theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_215
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_215

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many former Seasonal Workforce officers for the UK Border Force were successful in gaining employment through regular recruitment processes after their contracts were ended in 2024. \p Seema Malhotra: In accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, all recruitment of this nature is conducted using a sifting process where identifying information is removed, and all appointments are made on merit through open and fair competition. As a result, it is not possible to determine whether any candidates were previously part of the seasonal workforce.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_216
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_216

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with police forces on expressions of support for (a) Hamas and (b) Hezbollah at universities. \p Dan Jarvis: The investigation and prosecution of criminal offences, including determining whether an offence has been committed or not, is a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service, which are operationally independent.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_217
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_217

Rebecca Paul:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many former Border Force seasonal workers have gone on to be employed by Border Force since the termination of the seasonal workforce programme. \p Seema Malhotra: As of the 1st of April 2024, there were 449 Seasonal Workforce staff in contract. The Seasonal Workforce (SWF) was a temporary staffing resource used to support operational delivery during periods of peak demand and recruited under exemptions from the normal civil service recruitment procedures. In 2024, a decision was taken to cease the use of the SWF, recruited under CSC exemptions, and instead recruit permanent resource Border Force Officers in line with the Civil Service recruitment principles of fair and open recruitment and improved strategic workforce planning. The use of the SWF ended by 31 January 2025.

In September 2024, Border Force launched the Alternative Working Campaign, which was introduced in part to replace the use of the SWF and better align staffing to operational peaks. Border Force advertised 67 of these roles nationally. In accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, all recruitment under this scheme is conducted using a sifting process where all identifying information is removed and all appointments were made on merit through open and fair competition. As a result, it is not possible to determine whether any candidates were previously part of the seasonal workforce.

All costs for Border Force staffing are accounted for in the 2024-25 Home Office annual report and accounts at Home Office annual report and accounts: 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_218
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_218

Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 64542 on Immigration, what steps she is taking to speed up decisions being taken on applications for (a) leave in line and (b) status in line. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office continues to invest in a programme of transformation and business improvement to speed up decision making and improve the quality and consistency of our leave in line and status in line applications.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_219
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_219

Nesil Caliskan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce levels of hate crime around places of worship. \p Dan Jarvis: This Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion at their chosen place of worship, and to making our streets and communities safer. The Government and police work closely together to review threats and strengthen protections for communities against terrorism and hate crime.

In 2025/26, up to £50.9 million is available to protect faith communities and places of worship, including £18 million through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, and £29.4 million through the Protective Security for Mosques scheme and for security at Muslim faith schools.

As part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding religious freedom and community safety, we are also introducing a new measure within the Crime and Policing Bill that strengthens police powers around all places of worship.

Further to their existing powers, this measure will enable the police to place conditions on protests near places of worship, preventing disruptive tactics and ensuring worshippers can practise their faith peacefully.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_220
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_220

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act 2023 in preventing fraud. \p Dan Jarvis: The Online Safety Act (OSA) was passed in November 2023 and requires all in-scope platforms to tackle fraud on their platforms. The OSA’s first codes, dealing with illegal content, came into effect and were enforceable from March 2025. This means that all in-scope companies will need to put in place systems and processes to stop fraud from appearing on their platforms and services.

In addition, the Act’s fraudulent advertising duty will require the largest companies to appropriately tackle fraudulent advertising. According to Ofcom’s Online Safety Act Roadmap the draft codes for this duty will be published in draft in early 2026.

The Government is working closely with Ofcom on the implementation of the Online Safety Act and will continue to monitor its efficacy as the Act is enforced.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_221
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_221

Nesil Caliskan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department uses for allocating protective security funds to different religious groups under the places of worship protective security fund; and whether the number of reported religiously motivated hate crimes is a factor in that decision-making process. \p Dan Jarvis: Funding allocations for the Home Office's protective security schemes for faith communities are informed by threat and risk. We draw on a range of information, such as data on religiously motivated hate crime and assessments from policing and intelligence partners on wider security threats, to ensure that funding allocations remain proportionate and responsive to the needs of different communities.

Funding allocations have previously been increased in response to specific incidents and emerging threats, and the Home Office continuously keeps these under review to ensure that support is directed where it is most needed.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_222
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_222

Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of outsourced forensics contracts. \p Dan Jarvis: There has always been a mixed model of forensic provision in England and Wales, with some work done in-house by police forces and some contracted to the commercial sector.Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables are responsible for procuring forensic services from the commercial sector should they choose to do so.

However, the Home Secretary acknowledged in November last year that forensic science had been held back by uncoordinated funding and fragmented governance. This is why we will be consulting on plans to create a National Centre of Policing, including forensics as a national capability, to bring together crucial support services that local police forces can draw upon, to raise standards, and improve efficiency.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_223
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_223

Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to protect Iranian (a) dissidents, (b) activists, and (c) journalists residing in the UK from (i) harassment, (ii) surveillance (iii) and intimidation by agents of the Iranian regime. \p Dan Jarvis: The UK Government will continue to use all appropriate tools at our disposal to protect the UK and its people against any threats from the Iranian state. Any attempt by a foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK will not be tolerated, and will be thoroughly investigated.

The National Security Act 2023 strengthens our legal powers to counter transnational repression and provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats. In March, I announced a package of measures to tackle state threats from Iran. This included our decision to place Iran on the Enhanced Tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS).

I also announced new training for all frontline police officers on state threats; further sanctions against Iranian-linked criminal groups; an independent review of the parts of our counter-terrorism framework which could be applied to state threats; continued support to the Jewish community; and strengthened enforcement of our immigration measures to protect the UK from Iranian interference. Finally, the National Protective Security Authority and Counter Terrorism Policing will continue to provide protective security advice and support to individuals and organisations threatened by the Iranian regime and its criminal proxies, including Persian language media organisations.

In line with recommendations from the Defending Democracy Taskforce’s Transnational Repression Review, new guidance is available on GOV.UK to provide those who believe themselves to be at-risk of TNR with practical advice for their safety both physically and online. Anyone who thinks they might be a victim should report incidents or suspicious activity to the Police via 101, a local police station, or 999 in emergencies.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_224
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_224

Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with civil society organisations on the proscription of Palestine Action. \p Dan Jarvis: Every proscription decision is made through careful consideration by the Home Secretary and follows advice from the cross-government Proscription Review Group, which involves technical assessments and deep engagement with subject matter experts including policy officials and law enforcement.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_225
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_225

Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many licences have been granted for experiments using (a) dogs,(b) cats and (c) primates since 4 July 2025. \p Dan Jarvis: Since 4 July 2025 to the present day, no new project licences have been granted that authorise the use of dogs, cats or primates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_226
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_226

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been arrested in the UK for gathering intelligence. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales by offence group, as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical series. The most recent data can be accessed here: Stop and search, arrests and mental health detentions, March 2024 - GOV.UK

However, the data is collected by broader offence group e.g. “public order offences”, therefore data on arrests for more specific offences are not held by the Home Office.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_227
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_227

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps is she taking to tackle racist attacks on community centres; and what discussions she has had with the devolved Administrations on this matter. \p Dan Jarvis: We have a strong legal framework in place to deal with the perpetrators of racist and other forms of hate crime and expect the perpetrators of these abhorrent offences to be brought to justice.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_228
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_228

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department has considered making identity theft a police recordable crime. \p Dame Diana Johnson: At present, identity theft is not a standalone criminal offence, but criminal acts which exploit stolen identities are already covered under existing legislation such as the Fraud Act 2006, Computer Misuse Act 1990, and Data Protection Act 2018. However, we recognise the evolving nature and increasing prevalence of identity-related crime and are taking additional proactive steps to address it. That is why the Independent Review of Fraud Offences will also consider whether a specific offence for identity theft is needed.

Alongside this, we will also consider whether to include further initiatives to prevent the misuse of stolen identities and strengthen protections for the public as part of the Government’s upcoming Fraud Strategy.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_229
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_229

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has considered creating a national identity card system. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_230
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_230

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has (a) issued guidance to and (b) held discussions with local authorities on the estimated end date of the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme. \p Seema Malhotra: From 4 February 2025, individuals in the UK under a Ukraine visa scheme have been eligible to apply for the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme, granting an additional 18 months’ permission to stay in the UK as well as access to work, benefits, healthcare, and education. The duration of permission is calculated from the date of application, meaning end dates will vary accordingly. Those granted permission in February 2025, for example, will have permission to stay in the UK until August 2026.

The Government recognises the importance of providing clarity and reassurance to Ukrainians living in the UK under the Ukraine visa schemes and is aware that many individuals and families are seeking certainty about their future once their leave under the UPE schemes expires. As such, the Government is actively considering the future of the Ukraine visa schemes and will provide further clarity as soon as it is in a position to do so.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_231
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_231

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what was the total cost to the public purse of quasi-autonomous non governmental organisations sponsored by her Department for (a) the financial years (i) 2023/24 and (ii) 2024/25 and (b) April 2025 to date. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The Ministry of Justice currently has seven Non-Departmental Public Bodies which have a vital role in the process of national government but are not part of a government department. Their combined expenditure was £303,943 million in the 2023/24 financial year, £318,032 million in 2024/25, and £56.130 million from April – June 2025.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_232
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_232

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison deaths were recorded by the Isle of Wight coroner in each of the last five years; on what dates the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman investigation was (a) opened and (b) completed for each of those cases; and whether an inquest was held. \p Alex Davies-Jones: Coroners have a statutory duty under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 to hold an inquest into all deaths of individuals who die while in custody or other state detention. The coroner will typically suspend their investigation into a death pending the completion of any related investigatory processes, primarily to avoid duplication of process.

The annex sets out the dates on which the Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) opened and completed investigations into prison deaths occurring in the Isle of Wight coroner area in each of the last five calendar years. Information on fatal incidents and investigations are published by the PPO on their website, including in their annual report, available here: Death investigations & reports – Prisons and Probation Ombudsman or here Fatal Incident reports | Document Types | Archive website - Prisons & Probation Ombudsman post July 2024.

Inquests have concluded into two of the deaths that occurred in 2020, and eight that occurred in 2021. Inquests into the remaining deaths listed in the annex have not yet concluded.

Annex (docx, 31.7KB)
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_233
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_233

Leigh Ingham:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what mechanisms are in place to (a) monitor and (b) hold accountable (i) CAFCASS and (ii) family courts in private law proceedings where safeguarding concerns for children are identified; and what procedures there are to ensure action is taken in cases involving known risks to prevent serious harm. \p Sarah Sackman: As a Non-Departmental Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, the oversight and assurance arrangements for Cafcass are carried out in accordance with the Arms-Length Body Code of Practice. Specific areas of oversight are also covered in the Framework Document between the Ministry of Justice and Cafcass, which broadly sets out sponsorship governance arrangements, financial management and performance reporting. Cafcass is subject to regular inspection by Ofsted. The most recent inspection took place in January 2024 and key findings are available here.

The judiciary is independent, and the Government therefore does not hold them to account, however support is available in the family courts where safeguarding concerns are identified and to ensure that action is taken to protect children.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_234
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_234

Yuan Yang:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to monitor the number of hours that magistrates volunteer each year. \p Sarah Sackman: Magistrates’ sitting levels are already monitored by HM Courts & Tribunals Service and the judiciary. Bench Chairs are responsible for ensuring magistrates meet their minimum sitting commitment of 13 days per year and for supporting effective listing and bench management.

The Secretary of State has no current plans to introduce further monitoring.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_235
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_235

Apsana Begum:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions she has had with the (a) Home Secretary and (b) Minister for Women and Equalities on (i) level of funding and (ii) future sustainability for the holistic advocacy wrap around service provided by Southall Black Sisters. \p Alex Davies-Jones: All Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales receive annual grant funding from the Ministry of Justice’s victim and witness budget to commission local practical, emotional, and therapeutic support services for victims. This includes ‘core’ funding for victims of all crime types and funding that is ring-fenced for sexual violence and domestic abuse services. PCCs allocate funding locally at their discretion, based on their assessment of local need. PCCs are best placed to understand their local communities and providers, and to commission appropriate support services to meet the need of victims in their area. Such services will include specialist organisations like the Southall Black Sisters.

The Ministry of Justice is not involved in local commissioning decisions.

Ministry of Justice officials engage regularly with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime regarding their grant funding and locally commissioned services.

I co-chair the Violence Against Women and Girls Board joint ministerial group with the Home Office Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls. This board is attended by other government departments that are working together on the VAWG strategy.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_236
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_236

Rebecca Paul:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of allowing inquests into cases of child death by suicide to sit in private. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The Government is committed to putting the bereaved at the heart of the inquest process, and we are particularly conscious of the importance of this for those who have suffered the unimaginable distress of losing a child through suicide.

However, in line with the principle of open justice - which applies in all courts including the coroner’s court - it is important that justice is administered in public, that everything said in court is reportable, and that any departure from this approach is closely regulated.

Accordingly, there are strict limitations on the coroner’s powers to sit in private, to withhold the names of witnesses or Interested Persons, or to prevent the reporting of matters heard in court. In particular, the public and media may only be excluded from an inquest hearing in the interests of national security.

Chapter 8 of the Chief Coroner’s Guidance for Coroners on the Bench (Chapter 8: Open Justice - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary) provides guidance for coroners on the principle of open justice and the application of any statutory powers to depart from it.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_237
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_237

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of existing legislation surrounding violence against women and girls. \p Alex Davies-Jones: This Government is taking action to deliver a transformative, cross-government approach to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) underpinned by a new strategy which will be published later this year. We have already sought to strengthen the legislation surrounding violence against women and girls. We have introduced in the Crime and Policing Bill a range of measures including a new spiking offence, provisions strengthening the law on child sexual abuse on managing sex offenders, and on strengthening the law on stalking, taking intimate images without consent, and exposure offences. In the Data (Use and Access) Act we are banning the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes.

I also look forward to reviewing the Law Commission’s recommendations on how we can introduce legislation to change practice relating to the use of evidence in sexual offence prosecutions, so that practitioners do not rely on or perpetuate so-called rape myths and misconceptions at court. In particular, the Law Commission will make recommendations on the admissibility of evidence relating to so-called false allegations, sexual behaviour evidence, and the use of special measures.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_238
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_238

Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she plans to take to support people with Family Court cases who are unable to afford legal representation but are not eligible for legal aid. \p Sarah Sackman: The Government is already taking steps to ensure that financial hardship does not prevent parents from engaging with the family court system. To support access to justice, the Help with Fees scheme provides full or partial remission of court and tribunal fees for those on low incomes or in receipt of certain benefits. This includes applications made in the family courts such as applications for child arrangement orders.

The Ministry of Justice also provides funding to support the delivery of wider legal support services, which provide advice and support to individuals facing social welfare legal problems, including family matters. In 2025-26, the Ministry of Justice will provide over £6 million of grant funding to 60 frontline organisations to improve access to free legal support and information, both in-person and online, and to help people resolve their problems as early as possible. This includes funding for organisations including some local Citizens Advice and Law Centres, as well as AdviceNow, which provides online support on their website across a range of civil, family and tribunal issues.

The Government recognises the importance of supporting separating families, where appropriate, to resolve their issues without the need to come to court. The Mediation Voucher Scheme provides up to £500 towards the cost of mediation to help families resolve their child arrangement disputes outside of court, where this is safe and appropriate. The voucher is non-means tested and is available to anyone with a private law dispute relating to children. The scheme will be in place until at least March 2026 and has helped over 44,000 families to date.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_239
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_239

Andy Slaughter:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when will legal aid providers be able to submit (a) bills and (b) claims for payments on account following the Legal Aid Agency data breach. \p Sarah Sackman: This is an unprecedented event and an evolving situation, and every effort is being made to restore services following the criminal attack on our systems. The Legal Aid Agency’s (LAA) digital services have been taken offline to negate the threat and prevent further exposure of legal aid providers and users. We will not reopen the system until the appropriate steps have been taken to enable us to do so. We have been able to return some systems to internal use, enabling an improved ability to support criminal legal aid applications and payments.

In the interim, a number of contingency measures have been implemented to ensure that access to legal aid remains available and that providers are receiving payments. Contingency measures for billing, including an average payment scheme for civil cases, were implemented week commencing 27 May. For crime providers, processing of bills for graduated fee schemes resumed on 28 May, with payments resuming the following week.

On 27 June, emergency legislation came into force enabling the LAA to implement enhanced business continuity arrangements. The new legislation provides for increased delegation of powers to providers and removes civil client contributions. The average payment scheme already operating in civil legal aid will continue.

Our priority remains to maintain access to justice and to ensure legal aid providers can continue to be paid in a timely manner. These enhanced measures are designed to support legal aid providers and their clients and to prevent a significant case backlog while contingency measures are in place.

The recent data breach is the result of serious criminal activity, but it was enabled by the fragility of the LAA’s IT systems as a result of the long years of underinvestment under the last Conservative Government. By contrast, since taking power this Government has prioritised work to reverse the damage of over a decade of under-investment. That includes the allocation of over £20 million in extra funding this year to stabilise and transform the Legal Aid Agency digital services. This investment will make the system more robust and resilient in the face of similar cyber-attacks in future.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_240
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_240

Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what contract management procedures are in place for prisoner escort contracts. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The contracts for supply of services to the Prisoner Escort and Custody Service (PECS), which is part of HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), are overseen by a specialist team, which monitors supplier performance against contractual obligations, works closely with suppliers to address any issues, and applies appropriate commercial levers and financial remedies should this be necessary. It reports quarterly to Ministers.

In addition to initiatives to improve outcomes at a local level, HMPPS collaborates with criminal justice partners through the Strategic Partnership Board. The board includes representatives from His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, the police, and PECS suppliers. Its core objective is to ensure that prisoners are delivered to court on time, and that courts are prepared for their arrival, supporting a timely start to the court’s business day.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_241
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_241

Dr Kieran Mullan:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what negotiations she has had with prisoner escort contractors on reducing the number of court trials that are cancelled as a result of contractors not bring the defendant to court on time. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The Prisoner Escort and Custody Service (PECS), which is part of HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS), provides Ministers with regular updates on performance of prisoner escort contractors against delivery targets.

It is recognised that there are many factors that can lead to trials being cancelled and that the efficient running of the criminal justice system requires a whole-system approach. PECS’ contractual performance against the indicator for timely delivery to court currently stands at 99.93%.

HMPPS closely monitors the operation of the contracts, and 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/answers2025-07-23 conversation_242
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_242

Luke Murphy:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her department is taking to increase the use of phone blocking (a) techniques and (b) technologies in prisons. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is committed to tackling the threat to prison security posed by illicit mobile telephones. We have a wide-ranging programme in place to prevent them from entering prisons; to detect and disrupt their use by prisoners if they are smuggled in; and to investigate cases where a prisoner may have committed an offence.

As part of their local security strategies, prisons are able to deploy a range of measures to detect items of contraband, including X-ray body scanners, and Enhanced Gate Security that utilises X-ray baggage scanners and metal detection. Owing to security and operational sensitivities, however, it would not be appropriate to comment in detail on the countermeasures HMPPS has in place.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_243
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_243

Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2025 to Question 65241 on Prisoners on Remand, what data her Department holds on trends in the average length of time spent on remand in that period. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Information relating to the time spent on custodial remand is not centrally held by the Ministry of Justice. To obtain the data to answer this question would involve a manual interrogation of court records which would result in a disproportionate cost to the Department.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_244
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_244

Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2025 to Question 65243 on Prisoners' Release, what data her Department holds on trends over time in the average length of time spent on recall for (a) determinate sentenced prisoners and (b) all prisoners. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The requested information for the average length of time spent on recall for indeterminate prisoners can be found in Table 5_Q_11 of the Department’s Offender Management Statistics Quarterly publication: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/680923bf148a9969d2394f58/licence-recalls-Oct-to-Dec-2024.ods.

The corresponding information for determinate sentenced prisoners is only obtainable at disproportionate cost as it requires data matching between different data systems (namely prison recall information from the Public Protection Unit Database, and prisoner release information from prison-NOMIS).
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_245
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_245

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps her Department has taken to support small businesses in the aesthetics industry. \p Gareth Thomas: This Government recognises the immense economic and social value of the aesthetics industry. That is why we have committed to reforming business rates from 2026-27 with a permanently lower multiplier for retail, leisure and hospitality properties, including beauty clinics.

The Government will publish an SME Strategy Paper later this year that will set out the Government's vision for all small and medium size businesses. The paper will focus on boosting scale-ups across key policy areas, such as creating thriving high streets, making it easier to access finance, opening up overseas and domestic markets, building business capabilities, and providing a strong business environment. The paper will complement the Government's Industrial Strategy and Trade Strategy.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_246
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_246

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help support businesses to take up digital technologies in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency. \p Gareth Thomas: The Hertfordshire Growth Hub provides businesses in Harpenden and Berkhamsted with support and advice on adopting digital technology. More widely, the industry-led SME Digital Adoption Taskforce will soon publish its final recommendations on how Government and industry can work together to increase SME uptake of digital technology across the UK. Building these capabilities will form part of our forthcoming SME Strategy.

Our Industrial Strategy also set out ambitions, informed by the Technology Adoption Review, to increase digital adoption in eight growth-driving sectors. This includes up to £99m for the Made Smarter Adoption programme to help manufacturing SMEs adopt digital technologies.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_247
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_247

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps his Department has taken to consult with rural community-owned businesses in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire in the development of its planned small business strategy. \p Gareth Thomas: This Government is committed to embedding the voice of small business into policy. The Department for Business and Trade has engaged with hundreds of individual SMEs across all sectors and regions as part of co-designing our SME Strategy. This has included roundtables to address topics such as high streets, markets and access to finance.

Engagement with individual SMEs will continue to be a priority up to and after the launch of the SME Strategy to assess the impact of these policies on SMEs across the UK in all rural and urban areas.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_248
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_248

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he made of the potential impact of delaying the implementation of the Employment Rights Bill’s provisions on unfair dismissal protections on levels of business confidence. \p Justin Madders: There is no delay to implementation. On 1 July the Government published “Implementing the Employment Rights Bill: Roadmap”. It provides clarity for employers and workers on when Government will consult on the implementation of Bill measures, and when measures will take effect. Feedback from businesses is that this clarity has improved confidence. The Roadmap sets out our initial view that day one unfair dismissal protections will take effect in 2027, after regulations have been made and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has considered to what extent , to reflect day one rights in the Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_249
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_249

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with businesses on the S&P Global Flash UK PMI. \p Gareth Thomas: Details of the meetings held by Ministers of the Department for Business and Trade are available on transparency pages of gov.uk and are released as part of the Government’s transparency agenda.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_250
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_250

Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, published on 23 June 2025, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that investment in advanced manufacturing is allocated to rural communities. \p Sarah Jones: Deeper partnerships with mayors and devolved governments will deliver real change in local communities, ensuring Sector Plan gains across the UK.

As part of this, we will support specific city regions and clusters through a new £600 million Strategic Sites Accelerator, and by investing £160 million in each of the UK's regional Advanced Manufacturing investment zones. This targeted support will have positive spillover effects on surrounding rural and urban communities.

Government has also secured £4 billion from the British Business Bank and £27.8 billion from the National Wealth Fund to support business across the UK access the finance they need to grow.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_251
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_251

Adam Thompson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how her Department monitors progress of the grassroots ticket levy. \p Chris Bryant: The Government wants to see the music industry supporting the ticket levy to back the artists, venues, festivals and promoters who make up our grassroots sector. We are working closely with the sector to monitor progress, particularly with LIVE and the Music Venue Trust, who are tracking data on the uptake of the levy. Sector reporting shows 8% of 2025 tickets on sale in the UK now include the grassroots ticket levy, with an encouraging uptake in recent months. Summer ticket sales and the establishment of the LIVE Trust should mean greater uptake by autumn. I am delighted that the Royal Albert Hall has announced that it will now include the levy for all ticketed events and am enthusiastically encouraging all venues, promoters and artists to follow suit. If not, the Government will reconvene the live music sector to consider legislative options.

Since November I have held two roundtables with members of the live music sector to drive progress on the levy uptake. We are urging major promoters to act without delay, and I recently met Live Nation to encourage them to back the scheme in earnest. I would also urge every major artist to encourage their team to sign up as a matter of urgency so that at least a majority of qualifying tickets carry the levy by the end of the year.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_252
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_252

Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that public heritage bodies reflect and respect (a) cultural and (b) national differences when (i) promoting and (ii) interpreting historic sites in Cornwall. \p Chris Bryant: This government recognises the importance of respecting and recognising cultural and national differences and ensuring that the heritage that reflects this is celebrated.

Historic England, as the government's advisor, partners closely with Cornwall Council. They are part of Bord Ertach Kernow, helping shape and deliver Cornwall's Historic Environment Strategy, and part-funded the Distinctiveness Study highlighting Cornish culture's role in local heritage. They are also actively involved in groups promoting Cornish language use and cultural engagement.

Since 1994, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has invested over £134 million in 848 Cornish projects, including the £2.4 million Tamar Landscape Partnership. These projects celebrate Cornwall's unique culture and history, and the Heritage Fund specifically supports the use and translation of Cornish language in project materials.

English Heritage Trust actively incorporates the Cornish language at its sites in Cornwall, following Council guidance for signage, interpretation, and educational resources, thereby supporting the language's preservation and awareness.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_253
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_253

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential indirect impact of duty harmonisation on the horseracing industry. \p Stephanie Peacock: The tax treatment of remote gambling is a matter for HM Treasury. Following the conclusion of its recent consultation, we expect that any legislative changes made to gambling duty will be accompanied by a tax information and impact note from HM Treasury, as is standard practice.

The Government recognises the significant contribution horseracing makes to our regional economies and our country’s cultural life. DCMS will continue to meet with racing stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for the sport.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_254
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_254

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of tax reform in the (a) betting and (b) gaming sector on equine welfare standards. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Minister for Gambling and Heritage recently met the incoming Chair of the British Horseracing Authority to discuss a wide range of matters affecting horseracing including the HMT tax consultation. DCMS has also engaged at ministerial and official level with HMT on the topic and the potential impact of any changes on horseracing.

One of the statutory purposes of the Horserace Betting Levy, managed by the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) is the advancement of veterinary science. HBLB’s allocation for its disease surveillance, veterinary science and education programme rose to £2.76 million this year, up from £2.32 million in 2024/25.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_255
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_255

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of affordability checks on online betting turnover on racing since its introduction. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Gambling Commission introduced financial vulnerability checks in August 2024. These checks use only publicly available data, such as bankruptcy orders, to assess risk of significant financial harm. Financial risk assessments, which will look at a more nuanced picture of financial risk, are being piloted by the Commission to ensure they can be introduced in a frictionless manner. Early findings show that 97% of assessments were frictionless, well above the 80% white paper estimate. The Commission is analysing pilot data and will take a decision on whether to introduce these checks in due course. New financial risk checks would replace current operator affordability checks and will be better for customers, operators and racing.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_256
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_256

Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many full-time equivalent staff in her Department are working on (a) promoting and (b) preserving Britain's industrial heritage; and if she will make it her policy to publish a strategy on the restoration of industrial heritage. \p Chris Bryant: Historic England, the government's statutory adviser on the historic environment, is responsible for managing and protecting heritage, including industrial heritage, across the country. As well as funding Historic England, the government announced new, additional funding for heritage in 2025/26 - £15m for the Heritage At Risk fund and £4.85m for the Heritage Revival Fund.

Within the Department for Culture Media and Sport, there is a small team that oversees Historic England, a team delivering heritage policy, and the designation of listed buildings and monuments. There are no current plans to publish a strategy on the restoration of industrial heritage but for all these workstands, industrial heritage is an important part of what they do and we will look at what more we can do to preserve and restore significant sites and structures.