COVID-19 presents a unique set of challenges that we must address in order to maintain the provision of services in custody. As ever, the safety of our staff and those in our care remains of primary concern, and we are doing all that we can to protect them. Prisons have existing, well-developed policies and procedures in place to manage outbreaks of infectious diseases. We have also been working closely with Public Health and NHS services to put robust contingency plans in place in response to the specific risks posed by COVID-19.<\/p>
Prisons are currently operating under temporarily restricted regimes so we can implement the Government\u2019s measures to encourage the public to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. Staff are being re-deployed, where appropriate, from headquarters into operational roles. The Government also recently announced an extension of testing to prison and probation staff. Staff who had been self-isolating because they or a member of their household have symptoms of coronavirus will be able to return to work where they test negative.<\/p>
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. Around 60% of the prison estate now has access to in-cell telephony and for those that do not, we have rolled out 900 locked mobile phone handsets.<\/p>
We have also worked with Prison Education Framework providers and local prison teams to collate distraction packs and in-cell activities.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4517", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lucy Frazer"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South East Cambridgeshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lucy Frazer"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-04-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-04-27T13:14:45.443Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-03-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prisons: Coronavirus"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure security in prisons in the event that prison staff become infected with covid-19.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"} ], "uin" : "34330"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1187545", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1187545/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Volunteers are not required to carry any documentation.<\/strong><\/p> We expect people to abide by these new restrictions in order to protect lives and save the NHS. The police will be given the powers to enforce these measures using their judgment on when it is appropriate to enforce them. We have not introduced documentation but we are keeping the situation under review and the Home Secretary has indicated that the government will take further steps if necessary.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4495", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kit Malthouse"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Hampshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kit Malthouse"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-04-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-04-28T15:21:28.867Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-03-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Voluntary Work: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what documentation volunteers who are assisting people who are self-isolating are required to carry in order to demonstrate to the police and other authorities that they are conducting necessary actions in their community.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"}
], "uin" : "34331"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1187602", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1187602/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Transport in London is devolved. The Government has issued guidance and we are working closely with TfL on their response to the Covid-19 crisis, which is focused on targeted operational interventions on the tube network and supporting rail network. Data on passenger numbers shows a significant reduction, with tube travel down 96% compared to last year (as of 26 April).<\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4668", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachel Maclean"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Redditch"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rachel Maclean"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-04-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-04-27T15:09:15.957Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-03-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Transport: Greater London"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requisitioning control of transport services in London during the covid-19 outbreak.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"}
], "uin" : "34334"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1187606", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1187606/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government is committed to supporting people\u2019s jobs and incomes, and we are working with businesses and unions to achieve this.<\/p> <\/p> Retail workers fall within two distinct categories, those who work in non-essential retail such as clothing and electronic stores, and those who work in essential retail such as food, fuel, pharmacy, and post offices. On Monday 23rd<\/sup> March, the Prime Minister announced further measures to reduce social contact and expanded the list of business closures to include non-essential retail. Retail workers who work in the sale of food are considered key workers.<\/p> <\/p> Construction workers play a crucial role in supporting our public services, maintaining the nation\u2019s infrastructure, and providing safe, decent homes for people to live in. Where construction sector workers cannot work from home, they should still go to work unless they are vulnerable.<\/p> <\/p> However, the Government is clear that construction activity should only continue where it can take place in line with the guidance provided by Public Health England. Through the Construction Leadership Council, the construction industry has issued Site Operating Procedures to set out how this can be done.<\/p> <\/p>