theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_131
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many and what proportion of telecommunications have been buried underground since the introduction of the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003. \p Chris Bryant: While the 2003 Regulations require operators to use underground lines where reasonably practicable, with certain exceptions, this will not always be possible due to costs or if existing infrastructure is not suitable for sharing.

The method of network deployment in commercially viable areas is a commercial decision made by network operators.

Therefore the Department does not actively monitor the proportion of telecommunications infrastructure buried underground since the introduction of the Electronic Communications Code.

However, Ofcom’s Connected Nations 2024 Report indicated that Openreach has deployed 496,000 km of ducts and 4.1 million telegraph poles across the UK.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_132
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_132

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to assess the effectiveness of part (a) 11 and (b) 12 of the Electronic Communications Code for ensuring that infrastructure developments for new mobile telecommunications equipment are suitable. \p Chris Bryant: Parts 11 and 12 of the Electronic Communications Code provide rights to fly lines over land and set out when and how someone can object to these installations. The aim is to balance the efficient deployment of overhead networks with the interests of those affected by them. The provisions under Parts 11 and 12 relate primarily to fixed-line infrastructure deployment.

Part 11 was amended through the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 to support greater infrastructure sharing, providing alternatives for network expansion. The measures in that Act received Parliamentary scrutiny and were subject to a published De Minimis Impact Assessment.

A separate assessment of these provisions has not been completed, but the impact of all the 2022 changes will be assessed in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with Ofcom on the potential impact of the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers on the guidance it issues. \p Chris Bryant: None.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Building Digital UK has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years. \p Chris Bryant: Between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2025, Building Digital UK (BDUK) followed the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) policy on staff working from home. During this period, BDUK spent a total of £1,909.49 on equipment to enable staff to work from home.

Of this amount, £1,609.50 was spent in the 2022-23 financial year and £299.99 in the 2023-24 financial year. BDUK did not spend any money on equipment to enable staff to work from home in the 2024-25 financial year.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_135
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Michael Wheeler:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for his policies of the data collated in the Centre for Human Specific Research's Recombinant Antibodies and Mimetics Database on advancing studies in (a) disease mechanisms, (b) diagnostics and (c) therapeutics. \p Feryal Clark: The Government is committed to the development of non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption later this year. Recombinant antibodies offer enhanced reliability, consistency, and specificity compared to traditional animal-derived antibodies, strengthening studies into disease mechanisms, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Resources like the Recombinant Antibodies and Mimetics Database from the Centre for Human Specific Research are important information sources to support their wider uptake. Further steps supporting alternative methods, including any targets to phase out specific applications of animal testing, will be outlined in the upcoming strategy.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_136
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_136

Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to reduce the backlog of cases at Truro Crown Court. \p Sarah Sackman: This Government inherited a record and rising courts backlog. We have funded a record-high allocation of Crown Court sitting days – 110,000 days this financial year, 4,000 more than the previous Government – to tackle the outstanding caseload.

As part of our commitment to bearing down on the caseload we have increased magistrates’ court sentencing powers from 6 months to 12 months’ imprisonment for a single triable-either way offence. This will free up capacity in the Crown Court, ensuring it is reserved for the more serious and complex cases.

However, the scale of the challenge is beyond what increasing sitting days alone can achieve.

This is why we commissioned Sir Brian Leveson to undertake an Independent Review of the Criminal Courts to consider the merits of longer-term reform and the efficiency of processes in the criminal courts. We will carefully consider Sir Brian’s proposals in more detail before setting out the Government’s full response to the report in the autumn.

Over the past two years, Truro Crown Court has experienced a significant increase in receipts, rising by 56% (from 477 to 746 cases), a figure that surpasses the 28% increase seen in England and Wales. This growth reflects the increasing demand on the judicial system in the region.

Truro continues to maximise the use of Crown Court estate to increase the number of cases sat. In June 2025, Crown Court appeals were heard at Truro magistrates’ court to reduce the appeal backlog, whilst also maintaining trials at Truro Crown Court.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_137
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_137

Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the performance of (a) Serco and (b) GeoAmey PECS under the prisoner escort and custody service contract. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: 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.

Over the three months March to May 2025, GEOAmey, the PECS supplier in the north, escorted 45,632 prisoners to court. There were 11 instances of delay in arrival for which PECS was responsible, and nine instances where failure to staff a court resulted in a delay. The overall performance rating was 99.96%.

In the south, during the same period, Serco escorted 41,052 prisoners to court and were found responsible for 51 instances of delay in arrival. There were also 19 instances of failure to staff a court leading to a delay. The overall performance rating was 99.83%.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_138
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_138

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether any convicted paedophiles have been released from prison through the early release scheme; and if she will make it her policy not to release convicted paedophiles through the early release scheme. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. On 10 September 2024, the Government therefore took the unavoidable step to move the release point for certain standard determinate sentences from 50% to 40% (‘SDS40’).

All sex offences including those committed against a child are automatically excluded from SDS40.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_139
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_139

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what meetings she has had with the victims of people released from prison through the early release scheme. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We have had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. SDS40 was a necessary measure introduced to relieve pressure on the prison estate. This involved changes to some offender’s automatic release dates.

In designing SDS40, we carefully considered the impact on victims and public safety, ensuring that the most serious offenders were excluded from the scheme. The implementation of SDS40 was considered at a victim support sector roundtable, and then subsequently through meetings with a sector engagement group, which included a broad range of victims’ groups and representatives. We also published an explanation of the policy on GOV.UK and provided victim support organisations with frequently asked questions and answers to support them when engaging with victims who may be affected by the measure. Ministers regularly meet with victims and engage with the victims’ sector to inform relevant areas of policy.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_140
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_140

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of deporting all foreign criminals currently in prison. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The removal of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) is an important priority of this Government. We refer all FNOs in receipt of custodial sentences to the Home Office to consider deportation and we are taking decisive steps to increase removals.

In the past year, 5,179 FNOs have been deported. This is a 14% increase in returns compared to the same period 12 months prior.

We have accepted the recommendations of the sentencing review to enable earlier deportation of FNOs. On 25 June 2025, we laid legislation to expand the Early Release Scheme to allow FNOs to be removed up to 4 years before the earliest release point of their sentence (increased from 18 months now), subject to having served 30% of the custodial element of their sentence (allowing earlier removal compared to the 50% minimum time needed to serve now). This is estimated to further increase deportations and reduce demand by up to 500 prison places per year.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_141
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_141

Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243, Prisons: Education, whether her Department will underwrite New Fair Deal for staff transferring from further education colleges to the private sector in the event that the admitting process to relevant public-sector pension schemes to seek admitted body status as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts is not complete before the effective date of transfer of staff. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The application process is managed by the supplier and so no such assurance can be provided by the Department. As the scheme employer, the Department works proactively with suppliers supporting early applications being made to obtain admitted body status and to provide a scheme guarantee from the relevant Secretary of State in the Admissions Agreement expediently.

The Department also works with the supplier to ensure migration plans and post migration plans have a confirmed process for maintaining the pension status until the individuals are fully admitted.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_142
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243 on Prisons: Education, what guidance her Department has provided to private-sector providers of prison education on establishing contingency plans in the event that the admitting process to relevant public-sector pension schemes to seek admitted body status as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts is not complete before the effective date of transfer of staff. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The Department works with the supplier to ensure migration plans and post migration plans have a confirmed process for maintaining the pension status until the supplier is fully admitted.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_143
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_143

Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243, Prisons: Education, whether her Department has made any assurances to private-sector providers of prison education as to whether the admitting process to relevant public-sector pension schemes to seek admitted body status as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts will be complete before the effective date of transfer of staff. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The application process is managed by the supplier and so no such assurance can be provided by the Department. As the scheme employer, the Department works proactively with suppliers supporting early applications being made to obtain admitted body status and to provide a scheme guarantee from the relevant Secretary of State in the Admissions Agreement expediently.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_144
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_144

Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243, Prisons: Education, whether her Department has made any assurances to private-sector providers of prison education in the event that applications to relevant public-sector pension schemes to seek admitted body status as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts are unsuccessful. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The Department has not made any such assurances to private-sector providers of prison education. Instead, as the scheme employer, the Department works collaboratively with suppliers to assist in the completion of their Admissions Agreement(s) to the appropriate pension fund. Furthermore, the Department provides a scheme guarantee from the Secretary of State in the Admissions Agreement.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_145
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_145

Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243, Prisons: Education, whether it is her expectation that private-sector providers of prison education will apply directly to relevant public-sector pension schemes to seek admitted body status as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: It is the expectation that private-sector providers of prison education will apply directly to relevant public-sector pension schemes to seek admitted body status. The Department will collaborate with suppliers to achieve admittance to relevant pension schemes.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243, Prisons: Education, what guidance was given to her Department by (a) HM Treasury and (b) other Departments on the application of New Fair Deal to prison educators transferring from further education colleges to the private sector as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The Department followed guidance from His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT), at the time of tender publication, and included all the relevant details to bidders on the application of the New Fair Deal (NFD) in the Invitation to Tender documentation.

Further information can be found using the following links: Prisoner Education Services Panel (Inc. Core Education) - Find a Tender (find-tender.service.gov.uk) and Procurement for the Provision of Prisoner Education Services (Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG)) - Find a Tender.

Once HMT policy on pensions was announced on 14 November 2024, all contracts were awarded to suppliers to include the application of NFD to transferring educators.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243, Prisons: Education, whether prison educators who transfer from further education colleges to the private sector as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts will have access to (a) the Local Government Pension Scheme and (b) the Teachers' Pension Scheme. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: I can confirm that staff transferring from further education colleges to the private sector will have access to (a) the Local Government Pension Scheme and (b) the Teachers' Pension Scheme.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243, Prisons: Education, whether New Fair Deal will apply to prison educators transferring from further education colleges to the private sector as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: I can confirm that the New Fair Deal will apply. The Department will honour the Government pension policy set by His Majesty’s Treasury.
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Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the press release entitled UK and Albania agree groundbreaking new arrangement on prisoner transfers, published on 24 May 2023, how many prisoners have been transferred under the agreement with Albania in the last 12 months. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Between 17 July and 31 December 2024 (the latest period for which validated figures are available), four Albanian national offenders were transferred to Albania under the bi-lateral Prison Transfer Agreement. Prisoner transfer is just one scheme where foreign national offenders can be removed early from prison and it is more suited to those serving longer sentences. The Government pursues removal through all available mechanisms and during 2024, 1,610 Albanian foreign national offenders were removed from England and Wales, up 7% from the previous year.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_150
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many employment tribunals cases have been heard since September 2024. \p Sarah Sackman: Our latest published statistics for Employment Tribunals can be found using the following link: www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.

Published data details the number of receipts by jurisdiction and the number of claims disposed of but does not include overall number of cases heard. Disposals by outcome for cases successful at hearing, unsuccessful at hearing and dismissed at a preliminary hearing are published in the main tables in ET_3_R.

This data is currently published up to March 2025 for reform cases only. Employment Tribunals are currently undergoing a transition from paper based systems to digital systems. Only those cases received on digital systems are included in this data.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she has taken with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to review the (a) safe and (b) effective use of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in cases where an individual has fluctuating capacity to make (i) safe and (ii) informed decisions. \p Sarah Sackman: The Ministry of Justice has responsibility for the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, which provides a framework for making decisions on behalf of adults who are unable to do so for themselves.

The 2007 statutory Code of Practice issued under the MCA already provides guidance to practitioners and others on the conduct of capacity assessments in keeping with the principles of the MCA. Paragraphs 4.26 and 4.27 and Chapter 3 of the Code provide guidance on people with fluctuating capacity and how to support them to make a decision.
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Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many court sitting days were allocated in (a) Taunton and (b) the UK in each of the last five years. \p Sarah Sackman: In Taunton, the following allocations were made:

Allocation and Outturn for For Years 2021 – 2026

Crown

Year

Allocation

Actual

25/26

448

81, Apr-May

24/25

428

465

23/24

316

461

22/23

439

315

21/22

450

430

Civil

Year

Allocation

Actual

25/26

162

36, Apr-Jun

24/25

158

119

23/24

181

140

22/23

123

191.5

21/22

221

113

Family

Year

Allocation

Actual

25/26

694

222, Apr-Jun

24/25

743

882.5

23/24

712

967

22/23

580

958.3

21/22

597

752.5

In the rest of England and Wales, the allocations were as followed. Please note that justice is devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In England and Wales:

Allocations for years 2021 – 2026

Jurisdictions

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

2025-26

Crown

105,000

105,000

102,300

106,000

110,000

Mags

125,300

130,200

124,100

124,100

114,000

Civil

86,100

79,500

71,000

75,500

74,300

Family

96,000

106,200

99,500

102,500

97,300

Of Which Public Family

49,700

43,500

Of Which Private Family

34,500

36,400
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps is her Department taking to tackle misogyny in (a) the bankruptcy and (b) judicial system. \p Sarah Sackman: The Ministry of Justice is committed to ensuring that the justice system is fair, impartial and free from discrimination. Fair treatment and equality before the law are fundamental principles of our justice system and central to the judicial role. The Lady Chief Justice holds statutory responsibility for the training and guidance of court judges in England and Wales, including oversight of the Guide to Judicial Conduct. This Guide reflects the core values of judicial conduct: independence, impartiality, integrity, propriety, equality of treatment, and competence and diligence. We are supportive of the ongoing efforts of the senior judiciary to uphold and embed these values across the judiciary.

In relation to bankruptcy specifically, the process is overseen by the Insolvency Service, an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was spent on (a) translation and (b) interpretation services in the (i) courts and (ii) prison system in the last financial year. \p Sarah Sackman: The Ministry of Justice has a statutory duty to provide Language Services to enable access to justice for users for whom English is not their first language and those who require visual and tactile services, under the provision of the Equality Act. Language Service needs and spend are assessed to ensure these services offer good value for money for taxpayers while maintaining high standards of service delivery.

In FY 2024/25, the spend in the courts was £33,073,280.44 on interpretation (spoken) and £136,879.03 on translation (written).

In FY 2024/25, the contracted spend in the prisons was £105,849.83 on interpretation (spoken) and £1,707,440.07 on translation (written).
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Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will take steps to help support parents with the costs of the Family Court system. \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.

Legal aid is available in some private family matters, including for individuals experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse; for individuals (for example, parents) where the child who is the subject of the order is a victim of child abuse or at risk of abuse; people under the age of 18; in certain cases of international or domestic abduction; for family mediation where there is a family dispute and for certain urgent protection applications – for example, non-molestation orders. To be eligible for legal aid means and merits tests and evidence requirements also usually need to be met.

Legal aid is also available for parents, those with parental responsibility, children and third parties (such as grandparents) in certain public family proceedings, subject to meeting the relevant means and merits tests.

Beyond legal aid, the Ministry of Justice is providing 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 to, where appropriate, 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.
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Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what comparative assessment she has made of the performance of the Family Court system in (a) London and (b) the rest of the country. \p Sarah Sackman: This Government is committed to improving performance, which is assessed against system wide targets for 2025/26, agreed by the Family Justice Board. The latest published data shows encouraging signs nationally, including a reduction in the public law open caseload.

Official statistics on family courts are available here: Family Court Statistics Quarterly: January to March 2025 - GOV.UK.

Performance varies across regions, and London continues to experience significant challenges which result in high outstanding caseloads and high average case durations. System partners are working collaboratively to understand and address the drivers of delay and the region is showing positive signs of improvement.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_157
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to recommendation 8 of part 1 report of the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts, published on 9 July 2025, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of adopting the recommendation on trends in the level of (a) theft and (b) drug dealing. \p Sarah Sackman: The Government will carefully consider Sir Brian’s recommendations in detail before setting out a full response to the report in the autumn.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has considered the potential merits of requiring prisoners convicted for (a) murder, (b) rape and (c) terrorism offences to work in prison to repay legal aid. \p Sarah Sackman: Legal aid is not paid directly to the defendant. It is paid to lawyers and ensures defendants have a fair trial and can be punished for their crimes.

The Legal Aid Agency ensures public money is used efficiently by applying means and merits (the interests of justice test) tests, except where exempt by regulation, to all defendants before the magistrates’ and Crown courts, when they make an application for legal aid funding. Where a defendant’s income is above the minimum income threshold, they are required to pay contributions for up to six months during the case. If convicted, they may be required to pay contributions from their capital assets up to the full amount of their defence costs.

The Court of Appeal can also make ‘Recovery of Defence Costs Order’ after upholding a conviction to recover legal aid costs where the defendant has been assessed to have the financial means to do so.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_159
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the cost to the public purse was for legal aid for cases in relation to immigration offences in each of the last five years. \p Sarah Sackman: The requested information relating to legal aid expenditure in respect of specific criminal offences could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_160
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was given in legal aid to foreign nationals accused of (a) murder, (b) rape and (c) terrorism offences in each of the last five years. \p Sarah Sackman: The requested information relating to legal aid expenditure in respect of specific criminal offences could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of exempting foreign nationals from being eligible for legal aid. \p Sarah Sackman: Decisions about who receives legal aid are made in accordance with the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and regulations made under that Act.

Anyone applying for legal aid in England and Wales is subject to strict eligibility criteria, and as a result, their legal issue must generally be in scope, and they must satisfy means and merit tests, unless specifically exempt by regulation.

Legal aid can play an important role in ensuring the smooth running of the courts, by providing timely advice to the individuals concerned, reducing the likelihood of delays and adjournments and helping to tackle court backlogs.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was given in legal aid to foreign nationals in each of the last five years. \p Sarah Sackman: Legal aid expenditure since 2010 is published as part of the Legal Aid Agency’s official statistics. The most recent publication can be viewed here [see table 1.0] and includes expenditure up to 31 March 2025.

Information about legal aid expenditure in respect of foreign nationals is not centrally recorded.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_163

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will consider the potential merits of conducting a review of the legal aid policy. \p Sarah Sackman: The previous Government commissioned the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (CLAIR), chaired by Lord Bellamy KC in 2021, to provide analysis of the criminal legal aid system and explore the ways in which the Government could support its long-term sustainability. This Government continues to keep the Review’s findings under consideration as we look at options for reform in the criminal legal aid sector.

On 19 December 2024, we announced that criminal legal aid solicitors will receive up to £92 million more a year, subject to consultation, to help address the ongoing challenges in the criminal justice system. The consultation for this has now closed. Additionally, in November 2024, we announced our response to the Crime Lower consultation, confirming an uplift to the lowest police station fees, introducing a new Youth Court fee scheme, and paying for travel in certain circumstances. Together, these changes amounted to a £24 million investment for criminal legal aid providers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_164

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the number of deaths referred to the Isle of Wight coroner involved a Marine Accident Investigation Branch inquiry in each of the last five years; when each case was (a) opened and (b) completed; and whether an inquest has been held for each case. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is an independent organisation; the Ministry of Justice does not collect this information centrally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_165

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Spain. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK and Spain have a strong and wide-ranging relationship, particularly on people-to-people, trade, climate and energy, and security. The Foreign Secretary met his counterpart in Brussels on 11 June for Gibraltar negotiations and in the margins of the NATO summit in The Hague on 25 June. He visited Madrid on 31 March to attend Weimar+. The Minister for Development attended the Financing for Development Conference in Seville from 30 June to 1 July. I met with my Spanish counterpart Secretary of State Sampedro in Madrid on 7 May and on 11 June in Brussels. I also visited Spain on 21 February for a meeting on the Gibraltar negotiations and on 17 January for bilateral meetings.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_166

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Estonia. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Estonia across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together as North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Joint Expeditionary Force allies, and the UK leads the enhanced Forward Presence at Tapa, supporting regional security. The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Michal in Oslo in May at the Joint Expeditionary Force Leaders Summit, and the Foreign Secretary met Foreign Minister Tsahkna in Warsaw in May. I hosted Secretary General Vseviov in March.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_167

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the family of Michael Frison who went missing in Sardinia on 13 July 2024. \p Stephen Doughty: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been providing consular support to Michael Frison's family since his disappearance in Italy in July 2024. Officials have remained in contact with the Italian authorities to seek updates on the investigation. Our thoughts remain with the family at this difficult time.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_168

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Poland. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Poland across a broad range of bilateral files. During the Prime Minister's visit to Poland in January he and Polish Prime Minister Tusk announced the start of negotiations for an ambitious UK-Poland Defence and Security Treaty. The Foreign Secretary met with his Polish counterpart on 7 May in Warsaw where they discussed the threat to European security from Russia and our commitment to work together. I attended the Belvedere Forum in Warsaw on 16 June to discuss strengthening cooperation on security, growth, and migration. At the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) held in Italy on 10-11 July we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Poland on collaboration in support of Ukraine's recovery.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_169
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_169

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to meet with his counterparts in (a) the EU and (b) Spain to discuss the status of Gibraltar. \p Stephen Doughty: We have no plans to meet with the EU, Spain, or any other party to discuss the status of Gibraltar. This Government is fully committed to the double lock: we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their freely and democratically expressed wishes. And we will never enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content. The Foreign Secretary and I continue, side by side with the Government of Gibraltar, to work with the EU and Spain to finalise a Treaty governing Gibraltar's relationship with the EU. Political agreement, including on a clause which safeguards Gibraltar's sovereignty, was reached on 11 June and all sides are working together to finalise the Treaty as soon as possible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_170

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Portugal. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Portugal across a broad range of bilateral files. The Foreign Secretary last met with his Portuguese counterpart Foreign Minister Rangel when he visited Lisbon in March earlier this year. I last met with my Portuguese counterpart Secretary of State Domingos when I visited Lisbon in January. Both visits discussed how we can continue to effectively implement the UK-Portugal Joint Declaration.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_171

Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many official visits were made by foreign diplomats to Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. \p Stephen Doughty: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not routinely monitor the travel of foreign diplomats based in the UK within the country.  They are able to meet a wide range of stakeholders across the UK, without the need for permission from the Government. This principle - that diplomats be allowed to undertake engagement without approval of the host State government - is consistent with how we expect our own diplomats working overseas to be able to operate.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_172

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help improve the UK’s relationship with Norway. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK maintains strong and historic ties with Norway across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies, and our cooperation has deepened further following the Prime Minister signing the Norway-UK Strategic Partnership in Bergen on 16 December 2024. There have been several Ministerial visits between Norway and the UK, including two visits by the Foreign Secretary to Norway in September 2024 and May 2025, I visited in October 2024, and an inward visit by Foreign Minister Barth Eide took place in December 2024. A Green Industrial Partnership was also signed by Energy Ministers in May 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_173

Martin Rhodes:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 57552 on Humanitarian Aid: Older People, if he will place in the Library copies of (a) the robust indicators on Sex, Age and Disability (SAD) data disaggregation and (b) any associated guidance required of UN agencies on their application for UK funding. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK's Business Case and Logical Framework for our core humanitarian funding to the UN, covering the indicators on sex, age and disability disaggregated data is available for public access on the Government's Dev Tracker website. Our Humanitarian Response Funding Guidelines for NGOs are likewise available online on gov.uk.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_174

Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the BBC on the potential impact of changes to the level of funding for BBC World Service on the capacity of the BBC to deliver content in other languages. \p Catherine West: The Government is in close touch with the BBC on a range of issues - we have regular discussions at Ministerial, senior and official levels. The BBC is the main funder of the World Service and is editorially and operationally independent. It decides the most effective and efficient way of delivering the World Service. Expanding coverage would primarily be a decision for the BBC, in consultation with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in line with the requirements of the Framework Agreement. World Service Grant-in-Aid funding for the next three years will be decided by Ministers through the FCDO allocations process in the autumn.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_175

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, With reference to the publication entitled Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - Ministers' Gifts - May 2025, published on 26 June 2025, what the meaning is of the entry returns pending for the Ceremonial Sword. \p Catherine West: When the Foreign Secretary receives a gift, he decides whether the gift will be retained by the department, or purchased by him personally. On this occasion, the Foreign Secretary has decided this gift will be retained by the department. The public data will reflect this outcome shortly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_176

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Denmark. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Denmark across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies, and cooperation has deepened further following Denmark's accession to the United Nations Security Council (2025-26). Most recently, the Prime Minister met Prime Minister Frederiksen in Oslo in May at the JEF Leaders' Summit; the Foreign Secretary met Foreign Minister Rasmussen at the NATO Informal in May; and I hosted Danish State Secretary Machon in March. We continue to engage our Danish counterparts regularly at all levels.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_177

Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on funding for the (a) BBC World Service and (b) British Council for 2026-7. \p Catherine West: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ministers regularly engage with ministerial colleagues on matters affecting their Departments and issues of mutual interest. I lead on soft power within the FCDO and I am in regular contact with my Department for Culture, Media and Sport counterpart on this important issue.