Written questions by Slaughter.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the response to the Legal Aid Agency data breach on the implementation of the means test review proposals.

This is an unprecedented event and an evolving situation, and every effort is being made to restore systems following the criminal attack on our services. The impact on the system has affected implementation and delivery of intended legal aid fee uplifts in both crime and civil – we are working at pace to operationalise those commitments. More generally, the Government continues to give consideration to the financial criteria that governs legal aid eligibility.

Whether her Department retains access to all data held in the case management systems impacted by the Legal Aid Agency data breach.

This has been an unprecedented event and every effort is being made to restore services following the criminal attack on our systems. The Legal Aid Agency’s (LAA) digital services have been taken offline to negate the threat and prevent further exposure of legal aid providers and users. We have been able to return some systems to internal use, enabling an improved ability to support criminal legal aid applications and payments.We cannot confirm a specific timescale for full service restoration. In the interim, the LAA will continue to provide updates as soon as they are available and will work closely with representative bodies to ensure any extended or refined contingency measures support providers and their clients to the maximum extent. All updates, including contingency arrangements, are published on the LAA’s dedicated cyber security incident webpage Legal Aid Agency cyber security incident - GOV.UK.Contingency measures have been implemented to ensure that access to legal aid remains available and that providers are receiving payments. This included the implementation of emergency legislation on 27 June. The new legislation provides for increased delegation of powers to providers and removes civil client contributions. The average payment scheme already operating in civil legal aid will continue.The LAA retains all data impacted by this incident. There is no evidence of data being permanently lost or destroyed. However, while systems are offline some data is not accessible. Access will be restored as part of service restoration.The recent data breach is the result of serious criminal activity, but it was enabled by the fragility of the LAA’s IT systems as a result of the long years of underinvestment under the last Conservative Government. By contrast, since taking power this Government has prioritised work to reverse the damage of over a decade of under-investment. That includes the allocation of over £20 million in extra funding this year to stabilise and transform the Legal Aid Agency digital services. This investment will make the system more robust and resilient in the face of similar cyber-attacks in future.

When she plans for the Legal Aid Agency’s case management system to be fully operational, following the recent data breach.

This has been an unprecedented event and every effort is being made to restore services following the criminal attack on our systems. The Legal Aid Agency’s (LAA) digital services have been taken offline to negate the threat and prevent further exposure of legal aid providers and users. We have been able to return some systems to internal use, enabling an improved ability to support criminal legal aid applications and payments.We cannot confirm a specific timescale for full service restoration. In the interim, the LAA will continue to provide updates as soon as they are available and will work closely with representative bodies to ensure any extended or refined contingency measures support providers and their clients to the maximum extent. All updates, including contingency arrangements, are published on the LAA’s dedicated cyber security incident webpage Legal Aid Agency cyber security incident - GOV.UK.Contingency measures have been implemented to ensure that access to legal aid remains available and that providers are receiving payments. This included the implementation of emergency legislation on 27 June. The new legislation provides for increased delegation of powers to providers and removes civil client contributions. The average payment scheme already operating in civil legal aid will continue.The LAA retains all data impacted by this incident. There is no evidence of data being permanently lost or destroyed. However, while systems are offline some data is not accessible. Access will be restored as part of service restoration.The recent data breach is the result of serious criminal activity, but it was enabled by the fragility of the LAA’s IT systems as a result of the long years of underinvestment under the last Conservative Government. By contrast, since taking power this Government has prioritised work to reverse the damage of over a decade of under-investment. That includes the allocation of over £20 million in extra funding this year to stabilise and transform the Legal Aid Agency digital services. This investment will make the system more robust and resilient in the face of similar cyber-attacks in future.

When will legal aid providers be able to submit (a) bills and (b) claims for payments on account following the Legal Aid Agency data breach.

This is an unprecedented event and an evolving situation, and every effort is being made to restore services following the criminal attack on our systems. The Legal Aid Agency’s (LAA) digital services have been taken offline to negate the threat and prevent further exposure of legal aid providers and users. We will not reopen the system until the appropriate steps have been taken to enable us to do so. We have been able to return some systems to internal use, enabling an improved ability to support criminal legal aid applications and payments.In the interim, a number of contingency measures have been implemented to ensure that access to legal aid remains available and that providers are receiving payments. Contingency measures for billing, including an average payment scheme for civil cases, were implemented week commencing 27 May. For crime providers, processing of bills for graduated fee schemes resumed on 28 May, with payments resuming the following week.On 27 June, emergency legislation came into force enabling the LAA to implement enhanced business continuity arrangements. The new legislation provides for increased delegation of powers to providers and removes civil client contributions. The average payment scheme already operating in civil legal aid will continue.Our priority remains to maintain access to justice and to ensure legal aid providers can continue to be paid in a timely manner. These enhanced measures are designed to support legal aid providers and their clients and to prevent a significant case backlog while contingency measures are in place.The recent data breach is the result of serious criminal activity, but it was enabled by the fragility of the LAA’s IT systems as a result of the long years of underinvestment under the last Conservative Government. By contrast, since taking power this Government has prioritised work to reverse the damage of over a decade of under-investment. That includes the allocation of over £20 million in extra funding this year to stabilise and transform the Legal Aid Agency digital services. This investment will make the system more robust and resilient in the face of similar cyber-attacks in future.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure the timely ratification and implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, signed by the UK in May 2025; and what assessment she has made of the legislative or regulatory measures required to ensure full domestic compliance with its provisions.

I am delighted that the UK was an early signatory to the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, which was signed in Luxembourg on 14 May 2025. Throughout the Convention’s development, the Ministry of Justice worked closely with the profession and the UK representative appointed to the drafting panel, to ensure the UK’s interests were effectively represented on key issues. The Department is conducting the necessary due diligence ahead of ratification including an assessment of whether any legislative or regulatory measures are required.Once this is complete, the Convention and its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum will be laid before both Houses of Parliament for scrutiny, in accordance with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The Convention enters into force on the expiry of a period of 3 months after the date on which eight signatories, including at least six member States of the Council of Europe, have expressed their consent to be bound by it.

Whether she has made an assessment of the merits of a national older offender strategy to address the health needs of the ageing prison population.

The Independent Sentencing Review considered issues relating to older cohorts including older prisoners as part of its remit. We have accepted in principle the vast majority of the Independent Sentencing Review’s recommendations and we will work with partners and the sector as we develop our approach.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 28899 on Grenfell Tower Inquiry, what (a) criteria and (b) evidence her Department plans to use in prioritising its work on preventing future deaths; and with reference to the Justice Committee's (i) First Report of Session 2021–22 entitled The Coroner Service, HC 68 and (ii) Third Special Report of Session 2021–22 entitled The Coroner Service: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report, HC 675, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the coronial reforms recommended by that Committee.

The Government is clear that Prevention of Future Death (PFD) reports are vital in contributing to public safety through learning from death investigation. We expect recipients to have a framework in place for considering any reports they receive, and to take their responses – and related actions - very seriously.However, we recognise that more needs to be done to improve accessibility to information from PFD reports; and to ensure, particularly across government, that lessons are learned; that this learning is disseminated as quickly and widely as possible; and that it is effectively monitored and evaluated.We are addressing this issue as part of the reformed, forward-looking framework for coroner services which we intend to deliver in light of the Justice Committee’s recent Inquiries into the Coroner Service, working closely with the Chief Coroner, local authorities and other key partners. The Government’s formal responses to the Committee were provided on 10 September 2021 and 10 December 2024 respectively.

What proportion of ineffective Crown Court trials which started after day one of the set trial date in 2024 reached completion.

Of all Crown Court trials that were ineffective between January and September 2024, 21% were subsequently effective on a later date (up to the end of September 2024). The remainder will include trials listed for a date beyond the end of September 2024, as well as those cases no longer requiring a trial date (for example the defendant has pleaded guilty). Of all ineffective trials that subsequently started between January and September 2024, 80% had reached conclusion by the end of September 2024. These data are management information and are not subject to the same level of checks as official statistics. The data provided is the most recent available and for that reason might differ slightly from any previously published information. Recent data are especially vulnerable to quality checking and so may be subject to change.

Whether trials in the Crown Court starting on day two or later are classified as ineffective.

If the trial does not go ahead on the scheduled day of listing due to action or inaction by the prosecution, the defence or the court (see list of reasons in table below), and a further listing for trial is required, it is termed ‘ineffective.’ CourtW1 - Another case over-ran W2 - Judge / magistrate availability due to illness etc. W3 - Case not reached / insufficient cases drop out / floater not reached W4 - Equipment / accommodation failure X - Insufficient jurors availableDefenceQ1 - Defence not ready: disclosure problems (inc. late alibi notice) Q2 - Defence not ready: specify in comments (inc. no instructions) Q3 - Defence asked for additional prosecution witness to attend R - Defence witness absent S1 - Defendant absent - did not proceed in absence (judicial discretion) S2 - Defendant ill or otherwise unfit to proceed S4 - Defendant absent - unable to proceed as Defendant not notified of place and time of hearing T - Defence increased time estimate, insufficient time for trial to start U1 - Defence advocate engaged in other trial U2 - Defence advocate failed to attend V - Defendant dismissed advocateOtherS3 - Defendant not produced by PECS W5 - No interpreter available Y - Outstanding cases in a Magistrates' Court Z - Outstanding cases in other Crown Court centreProsecutionM1 - Prosecution not ready: served late notice of additional evidence on defence M2 - Prosecution not ready: specify in comments M3 - Prosecution failed to disclose unused evidence N1 - Prosecution witness absent: police N2 - Prosecution witness absent: professional / expert N3 - Prosecution witness absent: other O1 - Prosecution advocate engaged in another trial O2 - Prosecution advocate failed to attend P - Prosecution increased time estimate - insufficient time for trial to startWhere a trial is not ready to go ahead, it is recorded as ineffective and listed again, either for the following day, or if not possible, for some future date agreed by the court. If the trial starts on the second day, it will then be marked as effective. However, if it is still unable to proceed on the second day, it will be marked as ineffective again.

What proportion of ineffective trials in the Crown Court started later than day one of the set trial date in 2024.

Of all Crown Court trials that were ineffective between January and September 2024, 21% were subsequently effective on a later date (up to the end of September 2024). The remainder will include trials listed for a date beyond the end of September 2024, as well as those cases no longer requiring a trial date (for example the defendant has pleaded guilty). Of all ineffective trials that subsequently started between January and September 2024, 80% had reached conclusion by the end of September 2024. These data are management information and are not subject to the same level of checks as official statistics. The data provided is the most recent available and for that reason might differ slightly from any previously published information. Recent data are especially vulnerable to quality checking and so may be subject to change.

What metrics determine whether a Crown Court trial is classified as ineffective.

If the trial does not go ahead on the scheduled day of listing due to action or inaction by the prosecution, the defence or the court (see list of reasons in table below), and a further listing for trial is required, it is termed ‘ineffective.’ CourtW1 - Another case over-ran W2 - Judge / magistrate availability due to illness etc. W3 - Case not reached / insufficient cases drop out / floater not reached W4 - Equipment / accommodation failure X - Insufficient jurors availableDefenceQ1 - Defence not ready: disclosure problems (inc. late alibi notice) Q2 - Defence not ready: specify in comments (inc. no instructions) Q3 - Defence asked for additional prosecution witness to attend R - Defence witness absent S1 - Defendant absent - did not proceed in absence (judicial discretion) S2 - Defendant ill or otherwise unfit to proceed S4 - Defendant absent - unable to proceed as Defendant not notified of place and time of hearing T - Defence increased time estimate, insufficient time for trial to start U1 - Defence advocate engaged in other trial U2 - Defence advocate failed to attend V - Defendant dismissed advocateOtherS3 - Defendant not produced by PECS W5 - No interpreter available Y - Outstanding cases in a Magistrates' Court Z - Outstanding cases in other Crown Court centreProsecutionM1 - Prosecution not ready: served late notice of additional evidence on defence M2 - Prosecution not ready: specify in comments M3 - Prosecution failed to disclose unused evidence N1 - Prosecution witness absent: police N2 - Prosecution witness absent: professional / expert N3 - Prosecution witness absent: other O1 - Prosecution advocate engaged in another trial O2 - Prosecution advocate failed to attend P - Prosecution increased time estimate - insufficient time for trial to startWhere a trial is not ready to go ahead, it is recorded as ineffective and listed again, either for the following day, or if not possible, for some future date agreed by the court. If the trial starts on the second day, it will then be marked as effective. However, if it is still unable to proceed on the second day, it will be marked as ineffective again.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of supported accommodation rather than custody for (a) women and (b) their families.

HMPPS offers a three-tier structure of temporary accommodation known as Community Accommodation Service (CAS), two tiers of which provide accommodation that can be used to support community orders, releases on Home Detention Curfew, and bail. CAS1 (also k...

Whether her Department is taking steps to utilise supported accommodation rather than custody to reduce the impact of prison.

HMPPS offers a three-tier structure of temporary accommodation known as Community Accommodation Service (CAS), two tiers of which provide accommodation that can be used to support community orders, releases on Home Detention Curfew, and bail. CAS1 (also k...

What her Department's timescale is for ensuring that reforms to operational systems resulting from HMCTS's transformation programme capture more detailed management information; and whether her Department plans t

As the Reform Programme concludes in March 2025 and new systems are implemented and embedded, they will - in most instances - ensure more detailed data is captured.Not only are reformed services making a difference directly to those who use them, they’re ...

If she will publish a breakdown of the magistrates' court backlog showing the number of (a) Single Justice Procedure cases and (b) cases that have to go to a hearing.

In June and September 2024, the Ministry of Justice made the decision to cancel publication of the quarterly Official Accredited statistics on the criminal courts, following concerns about the quality of criminal court performance data.That initial work h...

With reference to the statement on her Department’s webpage entitled Criminal court statistics, which Criminal court statistics quarterly publication was the first to require work to assure the quality of source

In June and September 2024, the Ministry of Justice made the decision to cancel publication of the quarterly Official Accredited statistics on the criminal courts, following concerns about the quality of criminal court performance data.That initial work h...

With reference to the delayed publication of the criminal court statistics due to an issue affecting the accuracy of the data, what steps her Department is taking to (a) mitigate against potential inaccuracies in

In June and September 2024, the Ministry of Justice made the decision to cancel publication of the quarterly Official Accredited statistics on the criminal courts, following concerns about the quality of criminal court performance data.That initial work h...

With reference to the Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly for October to December 2023, published on 28 March 2024, if her Department will make an assessment of the accuracy of the estimate of the outstanding cas

In June and September 2024, the Ministry of Justice made the decision to cancel publication of the quarterly Official Accredited statistics on the criminal courts, following concerns about the quality of criminal court performance data.That initial work h...

If she will publish the Criminal Court Statistics datasets due to be published in (a) June, (b) September and (c) December 2024 by the end of 2024.

In June and September 2024, the Ministry of Justice made the decision to cancel publication of the quarterly Official Accredited statistics on the criminal courts, following concerns about the quality of criminal court performance data.That initial work h...

Whether her Department’s data cleanse of the magistrates’ court data will (a) help with listing, (b) benefit other court processes and (c) improve the accuracy of the statistics.

In June and September 2024, the Ministry of Justice made the decision to cancel publication of the quarterly Official Accredited statistics on the criminal courts, following concerns about the quality of criminal court performance data.That initial work h...