Written questions by Hayes.

With reference to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 74306 on Ministry of Justice: Social Media, how much his Department has spent on promotion through social media influencers since July 2024 broken down by influencer.

The Ministry of Justice uses social media, influencers and online advertising to support the department in delivering its key priorities. These priorities include our recruitment campaigns for prison officers, probation officers and magistrates which help to ensure our front-line services are safely resourced and able to deliver swift access to justice as well as our campaigns that support victims of crime access the support they need. Commercial sensitivities exist around aspects of this spend which could prejudice commercial interests. All spend in these areas are subject to the standard value for money assessments.

How many vacancies for prison officers there were in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) the East Midlands in the latest period for which figures are available.

We publish prison establishment level indicative vacancies in the HMPPS Workforce stats, table 4 of the Prison and Probation Officer Recruitment annex: HM Prison and Probation Service workforce quarterly: June 2025 - GOV.UK.East Midlands and Lincolnshire data as below (further information and Notes explanation can be found at the above link).Table 4: Difference between Target Staffing (Full Time Equivalent) and Staff in Post(2) (Hours Adjusted FTE) for Band 3 to 5 Prison Officers(3), by HMPPS Public Sector Prison Establishment(12) Jun-25 GroupPrison EstablishmentStaff in Post(1)(2)(3)(14)(16) (FTE)Target Staffing(4)(10)(16) (FTE)Difference(5)(11)(13)(15)(16) (FTE)East MidlandsLeicester135139-4East MidlandsMorton Hall118125-6East MidlandsNottingham289300-11East MidlandsOnley182195-13East MidlandsRanby264271-7East MidlandsStocken269283-13East MidlandsWhatton1961924LincolnshireLincoln196201-4LincolnshireNorth Sea Camp5761-3

On how many days the Union Flag was flown on his Department's main buildings in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025 to date.

The Union Flag was flown on every available day throughout 2024 and 2025 at 102 Petty France, subject to other designated flag flying days where the Union Flag was not flown. On days where there were excess wind speeds no flags were flown and we did not record the number of occasions this happened.

How many prisoners released through early release schemes in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025 are resident in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We have had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. The Ministry of Justice does not hold data on releases by constituency. However, we have published SDS40 release data alongside the quarterly Offender Management Statistics: Standard Determinate Sentence 40 (SDS40) : September 2024 to March 2025 - GOV.UK.

Whether her Department has spent money on promotion through social media influencers since July 2024.

The Ministry of Justice has spent money on social media influencers and social media content creators since July 2024. Influencers can be effective in reaching audiences that the Government and traditional marketing channels find hard to reach. For example, to help us reach potential candidates for prison officer roles as part of our recruitment campaigns.

How much the Office of the Public Guardian has spent on equipment for staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

Information on the cost of equipment provided specially for home working cannot be obtained without incurring a disproportionate cost, due to the way these costs are recorded.

How much the Legal Aid Agency has spent on equipment for staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

This information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.Heads of departments have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.

How much His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service has spent on equipment for staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service provides equipment that enables staff to work across multiple locations, including from home where appropriate. This includes meeting legal obligations to provide reasonable workplace adjustments for staff who require them. All employees are expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.The Department does not record expenditure in a way that separately identifies costs specifically related to home working. Reviewing individual invoices to collate this information would incur disproportionate costs.

How much His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service has spent on equipment for staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

Obtaining this information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

How much the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has spent on equipment for staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The following table outlines the amounts the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has spent on equipment for staff to work from home in each of the last three financial years.Financial YearTotal Cost2022-23£3,938.152023-24£853.982024-25£3,923.81Total Spend£8,715.94

How much her Department spent on equipment for civil servants to work from home in each of the last three years.

Obtaining this data would require manually reviewing and reclassifying purchases made across multiple systems and procurement channels. Given the broad range of equipment types and purposes — particularly across a large and complex estate such as the Ministry of Justice — this process would be highly resource-intensive and result in a disproportionate cost to the Department.

How many people absconded while on bail awaiting trial in each of the last five years.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information on the number of people sentenced for failing to surrender to bail under section 6 of the Bail Act 1976 at criminal courts in England and Wales in the Outcomes by Offences data tool that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.

How many people have been prosecuted for driving with excessively noisy exhausts in the last ten years.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on prosecutions for a wide range of offences including motoring offences at criminal courts in England and Wales in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.However, the data do not identify cases as a result of illegally tinted windows, excessively bright lights, or excessively noisy exhausts.

How many people have been prosecuted for driving with excessively bright lights in the last ten years.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on prosecutions for a wide range of offences including motoring offences at criminal courts in England and Wales in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.However, the data do not identify cases as a result of illegally tinted windows, excessively bright lights, or excessively noisy exhausts.

How many people have been prosecuted for driving with illegal tinted windows in the last ten years.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on prosecutions for a wide range of offences including motoring offences at criminal courts in England and Wales in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.However, the data do not identify cases as a result of illegally tinted windows, excessively bright lights, or excessively noisy exhausts.

How many and what proportion of people who are eligible for automatic release from prison after serving 50 per cent of their sentence were convicted of (a) actual bodily harm and (b) grievous bodily harm.

Many offenders who commit these types of offences are subject to two-thirds release provisions, and others are subject to 50% depending on their specific circumstances and sentencing outcomes. Establishing who is released at exactly 50% would require examination of individual records and therefore comes at disproportionate cost.

How many and what proportion of people who are eligible for automatic release from prison after serving 50 per cent of their sentence were convicted of rape.

Many offenders who commit these types of offences are subject to two-thirds release provisions, and others are subject to 50% depending on their specific circumstances and sentencing outcomes. Establishing who is released at exactly 50% would require examination of individual records and therefore comes at disproportionate cost.

If she will publish a list of offences that are eligible for automatic release after serving 40% of a prison sentence.

The previous Government left the criminal justice system in an unconscionable state, with the prison system days from collapse. To prevent the risk of gridlock across the Criminal Justice System, we had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. On 10 September 2024, the Government therefore took the unavoidable step to move the release point for certain standard determinate sentences from 50% to 40% (‘SDS40’).Certain offences have been excluded from the SDS40 change including sex offences irrespective of sentence length; serious violent offences with a sentence of four years or more; specified offences linked to domestic abuse irrespective of sentence length (including stalking, coercive or controlling behaviour and non-fatal strangulation); as well as offences concerning national security.The legislation which covers eligibility for SDS40 is publicly available online, for example here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/844/schedule/made; and https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/1331/article/3/made.Once released, offenders will be subject to the same set of strict licence conditions that would apply had they been released at a 50% automatic release point and will be liable to recall to prison if they do not comply with these conditions or are judged to be a risk to public safety.

If she will make it his policy to establish an independent body to administer compensation following miscarriages of justice.

Under the statutory scheme set out in section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, the Secretary of State for Justice is responsible for considering applications for compensation in cases of miscarriages of justice in England and Wales, subject to specific criteria. Where an individual meets the criteria, an Independent Assessor has discretion in determining the amount awarded, in accordance with the statute. Given this established process, as agreed by Parliament, there are currently no plans to create an independent body to administer compensation following miscarriages of justice.

If she will set a timeline for the introduction of mandatory chemical suppressants for sex offenders.

As set out by the Lord Chancellor’s oral statement on 22 May 2025, it is vital that people convicted of sexual offences are robustly managed to ensure the public are protected to the fullest degree.We are committed to increasing the use of medication to manage problematic sexual arousal for sex offenders by expanding the existing feasibility pilot in the Southwest to two additional regions, which will see the service extend from four to 20 prisons as a first step.The Government wants to learn from the pilots and experience in other jurisdictions, as it takes policy in this area forward.