theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_13

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether their Department plans to amend its policies on access to (a) toilets, (b) changing facilities and (c) other single-sex spaces in (i) Departmental buildings and (ii) other buildings within their Department’s remit following the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025. \p Andrew Western: The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Providers should note and follow the ruling.

It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling.

The Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers. Ministers will consider the EHRC’s updated draft once they have submitted it following further work in light of this ruling.

The Government is considering the implications of the Court’s judgment, including what this means for Government buildings.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_14

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people receiving disability benefits for Ménière's disease will be exempt from her proposed reforms to the benefits system. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Pathways to Work Green Paper set out a broad package of reforms to health and disability benefits and employment support. The functional impact and severity of a condition can significantly vary across individuals, so we are not planning for specific conditions to be exempt from the changes.

Our reforms will ensure the most vulnerable and severely disabled people are protected, while supporting those who can work to do so. As such, the eligibility changes to PIP will not affect those who are unable to complete activities at all, and for new claimants on the Universal Credit health element after April 2026, we are proposing that those with the most severe, life-long health conditions will see their incomes protected.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_16

Yuan Yang:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 45355 on Personal Independence Payment, if she will make an assessment of the (a) causes of the increase in claims for PIP to include (i) health related and (ii) behaviour related factors and (b) the rate of increase in economic inactivity due to long-term sickness and disability over the same period. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The number of new claims registered for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) increased from around 41,000 a month in 2019 to 74,000 a month in 2024.

The number of economically inactive people who cite long-term sickness or disability as their main reason for inactivity increased from around 2.1 million in the last quarter (October to December) of 2019 to 2.8 million in the last quarter of 2024.

It is not possible to assess the relative contribution of each of the potential causes of the increase in PIP claims because it is likely that many different drivers are interacting with each other, both in aggregate and for individual claimants.

However, we will continue to monitor potential drivers of new claims demand for PIP. These include higher prevalence and recognition of health conditions, whether that’s driven by the direct health impacts of the COVID-19 virus; indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns on physical health (through reduced activity) and mental health (through reduced social interaction and increased anxiety); impacts of subsequent labour market changes and cost of living pressures on health; or increases in NHS waiting times. These potential causes in turn may interact with behavioural factors including: cost of living pressures; greater awareness of disability benefits (in part due to cost of living); longer waits for NHS treatment; economically inactive people being more likely to report long-term illness or disability as their main reason for inactivity; and incentives in the benefit system that can encourage people to claim health-related benefits.

Sources:

(a) PIP new claim registrations taken from Stat-Xplore (Stat-Xplore - Log in), excluding Reassessments from Disability Living Allowance and excluding claims from people living in Scotland, because policy ownership was devolved to Scotland during this period.

(b) Estimates of economically inactive people by main reason are published by the Office for National Statistics in Table INAC01 SA of their Labour Market Overview (Labour market overview, UK - Office for National Statistics). Estimates are seasonally adjusted and relate to people aged 16-64 in the United Kingdom.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_17

Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people in receipt of Personal Independence Payments are also in receipt of Carer's Allowance. \p Sir Stephen Timms: According to the latest figures from August 2024, in England and Wales there were 3,512,676 people claiming Personal Independence Payment. Of these, 190,186, or 5.4%, also claimed Carer’s Allowance.

These figures include people who receive Carer’s Allowance payments, as well as people who have an entitlement to Carer’s Allowance but do not receive a payment usually because they also receive another benefit, such as the State Pension, which is paid at an equivalent or higher rate.

The source of these figures is the Benefits Combination Dataset on Stat-Xplore.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_18

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to review the Child Maintenance Service threshold for assessing (a) inheritance and (b) other non-earned income. \p Andrew Western: Information about the paying parent's gross income is taken directly from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for the latest tax year available. This allows calculations to be made quickly and accurately. Any income subject to income tax, including bonuses and overtime received by an employed paying parent, is included within their gross weekly income when calculating a child maintenance liability.

The Department has been conducting a review of the child maintenance calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose and reflects today’s social trends. The review will also consider the treatment of unearned income and assets within the automatic calculation. Unearned income and assets can still be captured through the current variation process up until changes are introduced.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_19

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of non-UK nationals who are in receipt of (a) Universal Credit and (b) other welfare payments on 22 April 2025, broken down by nationality. \p Andrew Western: Non-UK / Irish citizens can only access benefits like Universal Credit if they have an immigration status that provides recourse to public funds. Those without immigration status or with a no recourse to public funds condition on their status are not entitled. An individual’s specific nationality is not relevant to their claim.

The Department is exploring the feasibility of developing suitable statistics related to the immigration status of non-UK / Irish Universal Credit customers.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_20

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed reforms to Personal Independence Payment on households with (a) one and (b) more than one young carer. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_21

Yuan Yang:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help support employees facing redundancy at Moog Reading. \p Alison McGovern: The Get Britain Working White Paper focuses on building a thriving labour market, reducing economic inactivity and increasing the number of people in work, which is central to growing the economy.

DWP provides Rapid Redundancy Support (RRS) to both Employers and Individuals following notification from the National RRS team or via the DWP Strategic Relationship Team and Insolvency Service.

Local Employer Advisors will make contact with the Employers/Individuals to offer support as a matter of urgency. Support is tailored and can vary depending on the scale of the redundancy and the level of support required. This can include:
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_22

Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of freezing Local Housing Allowance on other areas of public expenditure. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The causes of homelessness are multi-faceted and often complex; they interact dynamically making it very difficult to isolate the relative importance of individual factors. We work closely with other departments, including MHCLG, to ensure the impacts of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) on homelessness and local government, are considered.

This included consideration in last year’s Autumn Budget not to increase LHA rates for 2025/26. Rental data, the impacts of LHA rates, rate increases in April 2024, and the wider fiscal context were all considered. The April 2024 one-year LHA increase cost an additional £1.2bn in 2024/25 and approximately £7bn over 5 years.

At last year’s Budget, funding for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) were maintained. These are available from local authorities and can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. The Autumn Budget also announced an increase in 2025/26 by £233 million compared to last year (FY2024-25) to grant funding for homelessness services. This increased spending will help prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation and help prevent rough sleeping. This brings total spend to nearly £1 billion in 2025-26.

The government will also invest £2bn in social and affordable housing in 2026-27, to deliver up to 18,000 new homes. This will immediately allow housing associations and local councils to bring bids forward for new developments in every part of the country.

We continue to work across government, including on the development of MHCLG’s Long Term Housing and Homelessness and Rough-sleeping strategies to ensure that interactions and impacts between departments are considered. The Inter-Ministerial Group on Homelessness and Rough-sleeping, for example, brings together ministers from across Government to drive progress on the strategy development and get back on track to ending homelessness.

Any future decisions on LHA policy will be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, goals on housing, including as part of the strategies mentioned above, and considered for prioritisation within the challenging fiscal context.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_23

Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the 21 day scrutiny period for his proposed Treaty with Mauritius over the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory. \p Stephen Doughty: This issue was the subject of correspondence between the Secretary of State and the Chair of the International Agreements Committee, which was published on the Committee's website: committees.parliament.uk/publications/46222/documents/231382/default/
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_24
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_24

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Poland on reports of the disappearance of Anzhelika Melnikava and her daughters. \p Stephen Doughty: I am concerned by reports of Angelika Melnikava's disappearance. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials are following the case closely. While the situation remains unclear, we have not raised this with the Polish government.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_25

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of (a) political repression and (b) reports of the disappearance of Anzhelika Melnikava. \p Stephen Doughty: We are appalled by the repression that the Lukashenko regime conducts against its own people. UK policy on Belarus seeks to support a more open society, democracy, and human rights, directly opposing political repression. In August 2024, the UK announced £2.5 million of funding to support Belarusian human rights and civil society causes in their work against political repression. Additionally, in January, the UK led a joint statement with Australia, Canada, the EU, and New Zealand, condemning the January presidential elections as a sham.

I am concerned by reports of Angelika Melnikava's disappearance. FCDO officials are following the case closely.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_26
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_26

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of planned reductions to the Official Development Assistance budget on the effectiveness of programmes to tackle infectious diseases. \p Stephen Doughty: Decisions on how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be used are being worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review, based on various factors including impact assessments.

We plan to publish final 2025/26 ODA programme allocations in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Annual Report & Accounts this summer.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_27
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_27

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which development programmes he plans to maintain funding for after the planned reduction of the Official Development Assistance budget is implemented. \p Stephen Doughty: Decisions on how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be used are being worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review, based on various factors including impact assessments.

We plan to publish final 2025/26 ODA programme allocations in the FCDO Annual Report & Accounts this summer.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_28
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_28

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is encourage democracy and human rights in Belarus; and what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in Belarus on the disappearance of (a) opposition activists and (b) Anzhelika Melnikava. \p Stephen Doughty: We are deeply concerned by the ongoing repression that the Lukashenko regime conducts against its own people. The UK works closely with its likeminded partners on the ground in Minsk, in capitals, and in international organisations such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, UN, and International Labour Organization to encourage democracy and human rights in Belarus. In August 2024, the UK announced £2.5 million of funding to support Belarusian human rights and civil society causes.

I am concerned by reports of Angelika Melnikava's disappearance. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials are following the case closely. While the situation remains unclear, I have not raised this with Belarusian counterparts.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_29
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_29

Kirsty Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post. \p Catherine West: In the central Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office communications team, there are a total of approximately 135 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.

Of this total, 22 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.

This is the latest available data from April 2025.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_30

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether their Department plans to amend its policies on access to (a) toilets, (b) changing facilities and (c) other single-sex spaces in (i) Departmental buildings and (ii) other buildings within their Department’s remit following the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025. \p Catherine West: The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Providers should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain's Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers. Ministers will consider the EHRC's updated draft once they have submitted it following further work in light of this ruling. The Government is considering the implications of the Court's judgment, including what this means for Government buildings.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_31
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_31

Anna Dixon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to conduct an Equalities Impact Assessment of the potential impact of reductions to Official Development Assistance on (a) disability inclusion and (b) women and girls. \p Stephen Doughty: Decisions on how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be used are being worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review, based on various factors including impact assessments. Equality Impact Assessments - which consider impacts on women and girls, and people with disabilities - are an essential part of how we make decisions on ODA allocations.

We plan to publish final Financial Year 2025/26 ODA programme allocations in The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Annual Report & Accounts this summer.

The UK is committed to empowering women and girls around the world through our international work. We will explore options for updating the Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy following the conclusion of the multi-year Spending Review and resource allocation processes.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_32
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_32

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of proposed reductions in spending on official development assistance on levels of debt-cancellation to heavily indebted poor countries. \p Stephen Doughty: Supporting developing countries to tackle unsustainable debt is a priority of this government. Where the UK Government is a creditor, we will fully engage in multilateral negotiations with debtor countries via the Paris Club and G20 Common Framework mechanisms to put their debt back on a sustainable trajectory.

Detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review process.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_33
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_33

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking through the Commonwealth to support (a) UK soft power and (b) the soft power of Commonwealth partners. \p Catherine West: Our Commonwealth membership plays an important role in the projection of UK soft power. Shared history means the English language is spoken widely, we have strong cultural links and similar systems of rule of law and parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth Secretariat provides technical support that reinforces these links and our shared values. In addition to our core financial contributions to the Secretariat, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office funds human rights advisers and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association International to strengthen human rights, parliamentary democracy and good governance. We will discuss with the new Secretary-General how to enhance the soft power impact of the Commonwealth.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_34
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_34

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK Soft Power Council at utilising UK science and technology. \p Catherine West: The Soft Power Council is now operational but still in an early phase of developing its work. The Council includes several individuals with expertise spanning science, technology, education and research, in recognition of the importance of these themes to UK foreign policy impact. The Council's geographic working groups are considering how to harness the UK's strengths in science and technology. The contribution of these sectors will also be considered as part of development of the new Government strategy on soft power over the coming months.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_35
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_35

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 29 June 2022 to Question 27497 on Diplomatic Service: Pilot Schemes, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of establishing a UK-Ukraine Relief Augmentation Taskforce; and whether his Department plans to utilise a reserve cadre of former (a) diplomats and (b) military officers to support crisis response operations in (i) Ukraine and (ii) other conflict-affected regions. \p Stephen Doughty: The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office maintains a roster of deployable expertise to support crisis response operations overseas, including humanitarian and conflict specialists.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_36
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_36

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents of assault on unpaid work staff have been reported in each of the last 10 financial years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Community Rehabilitation Companies previously held responsibility for unpaid work, until being unified back into the National Probation Service on 26 June 2021. HM Prisons and Probation Service does not hold incident reporting information prior to this date. The data below is taken from the accident reporting platform for the financial years 2021-2025.

It is important to us that all our staff on the frontline are safe and we will do whatever it takes to protect our hardworking staff. Detailed risk assessments are carried out and probation staff are trained at handling incidents and de-escalation. Anyone who assaults a member of staff could have criminal charges brought against them.

Date Range

Physical Assault

Non-Physical Assault

1/6/21 – 31/3/22

21

102

1/4/22 – 31/3/23

22

303

1/4/23 – 31/3/24

36

318

1/4/24 – 31/3/25

30

366

1/4/25 – 24/4/25

0

22

Note: Physical Assaults includes any incident where contact is made. Non-Physical Assaults includes verbal or written abuse and intimidating behaviour.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_37
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_37

Dr Kieran Mullan:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to support prisoner transport services in ensuring prisoners are able to get to court in time for their trial. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The Prisoner Escort and Custody Service (PECS), which is part of His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS), provides Ministers with regular updates on performance against delivery targets.

Over the 12 months to February 2025, PECS contractual monthly performance has been over 99.8%. It is recognised that there are many factors that can lead to trials being delayed, and that the efficient running of the criminal justice system requires a whole-system approach.

In addition to initiatives to improve outcomes at local level, HMPPS works with criminal justice partners through its Strategic Partnership Board, which includes representatives from His Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service and the police, as well as the contractors which deliver PECS services, to ensure that prisoners get to court on time, and that courts are prepared for their arrival.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_38
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_38

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many teachers have been employed in prisons in each of the last 10 financial years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: All prisons screen prisoners on arrival for reading ability and offer a curriculum with reading as part of the Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 English courses.

Courses delivered under the Prison Education Framework (PEF) include both accredited and non-accredited courses, commissioned by the Governor. To support and promote local reading strategies, prisons have procured additional reading services through the Prison Education Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). These provide further screening and assessment and deliver tailored support to prisoners with learning disabilities or difficulties, or prisoners who are speakers of other languages with English needs. The Prison Education DPS has been used since 2020 to deliver 96 call-off contracts for reading and literacy support in 85 prisons. These contracts have a combined value of £5.97 million.

It is not possible to provide information on how many prisons have offered courses in reading programmes in each of the last ten financial years, or how many teachers were employed over that period. In 2025, 1554 teachers were employed in public sector prisons in England.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_39
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_39

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of offenders on the secure estate undertook (a) unpaid work, (b) education and (c) vocational training in each of the last 10 financial years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: We set out management information relating to three relevant elements of purposeful activity below. However, this data was only developed as a measure from 2021/2022 so we are unable to provide it for the last 10 years. The percentages include prisoners who complete at least one session per week (part-time activity).

The measures don’t apply to privately managed prisons who use different data recording systems. They also exclude from scope those prisoners on remand, those aged over 65, those who were in healthcare or segregation for more than five days in the week, prisoners in more than one prison in the week and/or those only in prison for less than a week.

Category

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

Industries

14%

19%

21%

Education

13%

20%

21%

Services

32%

33%

34%

There is nothing we refer to as ‘unpaid work’ in prison but prisoners work in various roles across the prison both in industry (for example in textiles workshops) and in services (for example working in the kitchens or laundry). ‘Education’ covers both functional skills and vocational training (we do not separate them)
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_40

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) offender-on-offender and (b) offender-on-staff assaults have taken place on the secure estate in each of the last 10 financial years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The number of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and assaults on staff for the financial year are shown in the summary tables of the Safety in Custody publication to March 2024: Safety in custody: quarterly update to March 2024 - GOV.UK Specifically, table 4 in the summary tables for this release gives these figures.

Please note that:

Figures from April 2018 onwards exclude incidents occurring within the youth estate, so figures for 2018 are not comparable with the years before or after, due to youth estate incidents being included in part of the year, from January to April 2018. The youth estate includes incidents occurring within Cookham Wood, Werrington and Wetherby, as well as the youth wing at Feltham and Parc. Prior to April 2018 these figures were collected via manual returns, so it is not possible to split out all youth estate incidents up to March 2018. Figures for incidents occurring within the youth estate are published within the ‘Safety in the children and young people secure estate’ statistics bulletin via the following link - https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/safety-in-the-youth-secure-estate-bulletin.

Prisoner-on-prisoner assaults are a subset of all assault incidents.

Assaults on staff are a subset of all assault incidents. Some assault incidents may be recorded as both a prisoner-on-prisoner assault and an assault on staff, so the sum of the two categories may exceed the total number of assaults.

The figures for assaults on staff include all incidents where a member of staff was assaulted, which can include a small number of incidents where the assault was by someone other than a prisoner.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_41
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_41

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders have left prison without an identified (a) employment, (b) education and (c) training outcome in each of the last 10 financial years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The Ministry of Justice does not hold this information.

While we do publish employment on release outcomes, this does not extend over the past 10 financial years. Our employment outcomes data report employment status at six weeks following release and six months following release and cover the period back to 2019-20.

The data, which include the unemployed and unavailable for work groups, can be found at the following link: Offender Employment Outcome Statistics - GOV.UK.

For education, although we do not hold information on the number of prisoners leaving prison without an identified education or training outcome. We have previously published information on prison education and accredited programme attainment dating back to 2019-20. This can be accessed at the following link: Prison Education and Accredited Programme Statistics - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_42
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_42

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of offenders on the (a) secure estate and (b) young offenders institute estate were unlocked for (i) less than two hours, (ii) more than two hours and (iii) more than eight hours in each of the last 10 financial years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: As we do not hold sufficient data to undertake the necessary calculations, it is not possible to provide the requested information.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_43
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_43

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has issued guidance for prison governors to ensure offenders receive first-night well-being checks upon arrival onto the secure estate. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: All prisons in England and Wales are guided by Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 07/2015 – ‘Early Days in Custody – Reception in, First Night in Custody and Induction to Custody’. This policy sets out the mandatory requirements for prisons in relation to those entering their custody. It ensures that prisoners are kept safe and supported during their first night in prison, with their immediate needs being met. This includes a medical assessment by healthcare and a risk assessment for potential harm to themselves, to and from others. Furthermore, they are provided with food, drink, access to a shower, and a telephone to contact their legal adviser or address urgent family issues.

These instructions mandate that prison governors complete assessments to identify and address the immediate risks and needs of prisoners upon arrival into the prison. Such measures underline the importance of ensuring prisoners' safety and well-being during their initial days in custody.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_44

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the use of force by staff on the secure estate on reoffending rates. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Physical intervention to resolve incidents is only ever to be used as a last resort. Staff receive extensive training in de-escalation techniques and conflict resolution to reduce the need for physical intervention, and regular reviews and analyses of use of force incidents help identify areas for improvement and ensure accountability. In its Use of Force Policy Framework - GOV.UK, His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) sets out mandatory instructions and professional standards for staff, ensuring that any use of force is lawful, necessary, and proportionate.

The rehabilitation services and interventions that HMPPS provides help to address underlying issues that may lead to conflict, reducing the need for force to be used. They also give prisoners the support and skills they need to find employment, accommodation, and to build and maintain support networks, which we know are significant factors in reducing re-offending.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_45

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many unpaid work (a) staff and (b) supervisors have been employed in each of the last 10 financial years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The number of unpaid work (a) staff and (b) supervisors that have been employed in each of the last 10 financial years can be seen in the below table:

Table 1 - Number of unpaid work staff in post on 31 March 2022 to 2024 and 31 December 2024 (Full Time Equivalent)

Unpaid Work

31-Mar-22

31-Mar-23

31-Mar-24

31-Dec-24

Unpaid Work: Non-supervisors

237

330

365

374

Unpaid Work: Community Payback Supervisors

435

603

623

623

Unpaid Work: Total staff

671

933

989

997

Information for unpaid work staff is not available prior to June 2021 due to due to the Community Rehabilitation Companies not being part of HMPPS.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_46

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much money has been spent on unpaid work in the secure estate in each of the last 10 financial years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: While there is not anything specifically named ‘unpaid work’ in prisons, and we therefore cannot provide information on how much has been spent on it, convicted prisoners are expected to work and there are various jobs across prison workshops, kitchens, laundries and other services like wing cleaning, for which prisoners are paid. Prison industries can be commercial, employer-led spaces or can make products for the internal prison market that we would otherwise have to buy (such as cell furniture, prisoner clothing), saving the taxpayer money.

There are also payback punishments in prisons, which act as a means for enabling prisoners to make amends to their prison community for their misbehaviour.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_47

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders entering the secure estate had an (a) English and (b) mathematics functional skills level (a) below and (b) above entry-level 3 in each of the last 10 financial years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The functional skills level of prisoners recorded from initial English and maths assessments are published as part of the annual Prison Education and Accredited Programmes Statistics at Prison Education and Accredited Programme Statistics - GOV.UK. The Ministry of Justice holds this data from 2019. Before this, prison education was the responsibility of the Department for Education.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_48
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_48

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a target for the number of offenders on the secure estate who have employment roles. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: We know that finding employment after release reduces the chance of reoffending significantly, by up to nine percentage points. Undertaking work in custody provides offenders with opportunity to develop key skills that will increase their chance of gaining employment on release and build links with real employers, reducing their risk of reoffending.

The Government has committed to break the cycle of reoffending by improving offenders’ access to purposeful activity and to better support prisons to link up with employers and the voluntary sector to get more people with convictions into work.

Whilst we do set targets for employment post-release, there are currently no plans to set targets for employment in prisons. However, HMPPS have introduced the National Regime Model, creating a national infrastructure for planning, reviewing and measuring purposeful activity for the first time.

Every prison must now deliver a minimum of 60 minutes time in open air per day, 120 minutes time out of cell per day, and one quality key work session per month, and must also set out and be accountable to HMPPS on how they are improving their regime offer year on year.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_49

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders on the secure estate were held in unsuitable conditions while awaiting transfer in each of the last 10 financial years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service do not hold prisoners in unsuitable physical conditions. Maintenance issues are reported locally to facilities management providers, who prioritise them for action. Cells that are deemed unsuitable for safety or decency reasons are either assessed for immediate action or, where necessary, removed from the prison’s operational capacity until restored to a suitable condition.

To ascertain whether a prisoner awaiting transfer had ever been held in conditions that could be considered unsuitable would require a detailed search of individual prisoner, prison wing, and facilities management records. In view of the large number of transfers that take place each year, the requested information could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_50
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_50

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he made a recent assessment of the adequacy of neurodiversity training for people working in the criminal justice system. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: There is a range of training available to support those working with neurodiverse people in the criminal justice system.

In the courts, the Judicial College of England and Wales has developed training on mental disabilities specifically for magistrates and legal advisers, and the Sentencing Council has published guidance for judges and magistrates that provides clarity in sentencing offenders with neurodiverse needs.

In prison, Neurodiversity Support Managers train staff to support neurodivergent individuals and assist them in accessing education, skills and work opportunities.

In probation, HMPPS offer neurodiversity learning packages for all staff as part of the Probation Learning and Development curriculum, and new Probation Service Officers and those undertaking the Professional Qualification in Probation are required to undertake learning that includes neurodiversity.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_51
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_51

Dr Kieran Mullan:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of trials overran in 2024. \p Sarah Sackman: Official Statistics (Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly) show that in 2024, of the 31,158 trials in the Crown Courts, 665 trials were ineffective due to witness unavailability and 1,637 trials were ineffective due to defendant unavailability. These figures should be interpreted with caution, as they encompass instances of illness, situations where Prisoner Escort and Custody Services lack capacity and cases involving misinformed defendants. Data on trials that have overran is not held by the Ministry of Justice.

The judiciary, supported by the Ministry of Justice and HMCTS, is committed to driving down the ineffective trial rate. Since 2023 trends have been improving, and the proportion of ineffective trials in Crown Courts has reduced from 27% in 2023 to 25% in 2024.

To improve court case efficiencies, the Ministry of Justice and HMCTS are currently testing a newly formed “Case Coordinator” role in Crown Courts as a proof-of-concept. The role is designed to improve adherence to the principles of Better Case Management. Case Coordinators are a dedicated senior case progression resource, handling cases from receipt through to disposal with a strong focus on early case management and trials. Case Coordinators work with the CPS, defence, and other relevant parties to help ensure timetables are kept, responsibilities and judicial orders are abided by, and parties are prepared for hearings and trials. The ambition is that the Case Coordinator role will lead to fewer ineffective hearings and trials, fewer cracked trials, and overall, less wasted court time. The impact of role will be evaluated in Autumn 2025, once the pilot has concluded.

We welcome this progress, but further work is needed to reduce ineffective trials. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Sir Brian Leveson to conduct an Independent Review of the Criminal Courts. Phase 2 of the review will consider the efficiency and timeliness of processes of the criminal courts through charge to conviction or acquittal.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_52
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_52

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to increase the number of judges to help reduce the backlog of court cases. \p Sarah Sackman: We are continuing to invest in high volume, regular judicial recruitment of around 1000 judges and tribunal members each year.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_53
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_53

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what her Department's budget is for translation into foreign languages in the (a)2024-25 and (b) 2025-26 financial year. \p Sarah Sackman: The budget for translation services in the 2024-25 financial year was £2,911,000.

While budgets are not set at the level of individual contracts, the figure represents the planned spend by HM Prison and Probation Service under its translation and transcription contract with an external provider.

We are unable to provide an equivalent figure for 2025-26 as budgets have not yet been set at that level of detail.
wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_54
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-01 conversation_54

Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will have discussions with senior judges on maintaining political impartiality when making (a) professional and (b) personal comments in public. \p Sarah Sackman: Judges swear in the judicial oath to act "without fear or favour, affection or ill will". They are recognised and respected across the world for their independence, fairness and impartiality.

It is for the senior judiciary to give guidance on the standards and behaviour expected of judges, and the judiciary revised its Guide to Judicial Conduct in 2023. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office exists to deal with complaints about the personal conduct of judicial office holders.