Minister for prisons and CFPSI to give evidence on prison fire safety

As part of its inquiry into fire safety in prisons, the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee will tomorrow be holding an evidence session with the Crown Premises Fire Safety Inspectorate (CFPSI), as well as a second session with the Minister for Prisons, Lord Timpson and the CEO of HMPPS.  

Giving evidence at 10:30am will be: 

• Andrew Fry, Chief Inspector (joint), CFPSI 

• Lee Howell, Chief Inspector (joint), CPFSI 

• Justin Ashburn, Team Leader for Custodial Premises, CPFSI 

Possible questions include:

• What assessment has been made of the fire safety risk in prisons? 

• What is the right balance between prevention, detection, and suppression?  

• Do prison staff have the right fire safety training and equipment, and are staff accessing the training they need? 

• Is the Fire Safety Order fit for purpose? Does it need updating?  

• Does the CPFSI have the right enforcement powers?  

• How does the CPFSI work with other bodies (e.g. HMIP, Coroners inquests etc)?  

Giving evidence at 11:30am will be:

• Lord Timpson OBE, Minister for Prisons, Probation, and Reducing Reoffending 

• James McEwen, CEO, HM Prisons and Probation Service 

Possible eareas of questioning include: 

• Fire safety risk in prisons, including the risk of overcrowding; 

• How to prevent fires in prisons; 

• Inspection, oversight and enforcement of fire safety in prisons; 

• Staff training and fire drills; 

• Transparency of fire safety information; 

• Fire safety in private prisons vs public prisons. 

The sessions will take place on Tuesday 30 June 2026 and can be followed live on Parliament TV.