Written questions by Anderson.

What data his Department holds on the total cost to the public purse of (a) translation and (b) interpretation for foreign languages with regards to asylum claim appeals.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to increase victim training as part of the professional qualification in probation.

The Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP) has a focus on victims throughout and is central to Probation practice and learning. The PQiP curriculum underwent full review and relaunch in March 2024.The focus on victims is embedded throughout the co...

What recent assessment his department has made of the potential impact of the early releases of offenders on public confidence in the justice system.

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.Whilst measures like the SDS40 change provided the intended medium-term relief to the system, this ...

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the early release of offenders on victims of (a) violent crime and (b) domestic violence.

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.Whilst measures like the SDS40 change provided the intended medium-term relief to the system, this ...

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure the probation service is adequately resourced.

Funding for probation and community services will increase by up to £700 million by 2028/29. This funding will support delivery of the reforms recommended by the Independent Sentencing Review. As part of this increased investment, this Government will inv...

What steps his Department is taking to support victim liaison officers.

It is vital that information about an offender’s release is available to victims who need it most. Victims who are eligible for, and who have opted into, the Probation Service Victim Contact Scheme or Victim Notification Scheme will be allocated a Victim ...

What steps his Department is taking to increase support for victims of domestic violence.

The Ministry of Justice is investing £550 million in victim support services over the next three years - the biggest investment in these services to date. We will be increasing funding for victim support services year on year, from 2026 to 2029, recognisi...

If he will outline his plans for increasing the number of early prison releases.

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.Whilst measures like the SDS40 change provided the intended medium-term relief to the system, this ...

What steps his Department is taking to improve the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of prison officers.

His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) continues to recruit across all prisons where vacancies exist or are anticipated, including those undergoing expansion.Recruitment processes are being strengthened to ensure candidates have the skills and...

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of overcrowding in prisons on (a) prisoner violence and (b) attacks on prison staff.

We recognise that crowding can make it harder to deliver safe, stable regimes and places additional pressure on staff. Analysis published by the department shows that prisoners in crowded cells are more likely to be involved in assaults than those not in ...

What steps his Department is taking to tackle (a) violence and (b) drug use in prisons.

The Government is committed to improving prison safety and we are working hard to make prisons as safe as possible for those who live and work in them. Reducing violence is a key priority and we are continuing our efforts on a range of measures, including...

What recent steps his Department has taken to tackle overcrowding in prisons.

We recognise that crowding can make it harder to deliver safe, stable regimes and places additional pressure on staff. Analysis published by the department shows that prisoners in crowded cells are more likely to be involved in assaults than those not in ...

What steps his Department is taking to improve (a) wellbeing and (b) working conditions for prison officers.

Staff Wellbeing Support – Prisons  The Department recognises the unique challenges faced by prison staff and is improving wellbeing through a structured support framework that enables timely access to support, early intervention, and effective wellbeing m...

What steps his Department is taking to increase prison capacity.

We recognise that crowding can make it harder to deliver safe, stable regimes and places additional pressure on staff. Analysis published by the department shows that prisoners in crowded cells are more likely to be involved in assaults than those not in ...

What steps his Department is taking to improve support in the court system for victims of (a) rape and (b) sexual violence.

To ensure that victims, including those of rape and sexual violence, receive the right and timely support, the Ministry of Justice has announced record investment of £550 million in victim support services over the next three years of this Spending Review period.In addition, this Government is also taking decisive action to address long-standing issues that impact victims of rape and sexual violence. This includes:Funding a record number of sitting days and uncapping Crown Court sitting days in 26/27, so that more rape and other sexual offence cases can be heard.Introducing the Courts & Tribunals Bill to drive down the Crown Court caseload and reduce delays.Introducing a package of legislative measures to protect victims of sexual violence in particular from unnecessary and intrusive cross-examination about their personal lives at court.Announcing that we will introduce free Independent Legal Advisors this year, for victims and survivors of adult rape to help them to understand their legal rights.Testing the Operation Soteria model in courtrooms, to ensure rape cases focus on suspects, not victims.Rolling out trauma-informed training for all court staff, so that those who come into contact with victims at court understand how best to support their experience.

Whether his Department hold data on the number of foreign nationals who have received legal aid.

This information requested is not held centrally.

If his Department will provide an estimate of the total cost of legal aid for foreign nationals in the last 5 years.

This information requested is not held centrally.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of available prison spaces.

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, this Government is committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and aims to do so by 2031. Our build programme consists of the construction of four new prisons, including HMP Millsike delivered in March 2025, as well as the expansion and refurbishment of the existing estate. We broke ground at the site of the new prison HMP Welland Oaks in Leicestershire in November 2025.This Government has invested £4.7 billion over the spending review period (2026/27 to 2028/29) to enable the delivery of these additional prison places at pace, and we have already delivered c.3,100 since taking office. We are also committed to undertaking critical maintenance work and the ambition to acquire more land for future prisons, should they be required.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce reoffending rates.

Reoffending in England and Wales costs taxpayers £22.7 billion per year (adjusted to 24/25 prices). Tackling reoffending is crucial to reducing crime, reducing demand on prison and probation services and protecting the public.Working across Government, we are taking steps to tackle the root causes of reoffending by investing in a range of interventions which address offenders’ underlying criminogenic needs and support their rehabilitation journey. This includes, but is not limited to, education, employment, accommodation and substance misuse treatment services.We have launched regional Employment Councils, which for the first time bring businesses together with prisons, probation, and the Department for Work and Pensions to support prison leavers. We are expanding our community accommodation service to support prison leavers at risk of homelessness by providing up to 12 weeks of temporary accommodation for those under probation supervision. And we have funded Incentivised Substance-Free Living units (ISFLs) in 85 prisons, where prisoners sign a behaviour compact, agree to be regularly drug tested and can access enhanced opportunities compared to a standard wing.

If he will make it his policy to reopen local magistrate courts that have been closed to help clear the court case backlog.

50% of magistrates’ courts were closed under previous Governments between 2010 and 2020.Estate capacity is not a limiting factor to sitting the funded days in the magistrates courts. In other words, we are investing in more court staff, legal aid and judge time so that magistrates can hear more cases - up to £450 million in additional courts funding per year. There is therefore a difference between system capacity and physical capacity of courtrooms. Running courtrooms requires not just available courtrooms, but judicial time, and sufficient numbers of legal professionals.We continue to keep the court estate under review to ensure it meets operational priorities. Projects to boost court capacity across the country include a new Magistrate’s Court in Blackpool and an additional 18 court rooms in the City of London.