Written questions by Argar.

How many and what proportion of (a) Named day and (b) Ordinary written parliamentary questions were answered within the required timescale in each month between November 2025 and April 2026.

The Department recognises the importance of the effective and timely handling of written Parliamentary Questions (PQs).Data on response times to PQs is published following the end of every session by the House of Commons Procedure Committee as part of their continued monitoring and reporting of departmental PQ performance. The next report will be released in due course.

What estimate he has made of the prevalence of hantavirus in the UK.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

What assessment he has made of the potential for asymptomatic (a) transmission and (b) infection with hantavirus.

Awaiting answer.

What estimate he has made of the average mortality rate of each strain of hantavirus.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

What recent assessment he has made of the level of human-to-human transmission of hantavirus.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

What assessment he has made of which therapeutics are effective for treating the symptoms of hantavirus.

Awaiting answer.

What percentage of calls to the 24/7 rape support line were answered substantively within 5 minutes in a) July 2025, b) August 2025 , c) September 2025 , d) October 2025, e) November 2025 and f) December 2025.

The Ministry of Justice is committed to ensuring that all victims and survivors aged 16 and over have access to free and confidential emotional and listening support through the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line, currently delivered by Rape Crisis England and Wales. We are currently in the process of re-commissioning the grant funding for a national sexual abuse support line. As the competition is live, it would not be appropriate to place additional data into the public domain that could be used to inform applications for the new grant but has not been shared through the formal competition process; doing so could compromise fairness of the competition. Due to the anonymity of users of the service, capturing accurate data is challenging. As part of the new grant, we are looking to improve data collection and quality assurance to obtain more reliable management information for publication.

What was the number of calls to the 24/7 rape support line in a) July 2025, b) August 2025 , c) September 2025 , d) October 2025, e) November 2025 and f) December 2025.

The Ministry of Justice is committed to ensuring that all victims and survivors aged 16 and over have access to free and confidential emotional and listening support through the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line, currently delivered by Rape Crisis England and Wales. We are currently in the process of re-commissioning the grant funding for a national sexual abuse support line. As the competition is live, it would not be appropriate to place additional data into the public domain that could be used to inform applications for the new grant but has not been shared through the formal competition process; doing so could compromise fairness of the competition. Due to the anonymity of users of the service, capturing accurate data is challenging. As part of the new grant, we are looking to improve data collection and quality assurance to obtain more reliable management information for publication.

What male supportive gender specific rape and abuse support services were commissioned directly by his Department in 2025; and if he will list each service and how much spending was allocated to each in 2025.

The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund (RASASF) is centrally commissioned by the Department. Its purpose is to provide specialist support to victims of rape and sexual abuse. RASASF-funded activities provide holistic, trauma-informed, survivor-led support to all victims who have experienced rape or sexual abuse at any point in their lives, regardless of their gender, where they live in England and Wales or whether they report the crime to the police.RASASF-funded organisations deliver a wide range of services: some RASASF-funded organisations only offer services to male victims; many organisations offer services to both male and female victims; others only offer services to female victims. The Department also provides funding to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) who commission local practical, emotional and therapeutic services based on an assessment of need in their area.Details of organisations awarded RASASF grants for the period 01 August 2023 to 31 March 2025 are published online: Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund 2023 to 2025: Organisations awarded funding - GOV.UK. Grant funding award amounts for financial year 2025-26 were the same as the published amount for 2024-25. Exceptions are where RASASF-funded organisations have closed down and the Department has re-directed the funds to other specialist organisations within the PCC area. We continue to consider how best to share information on this fund in the public domain.Alongside the RASASF, the Ministry of Justice funds the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line, which offers victims, aged 16 and over, access to free and confidential emotional support whenever they need it. Where appropriate, the service will also signpost victims to longer-term support services, such as therapeutic support.

How many call handlers were employed to staff the 24/7 rape support line in a) July 2025, b) August 2025, c) September 2025, d) October 2025, e) November 2025, and f) December 2025.

The Ministry of Justice is committed to ensuring that all victims and survivors aged 16 and over have access to free and confidential emotional and listening support through the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line, currently delivered by Rape Crisis England and Wales. We are currently in the process of re-commissioning the grant funding for a national sexual abuse support line. As the competition is live, it would not be appropriate to place additional data into the public domain that could be used to inform applications for the new grant but has not been shared through the formal competition process; doing so could compromise fairness of the competition. Due to the anonymity of users of the service, capturing accurate data is challenging. As part of the new grant, we are looking to improve data collection and quality assurance to obtain more reliable management information for publication.

What percentage of calls to the 24/7 Rape Support Line were answered in a) July 2025, b) August 2025, c) September 2025, d) October 2025, e) November 2025 and f) December 2025.

The Ministry of Justice is committed to ensuring that all victims and survivors aged 16 and over have access to free and confidential emotional and listening support through the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line, currently delivered by Rape Crisis England and Wales. We are currently in the process of re-commissioning the grant funding for a national sexual abuse support line. As the competition is live, it would not be appropriate to place additional data into the public domain that could be used to inform applications for the new grant but has not been shared through the formal competition process; doing so could compromise fairness of the competition. Due to the anonymity of users of the service, capturing accurate data is challenging. As part of the new grant, we are looking to improve data collection and quality assurance to obtain more reliable management information for publication.

How many and what proportion of Crown Courts had specialist rape courts in place on 1 January 2026.

We have a record and rising backlog, and as a result rape cases are waiting too long to be heard. We are therefore taking decisive action to address this backlog through bold court reforms, which we announced following Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of the Criminal Courts. These reforms will speed up justice for all victims, including those of rape.Alongside these reforms we are committed to improving the experience of attending court for victims of rape across all Crown Courts. We will be introducing a package of legislative measures to improve victims’ experience of giving evidence and to end reliance on so-called rape myths in the courtroom; we are rolling-out trauma-informed training for all HMCTS criminal court staff; and we have also committed to ensuring that the Operation Soteria model, which focuses investigations on the suspect and away from the victim, is continued in the courtroom post-charge.

When will the strategic governance review of the Probationary Service be published.

The Government has committed to undertake a strategic review of the Probation Service in its manifesto. We remain committed to this and will review governance arrangements, looking at local partnerships across England and Wales.This work will follow implementation of the Sentencing Bill reforms, which will significantly change how the Probation Service operates. Governance arrangements must be designed to enable and support the effective delivery of these reforms. Our priority is to ensure the Probation Service is on a stable footing and performance has improved before undertaking the review.In the meantime, this Government will continue to strengthen joint working with local partners to reduce reoffending and better protect the public.

How many and what percentage of women sentenced to custody in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025 received sentences of six months and fewer.

Latest Criminal Justice Statistics data published to the end of June 2025 shows that for female defendants aged 18 or over:In 2023, 3,268 women received a custodial sentence of six months or less, representing 68% of all female custodial sentences.In 2024, 4,078 women received a custodial sentence of six months or less, representing 71% of all female custodial sentences.Between January and June 2025, 2,199 women received a custodial sentence of six months or less, representing 71% of all female custodial sentences during this period.*Please note: The most recent published sentencing data is available up to June 2025.

When her Department will publish its expanded fraud strategy.

The Government’s Manifesto set a clear commitment to deliver a new Fraud Strategy. This commitment will be delivered in early 2026.The Strategy has been developed in close collaboration with stakeholders from industry, law enforcement and non profit organisations. It will set out how we will disrupt fraud, safeguard individuals and businesses and respond to fraud with support and justice for victims.

What proportion of (a) named day questions, and (b) ordinary written questions were responded to by his Department within the required timescale in (i) May 2025, (ii) June 2025, (iii) July 2025, (iv) August 2025, (v) September 2025 and (vi) October 2025.

The following table shows the information requested:MonthNamed DayOrdinary WrittenMay 202555.3%73.8%June 202544.4%53.3%July 202545.2%60.7%August 2025N/AN/ASeptember 202536.9%53.3%October 202552.3%46.0%Source: Department of Health and Social CareNote: there were no written parliamentary questions due for answer in August 2025 as Parliament was in recess for that entire month.

With reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 25 February 2025, official report of column 631, and the response to WPQ UIN 53059, (a) on what date the inquiry commenced, (b) on what date it concluded and (c) when its findings will be made public.

The investigation remains ongoing. I am unable to comment further on the progress or specifics of an ongoing investigation.

With reference to her contribution of 4 November 2024, official report column 46, and to WPQ UIN 53062, (a) on what date the leak inquiry commenced, (b) on what date it concluded and (c) when its findings will be made public.

The investigation remains ongoing and all reasonable lines of inquiry will be pursued.

What discussions Ministers in his Department have had with the Mayor of Leicester on local government reorganisation; and on what dates since 1 January 2025.

No discussions have been held between ministers of the Department of Health and Social Care and the Mayor of Leicester on local government reorganisation since 1 January 2025.Local government reorganisation is led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Department of Health and Social Care engages with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the implications of local government reorganisation for health and care services.

What the total full FTE headcount employed by Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland ICS was in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025 as at 1st January of each year.

NHS England publishes monthly Hospital and Community Health Services workforce statistics for England. These include staff employed by hospital trusts and integrated care boards but excludes staff working for other providers such as in primary care or social care. This data is drawn from the Electronic Staff Record, the Human Resources system for the National Health Service, and is available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics The most recent published data can be found within the July 2025 (Including selected preliminary statistics for August 2025) section of the publication, within the file “NHS Workforce Statistics, July 2025 England and Organisation”. Within this file, the full time equivalent (FTE) staffing levels for NHS organisations can be found in worksheet 5 and the headcount data can be found in worksheet 4. Published figures are taken from the last day of each month.