Written questions by Anderson.

Whether she plans to introduce mandatory prison sentences for carrying bladed articles.

This Government is committed to tackling knife crime as a priority. We are clear that those who carry knives unlawfully must face serious consequences, and that sentencing must reflect the harm these offences cause to victims and communities.In recognition of the seriousness of offences related to knives, the courts already have robust powers to deal with knife-related offences. The maximum sentence for possession of a bladed article or threatening with an offensive weapon is 4 years’ imprisonment. The law also provides for minimum custodial sentences for repeat knife possession and for threatening with a weapon. Adults convicted of a second or subsequent possession offence face a minimum of six months in custody, while those aged 16 or 17 face a four-month Detention and Training Order. Where someone is actually harmed by a knife or offensive weapon, there are a range of offences that the offender may be charged with, such as causing grievous bodily harm. These can result in lengthy sentences, up to life imprisonment.Minimum and mandatory sentences are also rare in England and Wales. This is because it is, rightly, the function of the independent judiciary to decide the sentence in each case subject to the maximum that Parliament has provided and any relevant Sentencing Guidelines published by the Sentencing Council.The existing framework provides the right balance between ensuring robust penalties for knife crime, and allowing courts to tailor sentences to the individual case.

If she will increase sentences for offences committed with a knife.

Tackling knife crime is a priority and this Government is determined to do all it can to break the deadly cycle of violence that devastates the lives of individuals, families and communities.The maximums available for existing knife offences include up to 4 years’ imprisonment for carrying a knife or threatening with an offensive weapon being 4 years’ imprisonment. Where someone is actually harmed by a knife or offensive weapon, there are a range of offences that the offender may be charged with, such as causing grievous bodily harm. These can result in lengthy sentences, up to life imprisonment. Sentencing in individual cases are a matter for our independent judiciary.We will be reforming the sentencing framework in line with most of the recommendations made by the Independent Sentencing Review in May 2025 to ensure that our prisons never run out of space again, which would place the public at unconscionable risk.

What steps she is taking to inform clients of WW&J McClure solicitors that their trusts are no longer viable.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold responsibility for informing clients about the status of their legal arrangements with private law firms. The legal profession in England and Wales is regulated independently of government. Responsibility for solicitors’ conduct lies with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), overseen by the Legal Services Board. The SRA’s role involves protecting clients and the public. The different ways in which they can provide support to consumers of legal services can be found on their website: SRA | What you can expect from us | Solicitors Regulation Authority.The Government is aware of the issues surrounding WW&J McClures’ collapse, which involve multiple regulators responding to former clients across Scotland, England and Wales. Government officials have been engaging with the SRA, which has confirmed it is continuing to investigate the situation.With regards to the issue of raising awareness among clients of McClures, there are requirements with respect to the advertising and publication of an insolvency so that creditors and other interested parties are made aware. The administration of McClures was advertised as required in the London Gazette. Information for former clients of McClures in Scotland was also published by Law Society of Scotland. For clients in England and Wales, the SRA also issued a public update, which remains available on their website SRA | WW&J McClure and Jones Whyte | Solicitors Regulation AuthorityIn addition, for clients of McClures across Great Britain, Jones Whyte published an extensive list of FAQs, covering the number of clients it had taken on, the steps it was taking to contact those clients, and the procedure for clients to transfer to another legal firm if they wished.The Ministry of Justice has not held discussions with third-party intermediaries who were involved in selling trusts that were subsequently managed by WW&J McClures solicitors. Under the Legal Services Act 2007, the creation of a trust is not a reserved legal activity. This means that such activity may have involved individuals or organisations who were not regulated legal professionals. Where the sale of such trusts involved financial advice or services, this would be covered by the financial regulatory regime overseen by HM Treasury.Officials from the Ministry of Justice have engaged with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regarding the collapse of WW&J McClure solicitors and the regulatory concerns arising from their handling of client trusts.The SRA has confirmed that it is carrying out an investigation into the former partners of the firm. As those individuals are no longer on the roll of solicitors, the SRA is limited in the enforcement action it can currently take. However, any concerns identified during the course of the investigation would be taken into account if any former partner seeks to return to legal practice.The Ministry continues to monitor this issue through regular engagement with legal regulators and remains in contact with the SRA as it progresses its investigation. The SRA has published a public update on its website for affected clients and other interested parties: SRA | WW&J McClure and Jones Whyte | Solicitors Regulation Authority

What recent discussions her Department has had with third parties who sold trusts that then came under the authority of WW&J McClure solicitors.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold responsibility for informing clients about the status of their legal arrangements with private law firms. The legal profession in England and Wales is regulated independently of government. Responsibility for solicitors’ conduct lies with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), overseen by the Legal Services Board. The SRA’s role involves protecting clients and the public. The different ways in which they can provide support to consumers of legal services can be found on their website: SRA | What you can expect from us | Solicitors Regulation Authority.The Government is aware of the issues surrounding WW&J McClures’ collapse, which involve multiple regulators responding to former clients across Scotland, England and Wales. Government officials have been engaging with the SRA, which has confirmed it is continuing to investigate the situation.With regards to the issue of raising awareness among clients of McClures, there are requirements with respect to the advertising and publication of an insolvency so that creditors and other interested parties are made aware. The administration of McClures was advertised as required in the London Gazette. Information for former clients of McClures in Scotland was also published by Law Society of Scotland. For clients in England and Wales, the SRA also issued a public update, which remains available on their website SRA | WW&J McClure and Jones Whyte | Solicitors Regulation AuthorityIn addition, for clients of McClures across Great Britain, Jones Whyte published an extensive list of FAQs, covering the number of clients it had taken on, the steps it was taking to contact those clients, and the procedure for clients to transfer to another legal firm if they wished.The Ministry of Justice has not held discussions with third-party intermediaries who were involved in selling trusts that were subsequently managed by WW&J McClures solicitors. Under the Legal Services Act 2007, the creation of a trust is not a reserved legal activity. This means that such activity may have involved individuals or organisations who were not regulated legal professionals. Where the sale of such trusts involved financial advice or services, this would be covered by the financial regulatory regime overseen by HM Treasury.Officials from the Ministry of Justice have engaged with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regarding the collapse of WW&J McClure solicitors and the regulatory concerns arising from their handling of client trusts.The SRA has confirmed that it is carrying out an investigation into the former partners of the firm. As those individuals are no longer on the roll of solicitors, the SRA is limited in the enforcement action it can currently take. However, any concerns identified during the course of the investigation would be taken into account if any former partner seeks to return to legal practice.The Ministry continues to monitor this issue through regular engagement with legal regulators and remains in contact with the SRA as it progresses its investigation. The SRA has published a public update on its website for affected clients and other interested parties: SRA | WW&J McClure and Jones Whyte | Solicitors Regulation Authority

If she will increase the length of sentences for people who commit violent crime against retail workers.

Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts, and the courts have a range of sentencing powers to deal with each offender effectively and appropriately, including discharges, fines, community sentences, suspended sentences and imprisonment.The maximum penalty for an offence is set by Parliament and is designed to cover the most serious imaginable behaviours that may fall under that offence. We continue to keep maximum penalties under review to make ensure they reflect the seriousness of the offending behaviour.Under the previous Government, shop theft increased to an unacceptable level, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers. We will not stand for this as everybody has a right to feel safe at their place of work.That is why, through our Crime and Policing Bill, we are introducing a new offence of assaulting a retail worker. The new offence will carry a maximum prison sentence of six months and/or an unlimited fine, matching the current sentence guidelines for common assault. It will also come with a presumption for a court to apply a Criminal Behaviour Order. This will prohibit the offender from doing anything described in the order, which might include a condition preventing specific acts which cause harassment, alarm or distress, or preventing an offender from visiting specific premises.The Crime and Policing Bill will also introduce new measures to address the perceived immunity for ‘low value’ shop theft. With this change, there will no longer be a threshold categorising shop theft of goods worth £200 and under as ‘low value’. Instead, all cases of shop theft will be taken seriously irrespective of the value of goods stolen, with a maximum custodial penalty of 7 years. Shop theft of any amount is illegal, and repealing this legislation will ensure everyone understands this.

Whether she has had discussions with the Solicitors Regulation Authority on trusts that were under the authority of WW&J McClure solicitors.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold responsibility for informing clients about the status of their legal arrangements with private law firms. The legal profession in England and Wales is regulated independently of government. Responsibility for solicitors’ conduct lies with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), overseen by the Legal Services Board. The SRA’s role involves protecting clients and the public. The different ways in which they can provide support to consumers of legal services can be found on their website: SRA | What you can expect from us | Solicitors Regulation Authority.The Government is aware of the issues surrounding WW&J McClures’ collapse, which involve multiple regulators responding to former clients across Scotland, England and Wales. Government officials have been engaging with the SRA, which has confirmed it is continuing to investigate the situation.With regards to the issue of raising awareness among clients of McClures, there are requirements with respect to the advertising and publication of an insolvency so that creditors and other interested parties are made aware. The administration of McClures was advertised as required in the London Gazette. Information for former clients of McClures in Scotland was also published by Law Society of Scotland. For clients in England and Wales, the SRA also issued a public update, which remains available on their website SRA | WW&J McClure and Jones Whyte | Solicitors Regulation AuthorityIn addition, for clients of McClures across Great Britain, Jones Whyte published an extensive list of FAQs, covering the number of clients it had taken on, the steps it was taking to contact those clients, and the procedure for clients to transfer to another legal firm if they wished.The Ministry of Justice has not held discussions with third-party intermediaries who were involved in selling trusts that were subsequently managed by WW&J McClures solicitors. Under the Legal Services Act 2007, the creation of a trust is not a reserved legal activity. This means that such activity may have involved individuals or organisations who were not regulated legal professionals. Where the sale of such trusts involved financial advice or services, this would be covered by the financial regulatory regime overseen by HM Treasury.Officials from the Ministry of Justice have engaged with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regarding the collapse of WW&J McClure solicitors and the regulatory concerns arising from their handling of client trusts.The SRA has confirmed that it is carrying out an investigation into the former partners of the firm. As those individuals are no longer on the roll of solicitors, the SRA is limited in the enforcement action it can currently take. However, any concerns identified during the course of the investigation would be taken into account if any former partner seeks to return to legal practice.The Ministry continues to monitor this issue through regular engagement with legal regulators and remains in contact with the SRA as it progresses its investigation. The SRA has published a public update on its website for affected clients and other interested parties: SRA | WW&J McClure and Jones Whyte | Solicitors Regulation Authority

Whether she plans to increase the length of sentences for shoplifting.

Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts, and the courts have a range of sentencing powers to deal with each offender effectively and appropriately, including discharges, fines, community sentences, suspended sentences and imprisonment.The maximum penalty for an offence is set by Parliament and is designed to cover the most serious imaginable behaviours that may fall under that offence. We continue to keep maximum penalties under review to make ensure they reflect the seriousness of the offending behaviour.Under the previous Government, shop theft increased to an unacceptable level, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers. We will not stand for this as everybody has a right to feel safe at their place of work.That is why, through our Crime and Policing Bill, we are introducing a new offence of assaulting a retail worker. The new offence will carry a maximum prison sentence of six months and/or an unlimited fine, matching the current sentence guidelines for common assault. It will also come with a presumption for a court to apply a Criminal Behaviour Order. This will prohibit the offender from doing anything described in the order, which might include a condition preventing specific acts which cause harassment, alarm or distress, or preventing an offender from visiting specific premises.The Crime and Policing Bill will also introduce new measures to address the perceived immunity for ‘low value’ shop theft. With this change, there will no longer be a threshold categorising shop theft of goods worth £200 and under as ‘low value’. Instead, all cases of shop theft will be taken seriously irrespective of the value of goods stolen, with a maximum custodial penalty of 7 years. Shop theft of any amount is illegal, and repealing this legislation will ensure everyone understands this.

How much her Department has spent on keeping foreign nationals imprisoned in prisons in each of the last five years.

We do not disaggregate prison run costs by nationality and the cost to hold individuals depends on category of prisons. Our unit costs for holding prisoners are published on GOV.UK alongside the HM Prison and Probation Service Annual Reports and Accounts. Data on the number of Foreign National Offenders in custody is published in Offender Management Statistics quarterly on GOV.UK. Foreign nationals who commit crime should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced. The Ministry of Justice will work with the Home Office to pursue their deportation. Between 5 July 2024 and 22 March 2025, 3,594 FNOs have been returned – 16% more than the 3,101 in the same period 12 months prior, under the previous government.

How many people were assessed for a role in the Prison Service by nationality in the latest period for which data is available.

The Department welcomes job applications from everyone, irrespective of background, identity, experience, or circumstance, and particularly those underrepresented in our workforce. The number of people assessed for a role in the prison service by nationality from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 is provided in the attached table 1. All staff undergo robust assessments and training before they work in prisons. Our strengthened vetting process roots out those who fall below our high standards.

How many people applied to join the Prison Service by nationality in the latest period for which data is available.

The Department welcomes job applications from everyone, irrespective of background, identity, experience, or circumstance, and particularly those underrepresented in our workforce. The number of people who applied for a role in the prison service by nationality from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 is provided in the attached table 1. All staff undergo robust assessments and training before they work in prisons. Our strengthened vetting process roots out those who fall below our high standards

How many prisoners have been released from Nottinghamshire prisons as part of the early release scheme since July 2024.

This Government inherited a criminal justice system in crisis, with our prisons on the brink of collapse. We took the necessary action to prevent the complete breakdown in law and order that we were facing when we were elected, by introducing the SDS40 scheme. Unlike the previous Government’s disastrous ECSL scheme, SDS40 has exclusions for domestic abuse related offences and sought to give probation as much time as possible to prepare for releases.SDS40 applies to all prisons in England and Wales and data on early prison releases from Nottinghamshire prisons forms a subset of prison releases data which is intended for future publication. In accordance with the requirements of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, we may not give any early indication of the contents of this statistical report.On 07 November, the Ministry of Justice published transparency data on how many offenders were released on the first days of Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 of SDS40 (1,889 prisoners on the first day of Tranche 1, and 1,223 prisoners on the first day of Tranche 2).

What the total cost was of providing translation services in her Department in the last year.

The total cost of providing translation services for financial year 24/25 (April 2024 – Feb 2025) was £2,598,485.36. This figure is representative of the spend by HM Prison and Probation Service under its translation and transcription contract with an external provider.

What diversity, equality and inclusion targets her Department has for staff recruitment.

The Department welcomes job applications from everyone, irrespective of background, identity, experience, or circumstance, and particularly those underrepresented in our workforce.The Ministry of Justice as a whole does not have diversity staff recruitment targets.HM Prison and Probation Service uses the proportion of people from ethnic minorities in the economically active population, according to the Labour Force Survey, as a comparator when examining the ethnic minority representation of its workforce and recruitment.

What the total cost was of providing legal aid to asylum seekers in the last year.

Expenditure data for asylum seekers across all legal aid schemes is not held centrally.The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) does, however, publish information regarding legal aid expenditure as part of its official statistics on a quarterly basis, including the cost of legal aid provided in respect of asylum matters funded as Controlled Work. That information can be found at column G of table 5.3. Controlled Work covers the provision of legal advice regarding asylum matters and representation before the First Tier (Immigration and Asylum) Tribunal. The LAA also publishes information about the cost of Legal Representation pertaining to immigration and asylum matters (see tables 6.5 and 6.7).

If she will overrule changes to sentencing guidance which will place greater emphasis on pre-sentence reports.

The Sentencing Council has issued new guidance which the last Government was consulted on between November 2023 and February 2024, and then publicly welcomed.The Lord Chancellor has been clear that these guidelines do not represent this government’s views, and she asked the Council to reconsider them.The Lord Chancellor and the Chairman of the Sentencing Council have since had a constructive discussion. It was agreed that the Lord Chancellor will set out her position more fully in writing, which the Sentencing Council will then consider before the guideline is due to come into effect

If she will make an estimate of the number of convicted paedophiles that upon the end of their sentence have lived within one mile of a school or park in each of the last five years.

The decision as to where to permit a convicted child sex offender to live whilst subject to licensed supervision is made by the Probation and Probation Services working together under MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements).Additionally, offenders subject to licensed supervision may be prohibited from entering specified geographical locations (exclusion zones) on account of the particular risks which those offenders present. A child sex offender might, for example, be prohibited from entering a specified area around a school or nursery. Exclusion zones may be reinforced in certain cases by satellite tracking, to ensure that any offender who enters an exclusion zone without permission faces being recalled immediately to custody.The data required to answer PQs 33564 and 33565 are not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

If she will make an estimate of the number of convicted paedophiles that upon the end of their sentence have lived within five miles of a school or park in each of the last five years.

The decision as to where to permit a convicted child sex offender to live whilst subject to licensed supervision is made by the Probation and Probation Services working together under MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements).Additionally, offenders subject to licensed supervision may be prohibited from entering specified geographical locations (exclusion zones) on account of the particular risks which those offenders present. A child sex offender might, for example, be prohibited from entering a specified area around a school or nursery. Exclusion zones may be reinforced in certain cases by satellite tracking, to ensure that any offender who enters an exclusion zone without permission faces being recalled immediately to custody.The data required to answer PQs 33564 and 33565 are not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a ban on convicted paedophiles living within a five-mile radius of a school of park.

The decision as to where to permit a convicted child sex offender to live whilst subject to licensed supervision is made by the Probation and Probation Services working together under MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements).Additionally, offenders subject to licensed supervision may be prohibited from entering specified geographical locations (exclusion zones) on account of the particular risks which those offenders present. A child sex offender might, for example, be prohibited from entering a specified area around a school or nursery. Exclusion zones may be reinforced in certain cases by satellite tracking, to ensure that any offender who enters an exclusion zone without permission faces being recalled immediately to custody.The data required to answer PQs 33564 and 33565 are not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) reviewing and (b) changing the probation guidelines to prevent convicted paedophiles from living within a certain perimeter of a school or park.

The decision as to where to permit a convicted child sex offender to live whilst subject to licensed supervision is made by the Probation and Probation Services working together under MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements).Additionally, offenders subject to licensed supervision may be prohibited from entering specified geographical locations (exclusion zones) on account of the particular risks which those offenders present. A child sex offender might, for example, be prohibited from entering a specified area around a school or nursery. Exclusion zones may be reinforced in certain cases by satellite tracking, to ensure that any offender who enters an exclusion zone without permission faces being recalled immediately to custody.The data required to answer PQs 33564 and 33565 are not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

What assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the roll out of the early prison release scheme.

SDS40 is a necessary measure to avoid the collapse of the Criminal Justice System. In designing the measure, we took every possible step to mitigate risk including an 8-week implementation period, clear offence exclusions, and a huge amount of collaboration with partners across the Criminal Justice System. Once released offender will be subject to strict licence conditions and face being immediately recalled to prison should they breach those conditions.Following the first tranche of SDS40 releases that took place on 10 September, the Ministry of Justice and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service have consulted our frontline and cross government partners on how things went. Following the release of prisoners under Tranche 1 on 10 September and Tranche 2 on 22 Octoberr, we are determined to continue to take every step possible to bring the prisons system under control, reduce reoffending and to keep the public safe.As the Lord Chancellor has previously announced, the change will be reviewed in 18 months.