Written questions by McDonald.

What estimate he has made of the proportion of cases in the backlog are still pending the decision of the defendant to elect mode of trial.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information about cases in the open caseload at both the magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court. This includes breakdowns of volumes and durations as part of the Crown Court open caseload published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: Criminal court statistics quarterly. The Ministry of Justice does not publish data relating to the progression of cases or mode of trial in the open caseload.

What estimate he has made of the percentage of the overall Crown Court backlog which comprises the cohort of up to three years’ imprisonment cases and would go before a Judge only court under proposed court reforms.

As is usual practice, detailed impact assessments will be provided alongside the necessary legislation for these reforms. The Government will bring forward this legislation when parliamentary time allows.

What estimate he has made of the percentage of the current Crown Court backlog that would be sent for judge alone trials under his proposed court reforms.

As is usual practice, detailed impact assessments will be provided alongside the necessary legislation for these reforms. The Government will bring forward this legislation when parliamentary time allows.

What estimate he has made of the percentage of cases in the overall Crown Court backlog which are either way cases that would be no longer eligible for jury trial under his proposed reforms.

As is usual practice, detailed impact assessments will be provided alongside the necessary legislation for these reforms. The Government will bring forward this legislation when parliamentary time allows.

What estimate he has made of the number of either-way cases in the present Crown Court backlog that have yet to elect mode of trial.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information about cases in the open caseload at both the magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court. This includes breakdowns of volumes and durations as part of the Crown Court open caseload published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: Criminal court statistics quarterly. The Ministry of Justice does not publish data relating to the progression of cases or mode of trial in the open caseload.

Whether his Department holds information on the median age of cases that have yet to elect mode of trial.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information about cases in the open caseload at both the magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court. This includes breakdowns of volumes and durations as part of the Crown Court open caseload published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: Criminal court statistics quarterly. The Ministry of Justice does not publish data relating to the progression of cases or mode of trial in the open caseload.

What steps her Department is taking to review operational practice with Serco to ensure that safeguarding actions for electronic monitoring staff are properly implemented.

Releasing information on financial penalties would prejudice, or would likely prejudice, Serco Group Limited’s commercial interests.To provide the number of outstanding monitoring visits in need of completion by Serco in each of the past 12 months would be of disproportionate cost.While the backlog of outstanding visits has been significantly reduced, Serco’s overall performance remains below acceptable levels. We continue to hold them to account for that and will not hesitate to impose further financial penalties where necessary.The performance requirements are detailed within the Key Performance Indicators in the Field and Monitoring Service contract, and these are available on Contracts Finders under Schedule 3 of the contract: Electronic Monitoring Field and Monitoring Service (FMS) - Contracts Finder. Whilst we acknowledge that performance has been unacceptable, the Ministry of Justice continues to hold Serco to account for poor performance and we are overseeing service improvements.During the procurement of the Field and Monitoring Service contract, all suppliers were required to provide details of their safeguarding processes, and these were assessed as part of the evaluation process. The contract outlines the ongoing audit rights that allow the Ministry of Justice to review all processes. There is an annual assurance test completed by the contract management team to ensure that what suppliers have outlined is being adhered to, and the next assurance is scheduled to be carried out in July 2025.The Field and Monitoring Service contract is already published and is available on Contracts Finder: Electronic Monitoring Field and Monitoring Service (FMS) - Contracts Finder. Specifically, please refer to the schedules referenced Core Terms and Schedule 3 (Performance).

If she will publish the financial penalties issued to Serco in relation to unmet targets for electronic monitoring in each of the past 12 months.

Releasing information on financial penalties would prejudice, or would likely prejudice, Serco Group Limited’s commercial interests.To provide the number of outstanding monitoring visits in need of completion by Serco in each of the past 12 months would be of disproportionate cost.While the backlog of outstanding visits has been significantly reduced, Serco’s overall performance remains below acceptable levels. We continue to hold them to account for that and will not hesitate to impose further financial penalties where necessary.The performance requirements are detailed within the Key Performance Indicators in the Field and Monitoring Service contract, and these are available on Contracts Finders under Schedule 3 of the contract: Electronic Monitoring Field and Monitoring Service (FMS) - Contracts Finder. Whilst we acknowledge that performance has been unacceptable, the Ministry of Justice continues to hold Serco to account for poor performance and we are overseeing service improvements.During the procurement of the Field and Monitoring Service contract, all suppliers were required to provide details of their safeguarding processes, and these were assessed as part of the evaluation process. The contract outlines the ongoing audit rights that allow the Ministry of Justice to review all processes. There is an annual assurance test completed by the contract management team to ensure that what suppliers have outlined is being adhered to, and the next assurance is scheduled to be carried out in July 2025.The Field and Monitoring Service contract is already published and is available on Contracts Finder: Electronic Monitoring Field and Monitoring Service (FMS) - Contracts Finder. Specifically, please refer to the schedules referenced Core Terms and Schedule 3 (Performance).

If she will publish the contractual terms under which (a) delays and (b) poor performance in Serco's delivery of its electronic monitoring contract would trigger (i) the introduction of a remedial advisor, ((ii) step-In, (iii) consequential losses and (iv) termination rights processes.

Releasing information on financial penalties would prejudice, or would likely prejudice, Serco Group Limited’s commercial interests.To provide the number of outstanding monitoring visits in need of completion by Serco in each of the past 12 months would be of disproportionate cost.While the backlog of outstanding visits has been significantly reduced, Serco’s overall performance remains below acceptable levels. We continue to hold them to account for that and will not hesitate to impose further financial penalties where necessary.The performance requirements are detailed within the Key Performance Indicators in the Field and Monitoring Service contract, and these are available on Contracts Finders under Schedule 3 of the contract: Electronic Monitoring Field and Monitoring Service (FMS) - Contracts Finder. Whilst we acknowledge that performance has been unacceptable, the Ministry of Justice continues to hold Serco to account for poor performance and we are overseeing service improvements.During the procurement of the Field and Monitoring Service contract, all suppliers were required to provide details of their safeguarding processes, and these were assessed as part of the evaluation process. The contract outlines the ongoing audit rights that allow the Ministry of Justice to review all processes. There is an annual assurance test completed by the contract management team to ensure that what suppliers have outlined is being adhered to, and the next assurance is scheduled to be carried out in July 2025.The Field and Monitoring Service contract is already published and is available on Contracts Finder: Electronic Monitoring Field and Monitoring Service (FMS) - Contracts Finder. Specifically, please refer to the schedules referenced Core Terms and Schedule 3 (Performance).

What the timeframe is in which Serco much reach minimum performance standards for electronic tag device installation.

Releasing information on financial penalties would prejudice, or would likely prejudice, Serco Group Limited’s commercial interests.To provide the number of outstanding monitoring visits in need of completion by Serco in each of the past 12 months would be of disproportionate cost.While the backlog of outstanding visits has been significantly reduced, Serco’s overall performance remains below acceptable levels. We continue to hold them to account for that and will not hesitate to impose further financial penalties where necessary.The performance requirements are detailed within the Key Performance Indicators in the Field and Monitoring Service contract, and these are available on Contracts Finders under Schedule 3 of the contract: Electronic Monitoring Field and Monitoring Service (FMS) - Contracts Finder. Whilst we acknowledge that performance has been unacceptable, the Ministry of Justice continues to hold Serco to account for poor performance and we are overseeing service improvements.During the procurement of the Field and Monitoring Service contract, all suppliers were required to provide details of their safeguarding processes, and these were assessed as part of the evaluation process. The contract outlines the ongoing audit rights that allow the Ministry of Justice to review all processes. There is an annual assurance test completed by the contract management team to ensure that what suppliers have outlined is being adhered to, and the next assurance is scheduled to be carried out in July 2025.The Field and Monitoring Service contract is already published and is available on Contracts Finder: Electronic Monitoring Field and Monitoring Service (FMS) - Contracts Finder. Specifically, please refer to the schedules referenced Core Terms and Schedule 3 (Performance).

If she will publish the number of outstanding electronic monitoring visits in need of completion by Serco in each of the past 12 months.

Releasing information on financial penalties would prejudice, or would likely prejudice, Serco Group Limited’s commercial interests.To provide the number of outstanding monitoring visits in need of completion by Serco in each of the past 12 months would be of disproportionate cost.While the backlog of outstanding visits has been significantly reduced, Serco’s overall performance remains below acceptable levels. We continue to hold them to account for that and will not hesitate to impose further financial penalties where necessary.The performance requirements are detailed within the Key Performance Indicators in the Field and Monitoring Service contract, and these are available on Contracts Finders under Schedule 3 of the contract: Electronic Monitoring Field and Monitoring Service (FMS) - Contracts Finder. Whilst we acknowledge that performance has been unacceptable, the Ministry of Justice continues to hold Serco to account for poor performance and we are overseeing service improvements.During the procurement of the Field and Monitoring Service contract, all suppliers were required to provide details of their safeguarding processes, and these were assessed as part of the evaluation process. The contract outlines the ongoing audit rights that allow the Ministry of Justice to review all processes. There is an annual assurance test completed by the contract management team to ensure that what suppliers have outlined is being adhered to, and the next assurance is scheduled to be carried out in July 2025.The Field and Monitoring Service contract is already published and is available on Contracts Finder: Electronic Monitoring Field and Monitoring Service (FMS) - Contracts Finder. Specifically, please refer to the schedules referenced Core Terms and Schedule 3 (Performance).

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 21413, Prisons: Procurement, what recent estimate she has made of the potential savings to the public purse of awarding prison maintenance contracts to the public sector.

The Government is committed to ensuring professional Facility Management services across its prison estate and has initiated a programme of work that will put in place new contracts for the provision of maintenance services for prisons. These are being competitively tendered. As the procurement process is currently live, information regarding potential savings is commercially and market sensitive and therefore not able to be disclosed at the current time.

What percentage of service users of the commissioned probation services for neurodiverse needs have a (a) known and (b) suspected brain injury.

The requested information is not held centrally. Collating it would involve contacting each of the 108 Probation Delivery Units, which could not be done without incurring disproportionate cost.

What support the commissioned probation services for neurodiverse needs provides to people with an acquired brain injury.

Probation practitioners work in collaboration with the NHS and other relevant agencies, to support anyone under their supervision (including those on community orders or being supervised following release from prison) who has any specific mental health requirement, including people with needs relating to an acquired brain injury. The Probation Service’s has issued a briefing to practitioners that explains acquired brain injury and its possible impacts, as well as giving guidance on how to provide support. An e-learning package on acquired brain injury is also available for probation practitioners.The contract for Commissioned Rehabilitation Services, which provide tailored support to people under probation supervision, requires suppliers to deliver services in a way which meets the additional and specific needs of anyone with learning difficulties and/or learning disabilities. We intend to include additional requirements in future contracts to require, more specifically, that services should meet the additional and specific needs of people with a neurodivergent condition, including those with acquired brain injuries.

How many prisons in England and Wales operate (a) a Linkworker Scheme and (b) another dedicated support scheme for people with acquired brain injury.

The requested information is not held centrally. Collating it would involve contacting 122 prisons individually, which could not be done without incurring disproportionate cost.

What guidance her Department has issued to probation professionals on the steps they should take if someone with a community order is found to have previously had an acquired brain injury.

Probation practitioners work in collaboration with the NHS and other relevant agencies, to support anyone under their supervision (including those on community orders or being supervised following release from prison) who has any specific mental health requirement, including people with needs relating to an acquired brain injury. The Probation Service’s has issued a briefing to practitioners that explains acquired brain injury and its possible impacts, as well as giving guidance on how to provide support. An e-learning package on acquired brain injury is also available for probation practitioners.The contract for Commissioned Rehabilitation Services, which provide tailored support to people under probation supervision, requires suppliers to deliver services in a way which meets the additional and specific needs of anyone with learning difficulties and/or learning disabilities. We intend to include additional requirements in future contracts to require, more specifically, that services should meet the additional and specific needs of people with a neurodivergent condition, including those with acquired brain injuries.

How many probation delivery units in England and Wales operate (a) a Linkworker Scheme and (b) another dedicated support scheme for people with acquired brain injury.

The requested information is not held centrally. Collating it would involve contacting each of the 108 Probation Delivery Units, which could not be done without incurring disproportionate cost.

What guidance her Department has issued to probation professionals on the steps they should take if someone under post-custodial supervision is found to have previously had an acquired brain injury.

Probation practitioners work in collaboration with the NHS and other relevant agencies, to support anyone under their supervision (including those on community orders or being supervised following release from prison) who has any specific mental health requirement, including people with needs relating to an acquired brain injury. The Probation Service’s has issued a briefing to practitioners that explains acquired brain injury and its possible impacts, as well as giving guidance on how to provide support. An e-learning package on acquired brain injury is also available for probation practitioners.The contract for Commissioned Rehabilitation Services, which provide tailored support to people under probation supervision, requires suppliers to deliver services in a way which meets the additional and specific needs of anyone with learning difficulties and/or learning disabilities. We intend to include additional requirements in future contracts to require, more specifically, that services should meet the additional and specific needs of people with a neurodivergent condition, including those with acquired brain injuries.

How many and what proportion of people aged (a) 14 to 17, (b) 18 to 25 and (c) 26 and older who were sentenced to community orders were screened for an acquired brain injury in the most recent period for which figures are available.

The requested information is not held centrally. Collating it would involve contacting each of the 108 Probation Delivery Units, which could not be done without incurring disproportionate cost.

What guidance is available for prison officers for dealing with people entering custody found to have a previously acquired brain injury.

All incoming prisoners must be medically examined to determine whether they have any physical or mental health needs, in order to identify any follow-up action that is needed and to ensure it is taken. This includes making sure that anyone who needs to know about an individual prisoner’s healthcare requirements is properly informed.To improve support for neurodivergent prisoners, a new role, the Neurodiversity Support Manager (NSM), has been created and implemented across the Prison Service. NSMs are responsible for implementing a whole-prisons approach to neurodiversity, including Acquired Brain Injury. Their responsibilities include improving processes to identify and support prisoner needs, and ensuring neurodivergent prisoners can access education, skills, and work opportunities within the prison. They also provide training and guidance for prison staff to equip them better to support neurodivergent individuals in their prison.