To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of health and safety conditions in prisons for staff.

We do not underestimate the challenges faced by all staff working in prisons and continue to support our staff to help them maintain safe, decent and secure prisons. Standards of Health and Safety for prison staff are actively monitored, considered and acted upon on an ongoing basis. It is important to recognise that the health and safety of prison staff is closely influenced by the arrangements in place to manage the security, safety, conditions, behaviour and experience of prisoners in those same communities. Most recently, assessments relating to the risk of violence, fire safety, secondary impacts of drug misuse, staff wellbeing, infection and pandemic control and facilities are driving a range of improvement measures and activities that will influence prison staff’s experience of health and safety at their workplaces.

In support of staff safety, we are now rolling out the use of PAVA spray and police style rigid bar handcuffs, which is in addition to other measures such as the increased staffing numbers and investment in drug and mobile phone detection should improve health and safety conditions in prisons.