theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that business rates reform supports regional economic growth in (a) rural and (b) coastal areas. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment and is fit for the 21st century.

To ensure that key amenities are available, and that community assets are protected in rural areas, Rural Rates Relief provides 100% business rates relief for certain properties in eligible rural areas with populations below 3,000.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, from 2026/27, we also intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

Ahead of these new multipliers coming into force, the Government prevented the current RHL business rates relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. We also froze the small business multiplier. Taken together with Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR), this protects over a million properties from inflationary increases.

As highlighted in the Transforming Business Rates Discussion Paper published at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government is interested in hearing stakeholders’ views on the extent to which the current system acts as a barrier to investment. The Government will be publishing an Interim Report summarising stakeholder feedback to date, and setting out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many child benefit claims were cancelled because the claimant was found to be living abroad in each year since 2020. \p James Murray: From administrative data, the number of Child Benefit awards terminated by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) through compliance activity per year, due to customers no longer meeting the Child Benefit residency criteria is provided below: ·

- 2020-21 = 113 awards

- 2021-22 = 269 awards

- 2022-23 = 762 awards

- 2023-24 = 1,030 awards

- 2024-25 = 3,017 awards

The increase in terminated awards over this period has resulted from incremental improvements in HMRC’s utilisation of available data sources. In 2024-25 a proof of concept used Home Office travel data as a risk indicator for when customers may no longer satisfy Child Benefit residence criteria. Following the success of this exercise, the government announced at Autumn Budget 24 investment in an additional 180 welfare counter fraud staff in HMRC to tackle fraud and error in Child Benefit. This is expected to save £350 million over the next five years.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the findings of the report entitled Taxing Futures: The economic and fiscal implications of changes to BPR & APR for UK family businesses and farms, published by Family Business UK in June 2025. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

The analysis commissioned by Family Business UK and undertaken by CBI Economics is based on a self-selecting online survey from members of representative groups campaigning against the reforms.

The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) certified the costing at Autumn Budget 2024. The reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief are forecast to raise a combined £520 million in 2029-30. The OBR does not expect the reforms to have a significant macroeconomic impact.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the long-term economic benefits of permanently reducing the business rates multiplier for the (a) beer and (b) pub sectors. \p Dan Tomlinson: To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

Eligibility for the new RHL multipliers is intended to broadly reflect the scope of the existing RHL relief scheme, and will be set out in legislation later this year.

Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that business will need support in 2025/26. As such, we have extended the RHL relief for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. Under the previous Government, RHL relief was due to end entirely in April 2025. By extending the relief, the Government has saved the average pub, with a ratable value of £16,800, over £3,300.

Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance, which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
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Terry Jermy:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps their Department is taking to implement the guidance entitled The government’s approach to rural proofing 2025, published on 15 May 2025. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government has made a commitment that all policy decision-making should be rural proofed. Rural proofing ensures that rural areas are not overlooked and that the intended outcomes are deliverable in rural areas.

Defra leads on rural proofing, but individual departments are responsible for ensuring that their policy decision-making is rural proofed. Rural proofing is important because rural communities are an important part of the economy. Rural areas are home to around one-fifth of England’s population and half a million registered businesses.

Policy outcomes in rural areas can be affected by economies of scale, distance, sparsity and demography. That is why it is important that government policies consider how they can be delivered in rural areas. Rural proofing ensures that these areas receive fair and equitable policy outcomes.

Our department takes its obligation to rural proofing seriously and will consider the impact of relevant spending, regulation, tax or financial services policy decisions on the rural economy.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of HMRC's simple assessment procedure. \p Dan Tomlinson: Simple Assessment enables HMRC to collect Income Tax from individuals without the need for customers to complete a Self Assessment return. As Simple Assessment tax calculations are based on data HMRC already holds, customers benefit from a simplified process. If a customer believes their Simple Assessment is wrong, they can query it with HMRC.

HMRC continues to improve the Simple Assessment process, including by making the Simple Assessment notice clearer for customers; expanding customer payment options; and trialling payment reminders.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure HMRC tax calculations accurately reflect the period in which state pension upratings apply; and whether HMRC has a planned date for resolving this issue. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government is committed to making sure older people can live with the dignity and respect they deserve in retirement. The State Pension is the foundation of the support available to them. Over the course of this Parliament, the yearly amount of the full new State Pension is currently projected to go up by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility's latest forecast.

In line with the Government's commitment to the Triple Lock for the duration of this parliament, over 12 million pensioners have benefitted from a 4.1 per cent increase to their basic or new State Pension this year. Those on a full new State Pension will be getting an additional £470 a year. The extra income comes on top of a substantial increase in 2024/25, which saw those receiving a full new State Pension get a £900 boost.

When it comes to taxes, social security benefits are treated differently depending on why they are paid. Generally, benefits that replace income, like the State Pension, are taxable. The Personal Allowance - the amount an individual can earn before paying tax - will continue to exceed the basic and full new State Pension in 2025/26. This means pensioners whose sole income is the full new State Pension or basic State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax.

Most pensioners who pay tax on their State Pension are in Pay As You Earn. For these customers, HMRC calculates how much State Pension an individual accrues each year by calculating one week at the old rate of State Pension and 51 weeks at the new rate and adjusting their tax code accordingly. This means most pensioners pay the right amount of tax in real time.

HMRC has become aware that for a sub-set of individuals in receipt of the State Pension, a calculation error means that their tax is calculated based on 52 weeks at the new rate. The difference in tax owed is approximately £5. Affected individuals can call HMRC to amend any incorrect figures of State Pension.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps she has taken to help prevent people who have been sanctioned from concealing property assets in the UK. \p Lucy Rigby: In April, OFSI released a Property Threat Assessment Report. The report identifies key evasion threats, red flags that businesses should be aware of, and observations on areas where compliance could be strengthened.

For the Threat Assessment Report, click here: OFSI_Property_and_Related_Services_Threat_Assessment.pdf

OFSI also has specific guidance for letting agents. This guidance helps to facilitate OFSI’s aim of encouraging better sanctions compliance, raising impacted businesses’ awareness of their sanctions obligations, and assisting OFSI in identifying potential circumvention gaps and financial sanctions breaches. For OFSI’s letting agents guidance, click here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-sanctions-guidance-for-letting-agents/financial-sanctions-guidance-for-letting-agents

Since 2022, OFSI has significantly increased its headcount and capability, including procuring leading tools and training, which means OFSI is able to undertake proactive, intelligence-led sanctions enforcement.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment (a) HM Treasury and (b) the Government Actuary Department has made of the accuracy of the GDP deflator forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility. \p Lucy Rigby: Economic forecasts, including assessments of the impact of policy decisions, are the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

The OBR are required to produce a Forecast Evaluation Report (FER) each year under the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act (2011). The OBR are required to explain reasons for divergence between its forecasts and subsequent outturns, to support future forecast improvements.

The latest FER can be found here: Forecast evaluation report 2025 - Office for Budget Responsibility. This includes information about the GDP deflator on Page 29-30.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential long-term fiscal merits of retaining the Bitcoins held by UK authorities in connection with investment fraud. \p Lucy Rigby: Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA), which sets out the necessary steps for the management and realisation of assets, the seizure, recovery and management of Bitcoin assets is subject to consideration of independent law enforcement and the courts.

There are no current plans to amend the Act to divert seized coins to a centrally-held fund or reserve.

I am unable to comment on any ongoing civil recovery investigations.
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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has make of the potential impact of the requirement for letting agents to carry out money laundering checks on landlords and tenants on the number of rental properties available. \p Lucy Rigby: The impact of compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs) for letting agents was assessed as part of the Impact Assessment for the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2019, which brought certain letting agents into scope of the MLRs. This is available here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/1511/impacts

The Government keeps the MLRs under review in order to ensure the requirements remain effective and proportionate for all regulated sectors, including letting agents.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the actuarial regulation elements of the Government’s planned Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill. \p Lucy Rigby: The government will bring forward Audit Reform and Corporate Governance legislation when Parliamentary time allows. The government will set out further details in the autumn.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of amending the rules for the childcare vouchers scheme to allow participants to receive refunds, subject to the appropriate tax and National Insurance contributions, in instances where (a) exceptional and (b) unforeseen changes in circumstances have resulted in unused balances that can no longer be spent on eligible childcare, in the context of the covid-19 pandemic. \p James Murray: We appreciate the temporary closure of childcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic may have left parents unable to use some existing Government childcare offers, including Childcare Vouchers.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans reforms to encourage (a) investment and (b) growth in the (i) beer and (ii) pub sector. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government recognises the vital role that pubs play in supporting communities and local economies such as in Mid Bedfordshire.

That’s why we are streamlining licensing via a new National Licensing Policy Framework to be more modern, proportionate, and enabling. This includes looking to removing the requirement for printed notices in local newspapers, increasing the maximum entitlement for temporary event notices and supporting the removal of outdated licence conditions.

We have increased the generosity of the discount available for small brewers, by increasing the relative value of the Small Producers Relief discount, compared to the main duty rates, for both draught and non-draught products. We have cut alcohol duty on draught products saving the sector over £85m annually and we are also reviewing the beer market to enable small brewers better access to local pubs.

To support businesses, including breweries, invest and grow, the Government committed to keeping a permanent full expensing system, as well as the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA). Full expensing allows companies to claim 100 per cent capital allowances on qualifying main rate investments. The more flexible AIA allows businesses to deduct the entire cost of investments, up to £1 million per year, including qualifying second-hand assets and assets bought for leasing or hiring.

And finally, the Government has protected the smallest businesses from the impact of the increase to Employer National Insurance by more than doubling the Employment Allowance to £10,500, and will permanently lower tax for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties with rateable values below 500,000.
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Terry Jermy:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people with disabilities were employed in her Department on 2 September 2025. \p Dan Tomlinson: There were 206 active employees with declared disabilities (9.4% of the department) employed at HM Treasury on 2 September 2025.
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Siân Berry:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her oral evidence to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee on 22 July 2025, on what evidential basis the country has cared more about bats than about commuter times for people in Leeds and West Yorkshire. \p James Murray: In the past, our planning system has acted as a brake on growth, with consenting times for major infrastructure taking far too long and costing too much money. Environmental and planning compliance has meant projects like HS2 have suffered excessive costs and delays as referenced by James Stewart’s review of the problems in that programme and the approach to governance and assurance of major transport projects. This has damaged investment in the UK, costing us jobs and economic growth.

That’s why we are committed to creating a planning system that is an enabler of growth; delivering both the high-quality housing and critical infrastructure that communities need. We are reforming the National Planning Policy Framework and are taking a new growth-focused approach to the planning system with major reforms in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

The new Nature Restoration Fund will enable developers to meet their environment obligations quicker without compromising on environmental improvement.
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Alex Burghart:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the evidential basis is for the Office for Value for Money making almost £14 billion of annual efficiency gains by 2028-29 against planned day-to-day budgets for 2025-26. \p James Murray: The OVfM has supported departments to develop bespoke technical efficiency targets, underpinned by credible delivery plans. In total, the government identified efficiencies of almost £14 billion a year by 2028-29.

The OVfM’s approach was guided by three principles, which together will deliver a sustainable outcome. First, it has placed greater focus on improving outcomes not just reducing costs. It has achieved this by clearly distinguishing between technical efficiencies (delivering more output for the same input, or the same output for less input) and stopping activities (reducing outputs). This is in line with the Government Efficiency Framework definition of a technical efficiency. Second, it has aimed to increase confidence in the deliverability of efficiencies, by working with departments to develop bespoke targets underpinned by credible plans. Third, it has supported greater transparency by publishing departments’ targets and plans, allowing external scrutiny and public accountability.

Further detail on the basis for departments’ targets and plans can be found in the Departmental Efficiency Delivery Plans document published at Spending Review 2025: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/departmental-efficiency-delivery-plans.
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Saqib Bhatti:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of UK borrowing costs on government spending. \p James Murray: The Government has published Spending Review 2025, which set departmental spending allocations consistent with the fiscal strategy set out at Autumn Budget 2024 and Spring Statement 2025. The Chancellor will provide further updates at Autumn Budget 2025.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the proposed socio-economic duty will apply to fiscal decisions made by her Department. \p James Murray: The Office for Equality and Opportunity in the Cabinet Office is currently working toward commencement of the duty. This includes drafting statutory guidance which will clarify how the duty can be applied effectively.
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John Whitby:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the amount jurors can claim for jury service in the context of trends in the level of childcare costs in the last five years. \p Sarah Sackman: The Government keeps under review all support provided to jurors throughout their service. Jury service is an important civic duty, and we want to ensure jurors feel supported as they undertake this important role. Jurors can claim childcare expenses for additional costs incurred due to jury service, as well as allowances for travel to and from court and subsistence during attendance. Additionally, expectant or new parents, including breastfeeding mothers, may request to be excused from jury duty if their caring responsibilities prevent them from serving within the next twelve months.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was spent on legal aid for asylum cases in each year since 2019. \p Sarah Sackman: Legal aid is available to fund legal advice and representation provided to individuals seeking asylum in England and Wales, subject to an assessment of merits and financial eligibility.

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) publishes information regarding the cost of legal aid provided in respect of asylum matters funded as Controlled Work. The information requested can be found at column G of table 5.3. Controlled Work covers the provision of legal advice regarding asylum matters and representation before the First Tier (Immigration and Asylum) Tribunal.

The LAA also publishes information about the cost of Legal Representation pertaining to immigration and asylum matters (see table 6.5). However, due to the way in which this information is recorded on LAA systems expenditure specifically in relation to asylum cases could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been (a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted for social media posts in each of the last five years. \p Sarah Sackman: The Ministry of Justice does not collect data on arrests or charging decisions. This is a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on convictions for a wide range of offences in England and Wales within the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.

However, data centrally held does not specify whether an offence relates to social media posts.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prisoners released under the early release scheme have subsequently been (a) rearrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted of other offences. \p Sarah Sackman: 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.  We publish data on convictions as part of our reoffending rates which are published regularly on an annual and quarterly basis. The most recent rates are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/proven-reoffending-statistics.

We have also published SDS40 release data alongside the quarterly Offender Management Statistics: Standard Determinate Sentence 40 (SDS40) : September 2024 to March 2025 - GOV.UK.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold data on arrests or charges.
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Mark Garnier:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Justice Act 1999, whether she has had discussions with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women and Safeguarding on the use of pre-recorded evidence in cases of (a) sexual assault and (b) rape. \p Sarah Sackman: The Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls regularly meets with the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls to discuss shared priorities. These discussions ensure close collaboration across portfolios and a continued focus on improving support for victims throughout the criminal justice process.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will publish a summary of her recent discussions with her Indian counterpart on the regulation of UK lawyers in India. \p Sarah Sackman: The Ministry of Justice has regularly engaged the Indian Ministry of Law and Justice and Bar Council of India (BCI) at Ministerial and official level in recent years to advocate for the interests of UK barristers and advocates, often in conjunction with the Bar Council of England and Wales.

The previous Lord Chancellor met her counterpart during the Indian Minister of Law and Justice's visit to London in October 2024, where the BCI regulations were discussed. Additionally, the previous Lord Chancellor wrote to the Indian Minister of Law and Justice to reemphasise her support for UK legal sector access to the Indian market.

The previous Lord Chancellor discussed access to India’s legal services market with the previous Chair of the Bar in October 2024. In addition, Ministry of Justice and British High Commission officials work closely with the Bar Council of England and Wales on India engagement. The Ministry of Justice is aware of the Bar Council’s concerns on the 2025 BCI rules, particularly the provisions on ‘fly-in-fly-out’ (FIFO) practice.

The Ministry of Justice and British High Commission have engaged the Indian Ministry of Law and Justice and BCI to discuss FIFO practice challenges facing UK barristers, advocates and solicitors under the BCI rules. Issues discussed have included registration; fee structures; and the issue of breaches of confidentiality associated with the BCI's disclosure requirements.
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Mark Garnier:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) victims and (b) witnesses are supported following their pre-recorded evidence. \p Sarah Sackman: Following the recording of section 28 evidence, victims and witnesses are supported through ongoing contact from Witness Care Units. They are offered access to specialist emotional and practical support services, including counselling where appropriate, to help them manage the impact of their experience. In line with their rights under the Victims’ Code, they also receive clear and timely updates on case progress and outcomes.

The Ministry of Justice provides funding for victim and witness support services, including ringfenced funding for sexual violence and domestic abuse services.
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Mark Garnier:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Justice Act 1999, what steps she is taking to ensure court proceedings in sexual cases are not repeatedly adjourned. \p Sarah Sackman: The Ministry of Justice’s 2025 impact evaluation of section 28 found that, between January 2019 and September 2022, victims were able to give evidence around five months before the trial. Although trials began one month later on average, the analysis was unable to examine the specific factors causing this delay. While section 28 hearings can occasionally affect scheduling – such as requiring a barrister to leave another trial – the evaluation found no discernible effect on the number of trials that are cancelled or rescheduled as a result of the measure.

The progression of a case through the courts is a matter for the judiciary. Listing and case management decisions are made by the judiciary in collaboration with court listing officers, who prioritise cases involving vulnerable witnesses, including those involving serious sexual offences. To support this, HMCTS has introduced measures such as a national forum for listing officers to share best practice.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been prosecuted for unpeaceful protest in the last 12 months. \p Sarah Sackman: The Ministry of Justice publishes data on prosecutions for a wide range of offences including violent disorder in England and Wales within the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.

However, data centrally held does not contain information for unpeaceful protests as there is no specific offence used to define unpeaceful protests.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025. \p Alex Davies-Jones: Information on sickness absence is published annually as part of the Civil Service Sickness Absence report.

Data has been published up to the end of the 2023/24 financial year and is available on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-sickness-absence-2024/civil-service-sickness-absence-2024-report.

Data for subsequent years, including those spanning the periods requested are due for publication, from early 2026 and annually following that.
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Alistair Strathern:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to account for the consequences of coercive control in divorce court (a) proceedings and (b) decisions. \p Alex Davies-Jones: It is a top priority for this Government to tackle violence against women and girls, including economic abuse and coercive control. The Law Commission’s 2024 scoping report on financial remedies on divorce considered the issue of domestic abuse, including economic abuse and coercive control, in relation to financial proceedings on divorce and the decisions made by the courts. The Government is carefully considering the report’s findings and will provide a response in due course.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_120

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many inquests are outstanding in the Isle of Wight Coroner’s Office; and how long they have been waiting to be heard. \p Alex Davies-Jones: Real-time information is not centrally collated on the total number of uncompleted coroner investigations in individual coroner areas, and their length.

However, the number of open inquests at 31 December 2024 is published in the Coroner Statistics (Coroners statistics 2024 - GOV.UK). The data for each coroner area can be found in the CSV tables published alongside the statistical report.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_121
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_121

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps her Department has taken to help reduce levels of reoffending in (a) South Norfolk constituency and (b) Norfolk. \p Alex Davies-Jones: All individuals are assessed for their risk of harm and factors that pertain to re-offending as part of recommending the appropriate sentence and interventions. These deliver a combination of individual supervision and group programmes to assist people on probation developing more pro-social behaviours. Alongside this, timely enforcement is critical when conditions are breached, or risk escalates beyond a manageable level in the community. In relation to South Norfolk and Norfolk, the following specific arrangements are in place to help reduce levels of re-offending:

Partnerships - There is a strong relationship with Norfolk PCC which has enabled co-commissioning of services, for example, HGV Driver and Forklift Truck Driver Training.

Commissioned Rehabilitative Services - There are services directly commissioned by HMPPS providing services for women and ethnic minority people. These services also support people in probation with accommodation, personal wellbeing, finance, benefit and debt. In addition, dependency and recovery workers, co-commissioned with Norfolk County Council are in place for dealing with alcohol and drug misuse.

Local Strategic Engagement - HMPPS convenes and chairs pre-release panels for those leaving prison. These are establishing and developing professional relationships between stakeholders by taking a multi-disciplinary approach to release planning and move-on for people at risk of homelessness. The local Probation Service is an active member of the Community Safety Partnership Group that brings together organisations from across Norfolk to tackle crime and disorder, to ensure the county remains a safe place for people to live, work and visit. The members of the NCSP represent local councils, policing and fire services, probation, youth offending, health and housing.

Additional services - There is currently an education, training and employment pilot in Norfolk which looks to improve employment outcomes (and sustaining employment) for people on release from custody and for those on community orders. This has seen many positive results with people gaining and maintaining employment. Purfleet Trust are also co-commissioned with West Norfolk Local Authority to provide additional support to provide a bespoke programme of support for all individuals referred into the service to help people sustain accommodation. We have an advanced service using Peer Mentors under our engaging people on probation framework which results in better engagement from our people on probation who may otherwise not engage fully with services, breaking down barriers and leading to desistance. It also helps us as a service to develop and enhance our culture to meet the diverse needs of people on probation.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_122
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_122

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Criminals to face football, travel, club and pub bans, published on 23 August 2025, what impact her Department estimates these measures will have on (a) rates of first offence and (b) rates of reoffence. \p Alex Davies-Jones: Through the Sentencing Bill we will introduce new powers available to the courts when imposing a community or suspended sentence. This will provide courts with greater flexibility than ever before to tailor punishments to offenders and ensure sentences served in the community are not a “soft option” but represent a genuine punishment by restricting offenders’ freedoms.

The four new powers which this Bill includes are:

Banning offenders from attending public events (including sports events);

Banning offenders from attending drinking establishments (including pubs, clubs and bars);

Prohibiting offenders from driving, and

Requiring an offender to stay within a geographic location (restriction zones).

We believe that these new powers, for example banning criminals from football matches and pubs, will help to deter offending and hammer home that under this Government, crime no longer pays.

The Sentencing Bill seeks to increase the robustness of community sentencing. Evidence suggests that community orders and suspended sentences are more effective than short custodial sentences at reducing reoffending in certain circumstances.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_123
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_123

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much staff time, in hours, was lost to sick leave in (a) the open estate, (b) the secure estate and (c) Young Offenders Institutions in each of the last 10 years. \p Alex Davies-Jones: Sickness is measured across the Civil Service in working days lost rather than the number of hours lost.

The number of working days lost to sickness is published in the HM Prison and Probation Service workforce quarterly publication which is available here: www.gov.uk/government/collections/hm-prison-probation-service-workforce-statistics.

The number of days lost in each prison annually from 1 April 2019 to 30 June 2025 is available in Table 21 of this spreadsheet: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/689f34791fedc616bb133a86/hmpps-workforce-statistics-tables-jun-2025_final.ods.

Data from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2019 is available in Table 21 of this spreadsheet: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64dcd3e0c8dee4000d7f1db2/hmpps-workforce-statistics-tables-jun-2023_final.ods.

The prison categories are available in this spreadsheet: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6889f68876f68cc8414d5b6a/Chapter_10_Tables___Staff_in_post.ods.

Data for 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2017 is included in the attached spreadsheet. This also includes the average staff in post and average working days lost for context to enable comparisons over time.

PQ_74595_table (xlsx, 15.4KB)
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_124
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_124

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many neurodiversity support staff have been employed on the open and secure estate in each of the last 10 calendar years. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The concept of dedicated neurodiversity support staff was introduced in 2021, with four in post. National rollout commenced during 2022 and was phased in over two years. In 2023, there were 51 staff in post. Implementation was completed in 2024, with 123 in post. This number has since remained broadly stable.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_125
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_125

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing inmates to apply for jobs in prison while on remand. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The Ministry of Justice acknowledges the importance of purposeful activity including employment in custody for convicted prisoners and for those on remand.

Under Section 31 of the Prison Rules 1999, un-convicted prisoners are already permitted to take up prison employment voluntarily, though they are not compelled to do so.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_126
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_126

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many psychologists have been employed on (a) the secure estate, (b) the open estate and (c) young offenders’ institutions in each of the last 10 financial years. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The requested information is published in Table 15 of the HM Prison & Probation Service Workforce Statistics, which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hm-prison-probation-service-workforce-statistics.

Psychologists in HM Prison and Probation Service are organised into regional teams. Although each is based at an individual establishment, they work across sites, depending upon demand.

A breakdown of establishments by category can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prisons-and-their-resettlement-providers.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_127
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_127

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if her Department will make an assessment of the proportion of inmates on the women’s estate who have immediate access to menstrual products in their cells. \p Alex Davies-Jones: All women in prison have access to menstrual products, which are typically stored in locations that allow women to collect items themselves as needed. They are then able to store them in their cells. In circumstances – such as overnight – where a woman is confined to her cell and does not have access to menstrual products, she can alert a member of staff, who will ensure that appropriate provision is made without delay.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_128
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_128

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on (a) children and (b) staff have occurred in Young Offenders Institutions in each of the last 10 years. \p Alex Davies-Jones: For the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2025, the requested information can be found in table 1.2.2 of Safety in the Children and Young People Secure Estate: Update to March 2025 - GOV.UK.

As the counting rules for assaults in young offender institutions changed during 2018-19, comparable figures are not available for earlier years.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_129
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_129

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Justice Secretary introduces democratic lock over Sentencing Council, published on 2 September 2025, what plans she has for enabling Parliament to (a) scrutinise and (b) influence future Sentencing Council guidelines. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The Lord Chancellor has brought forward measures in the Sentencing Bill to ensure that there is stronger democratic and judicial oversight of sentencing guidelines the Sentencing Council produces.

The Council will be placed under a statutory obligation to obtain approval from both the Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice for all guidelines. This means that no guidelines can be issued without the Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice each explicitly approving it. The Council will also be required to obtain Lord Chancellor approval of its annual business plan.

The Sentencing Council has an existing statutory obligation to consult with the Justice Select Committee on draft sentencing guidelines, which is unaffected by the measures we are taking forward in the Sentencing Bill.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_130
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_130

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will provide an estimate of the total number of Gazans that will enter the asylum system following medical treatment in the UK. \p Mike Tapp: As the Home Secretary said in her statement to the House on 1 September, the Foreign Secretary will set out further details of the planned medical evacuations of children from Gaza in the near future.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_131
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_131

Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of accommodating asylum seekers with unknown or unverifiable criminal histories on public safety. \p Alex Norris: The Home Office has a legal obligation to accommodate asylum seekers where they would otherwise be destitute. All asylum seekers undergo checks against policing and immigration databases.

Decisions on allocation of asylum seekers to accommodation are made with case-by-case consideration of an individual’s circumstances and needs, in line with published policy. Safeguarding and welfare remain a priority, and the Home Office works closely with statutory partners where required.