed.

Information on individuals who have ceased to hold roles following changes to security vetting requirements is not routinely collated or reported centrally in the manner requested.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice does not centrally hold sufficiently robust or complete data on protected characteristics, including gender, in relation to vetting outcomes under PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014. Vetting and pre-employment checks are undertaken through a combination of HMPPS, Shared Services Limited, and other parallel processes.

While certain protected characteristic information may be held by third-party providers, HMPPS does not record the reasons individuals cease to hold roles, nor does it record such outcomes by gender within its management information systems. As a result, a consolidated and reliable breakdown of the number of women who have ceased to hold existing roles as a result of changes to vetting requirements introduced through PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014, is not available and therefore cannot be provided.

The Ministry of Justice is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and to ensuring that policies and operational practices comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty. Security vetting requirements are applied consistently and proportionately in accordance with national policy and business need.

All Ministry of Justice policies are subject to equality considerations, and an Equality Impact Assessment is completed before publication where required.

PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014 is a long-standing policy that was first published in 2014 and applies to staff and workers across prisons, HMPPS and providers of probation services. The policy is currently being revised and, as part of the redevelopment process, impacts on affected individuals will be considered. Any new policy will be subject to the appropriate Equality Impact Assessment requirements prior to publication.

The specific findings of the assessment undertaken when the policy was published are not currently in the public domain. HMPPS is unable to establish the detail of those findings in a timely manner as accurate, reliable data.

All Ministry of Justice policies are subject to equality considerations, and an Equality Impact Assessment is completed before publication where required.

PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014 is a long-standing policy that was first published in 2014 and applies to staff and workers across prisons, HMPPS and providers of probation services. The policy is currently being revised and, as part of the redevelopment process, impacts on affected individuals will be considered. Any new policy will be subject to the appropriate Equality Impact Assessment requirements prior to publication.

The specific findings of the assessment undertaken when the policy was published are not currently in the public domain. HMPPS is unable to establish the detail of those findings in a timely manner as accurate, reliable data.

All Ministry of Justice policies are subject to equality considerations, and an Equality Impact Assessment is completed before publication where required.

PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014 is a long-standing policy that was first published in 2014 and applies to staff and workers across prisons, HMPPS and providers of probation services. The policy is currently being revised and, as part of the redevelopment process, impacts on affected individuals will be considered. Any new policy will be subject to the appropriate Equality Impact Assessment requirements prior to publication.

The specific findings of the assessment undertaken when the policy was published are not currently in the public domain. HMPPS is unable to establish the detail of those findings in a timely manner as accurate, reliable data.

The Ministry of Justice does not centrally hold sufficiently robust or complete data on protected characteristics, including gender, in relation to vetting outcomes under PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014. Vetting and pre-employment checks are undertaken through a combination of HMPPS, Shared Services Limited, and other parallel processes.

While certain protected characteristic information may be held by third-party providers, HMPPS does not record vetting outcomes by gender within its management information systems. As a result, a consolidated and reliable breakdown of the number of women employed by organisations providing services to probation under contract who have been refused vetting clearance is not available and therefore cannot be provided.

The Ministry of Justice is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and to ensuring that policies and operational practices comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty. Security vetting requirements are applied consistently and proportionately in accordance with national policy and business need.

The Ministry of Justice publishes annual prison population projections for England and Wales in the Prison Capacity Annual Statement. The 2025 Annual Statement is available here: Annual Statement on Prison Capacity: 2025 - GOV.UK. The next Statement is scheduled for publication this winter.

We continually monitor the prison population and use a range of planning assumptions to monitor future demand of prison places. Our published and have established contingency arrangements should acute capacity pressures arise.

The Government has taken decisive action to put the prison system on a sustainable footing, including through the largest prison expansion programme since the Victorian era, and the landmark reforms in the Sentencing Act 2026, which ensure we will never again have more prisoners than prison places.

As set out in the annual statement, when the estimated impact of the Sentencing Act measures are factored in, supply is expected to keep pace with demand for the total adult estate.

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we are committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and aim to do so by 2031; we have already delivered c.3,200 of these since taking office.

No new prisons have been (a) planned or (b) approved since 5 July 2024.

However, since 5 July 2024, the delivery of c.1,080 places have been approved through the Small Secure Houseblocks programme at the following sites:

• HMP Northumberland

• HMP Lancaster Farms

• HMP Humber

• HMP Ranby

• HMP Onley

• HMP Erlestoke

We have also uplifted the Accelerated Houseblock Delivery Programme by c.125 places at HMP Wayland.