To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing boxing programmes in prisons to improve the rehabilitation of prisoners.

I am passionate about the benefits that can be derived from participating in sport and physical activity in custody, which include building a prisoner’s confidence, providing purposeful activity and supporting engagement with rehabilitation when they (prisoners) are preparing for release.

My colleague Dr Lee has commissioned Professor Rosie Meek of Royal Holloway University of London to undertake a review of sport and physical activity in the youth justice estate. Her report will identify good practice and make recommendations about how we can make better use of all sports and physical activities across custody.