Written questions by O'Brien.

What the average number of previous (a) cautions and (b) convictions was for offenders who were sentenced to an immediate custodial sentence for (i) possession of a blade or point, (ii) possession of an offensive weapon, (iii) common assault, (iv) assaulting a police officer, (v) sexual assault, (vi) a public order offence, (vii) theft, (viii) robbery, (ix) burglary, (x) a drug-related offence, (xi) criminal damage, (xii) breach of an anti-social behaviour order, (xiii) fraud and (xiv) vehicle taking in each year since 2007.

The information requested is provided in the table attached with this answer. The table includes data covering the period 2007 – 2023, on the average number of a) previous convictions and b) previous cautions of offenders who were given an immediate custodial sentence when convicted for a specified offence. That is not to say that the offender was not sentenced to immediate custody for another offence prior to this conviction.This data is not regularly published or held in an easily accessible format. The information supplied has been sourced from a complicated retrieval from the Police National Computer database.It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.

How many people sentenced to an immediate custodial sentence for the first time for (a) possession of a blade or point, (b) possession of an offensive weapon, (c) common assault, (d) assaulting a police officer, (e) sexual assault, (f) a public order offence, (g) theft, (h) robbery, (i) burglary, (j) a drug-related offence, (k) criminal damage, (l) breach of an anti-social behaviour order, (m) fraud and (n) vehicle taking in each year since 2007 had (i) no, (ii) between one and four, (iii) between five and nine, (iv) between 10 and 15, (v) between 16 and 25, (vi) between 26 and 50, (vii) between 51 and 75, (viii) between 76 and 100 and (ix) 101 or more convictions and cautions for previous offences of any type.

The information requested is provided in the table attached with this answer. The table includes data covering the period 2007 – 2023, on the number of people sentenced to an immediate custodial sentence for the first time for a specified offence and an indication (by band) of their previous cautions and convictions for previous offences of any type. That is to say, in this data set, the offender received their first sentence of immediate custody for that particular offence. Nothing in this data set indicates that the offender has not received a sentence of immediate custody before, for another offence.This data is not regularly published or held in an easily accessible format. The information supplied has been sourced from a complicated retrieval from the Police National Computer database.It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.

What the highest number of previous offences was that a convicted person committed for that same offence before receiving a sentence other than an immediate non-custodial sentence for offences relating to (a) possession of a blade or point, (b) possession of an offensive weapon, (c) common assault, (d) assaulting a police officer, (e) sexual assault, (f) public order, (g) theft, (h) robbery, (i) burglary, (j) drugs, (k) criminal damage, (l) breach of anti social behaviour order, (m) fraud and (n) vehicle taking in each of the last three years.

Information on the highest number of previous cautions and convictions an offender had for a specified offence type before receiving a custodial sentence, covering the period 2021 to 2023, can be viewed in the attached table.This data is not regularly published or held in an easily accessible format. The information supplied has been sourced from a complicated retrieval from the Police National Computer database.It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.

What the average sentence length in months was for people who received an immediate custodial sentence and had (a) zero, (b) between one and four, (c) between five and nine, (d) between 10 and 15, (e) between 16 and 25, (f) between 26 and 50, (g) between 51 and 75, (h) between 76 and 100 and (i) 101 or more previous convictions in each year since 2007.

The information requested is provided in the table attached with this answer. These tables include data covering 2007 to 2023, on the average custodial sentence length of offenders with a specified number of previous convictions who were sentenced to immediate custody.This data is not regularly published or held in an easily accessible format. The information supplied has been sourced from a complicated retrieval from the Police National Computer database.It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.

What the average sentence length was in months for people who received an immediate custodial sentence and who had (a) no and (b) between (i) one and four, (ii) five and nine, (iii) 10 and 15, (iv) 16 and 25, (v) 26 and 50, (vi) 51 and 75, (vii) 76 and 100 and (viii) 101 or more previous convictions, and who were convicted of (A) violence against the person, (B) theft, (C) drug offences, (D) robbery, (E) common assault and battery, (F) burglary in a dwelling, (G) production, supply and possession with intent to supply a controlled drug - Class A, (H) possession of article with blade or point and (I) assaulting, resisting or obstructing a constable or designated officer in execution of duty in the last 10 years.

The information requested is provided in the table attached with this answer. The table includes data covering the period 2014 – 2023, on the average sentence length in months for people who received an immediate custodial sentence who were convicted of specified offences and an indication (by band) of their previous convictions.This data is not regularly published or held in an easily accessible format. The information supplied has been sourced from a complicated retrieval from the Police National Computer database.It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.

How many and what proportion of people who were convicted in each year since 2007 who previously had (a) no and (b) between (i) one and four, (ii) five and nine, (iii) 10 and 15, (iv) 16 and 25, (v) 26 and 50, (vi) 51 and 75, (vii) 76 and 100 and (viii) 101 or more convictions received (A) an immediate custodial, (B) a suspended and (C) a community sentence.

The information requested is provided in the table attached with this answer. The table includes data covering the period 2007 to 2023 on the proportion of offenders with a specified number of previous convictions by specified sentence type. This data is not regularly published or held in an easily accessible format. The information supplied has been sourced from a complicated retrieval from the Police National Computer database. It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.

How many offenders in each police force area who were convicted but not sentenced to an immediate custodial sentence in each year since 2007 had (a) 26 to 50, (b) 51 to 75, (c) 76 to 100 and (d) over 100 previous convictions or cautions.

The information requested is provided in the tables attached with this answer. These tables include data covering the period 2007 – 2023, on the number of offenders in each Police Force area with a specified number of previous convictions and cautions who were convicted but not sentenced to immediate custody for their latest offence in each of the given years. That is not to say that the offender has not received a sentence for immediate custody for any of the prior convictions.This data is not regularly published or held in an easily accessible format. The information supplied has been sourced from a complicated retrieval from the Police National Computer database.It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.

How many people who were convicted of a violent offence and did not receive a custodial sentence had (a) zero, (b) between one and four, (c) between five and nine, (d) between 10 and 15, (e) between 16 and 25, (f) between 26 and 50, (g) between 51 and 75, (h) between 76 and 100 and (i) 101 or more (A) convictions and (B) cautions for previous offences of any type in each year since 2007.

The information requested is provided in the tables attached with this answer. These tables include data, covering the period 2007 – 2023, on the number of offenders convicted of a ‘violence against the person’ crime but did not receive a custodial sentence, by a) number of previous convictions and b) number of previous cautions.This data is not regularly published or held in an easily accessible format. The information supplied has been sourced from a complicated retrieval from the Police National Computer database.It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.

How many people who previously had (a) no and (b) between (i) one and four, (ii) five and nine, (iii) 10 and 15, (iv) 16 and 25, (v) 26 and 50, (vi) 51 and 75, (vii) 76 and 100 and (viii) 101 or more convictions were convicted and did not receive an immediate custodial sentence in each year since 2007.

The information requested is provided in the table attached with this answer. The table includes data covering the period 2007 to 2023, on the number of offenders convicted but did not receive an immediate custodial sentence by number of previous convictions. That is not to say that the offender did not receive a sentence of immediate custody at any point, but rather that their latest offence was not one of immediate custody. This data is not regularly published or held in an easily accessible format. The information supplied has been sourced from a complicated retrieval from the Police National Computer database. It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.

What discussions he has had with Network Rail on options to avoid the closure of Spion Kop bridge on Blaby Road Wigston during the next phase of electrification work on the midland mainline.

My Officials have been in discussion with Network Rail regarding the necessary works for Spion Kop bridge at Blaby Road.The work is necessary to renew aging assets and enable the electrification of the railway. Network Rail are working with the local authority and are considering options for the works and are mindful of minimising the disruptive impacts of the works whilst also delivering the works efficiently.

How many and what proportion of people convicted of violent offences who previously had (a) none, (b) one to four, (c) five to nine, (d) 10-15, (e) 16-25, (f) 26-50, (g) 51-75, (h) 76-100 and (i) 101 or more convictions received (i) an immediate custodial sentence, (ii) a suspended sentence and (iii) a community sentence in each year since 2007.

The information requested is provided in the tables attached with this answer. These table include data covering the period 2007 – 2023, on:The number of occasions on which an offender was convicted of a violence against the person offence with a specified number of previous convictions and received a specified sentence.The percentage of occasions on which an offender was convicted of a violence against the person offence with a specified number of previous convictions and received a specified sentence.This data is not regularly published or held in an easily accessible format. The information supplied has been sourced from a complicated retrieval from the Police National Computer database.It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the fee per child to deliver the Special Schools Eyecare service.

NHS England has committed to investing up to £12.7 million annually from 2024/25 on the provision of sight tests and associated optical vouchers in special educational settings. This represents an approximately 87% increase compared to previous levels of spending. This additional investment has the potential to increase coverage from 4% of special educational settings to 100%.NHS England has engaged with key stakeholders throughout the life of the programme and continues to work closely with local integrated care boards and the ophthalmic and voluntary sector, to scale up and roll out sight tests in special educational settings.

How many people who were given an immediate custodial sentence of a year or less had (a) no, (b) one, (c) two, (d) three, (e) four, (f) five, (g) six, (h) seven, (i) eight, (j) nine, (k) 10 to 19, (l) 20 to 29, (m) 30 to 39 and (n) 40 or more previous convictions and cautions in each year since 2007.

The information requested is provided in the table attached with this answer. This table includes data, covering the period 2007 – 2023, on the number of offenders with a specified number of previous cautions and convictions who were sentenced to immediate custody for a year or less.This data is not regularly published or held in an easily accessible format. The information supplied has been sourced from a complicated retrieval from the Police National Computer database.It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.

What the highest number of previous community orders issued to an offender sentenced to immediate custody was in each year since 2007.

Information on the highest number of previous community sentences received by an offender sentenced to immediate custody, covering the period 2007 – 2023, can be viewed in the attached table.It is worth noting that the same individuals may appear in more than one year. This data is not regularly published or held in an easily accessible format. The information supplied has been sourced from a complicated retrieval from the Police National Computer database.It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.

How many and what proportion of offenders sentenced to immediate custody had (a) zero, (b) between one and four, (c) between five and nine, (d) between 10 and 15, (e) between 16 and 25, (f) between 26 and 50 and (g) more than 50 previous (i) community orders and (ii) suspended sentences in each year since 2007.

The information requested is provided in the table attached with this answer. The table includes data covering the period 2007 – 2023, on:The number of offenders with a specified number of previous community sentences who were sentenced to immediate custody.The proportion of offenders with a specified number of previous community sentences who were sentenced to immediate custody.The number of offenders with a specified number of suspended sentences who were sentenced to immediate custody.The proportion of offenders with a specified number of suspended sentences who were sentenced to immediate custody.It is worth noting that an offender may have had previous custodial sentences as well as previous community or suspended sentences. This data is not regularly published or held in an easily accessible format. The information supplied has been sourced from a complicated retrieval from the Police National Computer database.It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.

How many people received a (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentence for assault on a (i) police and (ii) prison officer in each year since 2007; and what the average custodial sentence for those offences was in each of those years.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information on the number of offenders sentenced for offences relating to assaults on police officers and prison officers, from 2010 to 2023, in the Outcomes by Offence data tool: December 2023, using the following HO offence codes:10423 - Assault on a constable10504 - Assaulting a prisoner custody officer or custody officer00873 - Assault or assault by beating of an emergency workerThe number of offenders sentenced for offences relating to assaults on police officers and prison officers, from 2007 to 2009, is provided in Table 1.The assault of a police officer can be prosecuted under both ‘Assault on a constable’ and ‘Assault or assault by beating of an emergency worker’ offences since the enactment of Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018.The assault of a prison officer can be prosecuted under both ‘Assaulting a prisoner custody officer or custody officer’ and ‘Assault or assault by beating of an emergency worker’ offences since the enactment of Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018.However, whether the offences under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 relate to assaults specifically on police officers or prison officers is not held centrally in the Court Proceedings database. This information may be held on court records but to examine individual court records would incur disproportionate costs.It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.

How many people sentenced to an immediate custodial sentence for (a) possession of a blade or point, (b) possession of an offensive weapon, (c) common assault, (d) assaulting a police officer, (e) sexual assault, (f) a public order offence, (g) theft, (h) robbery, (i) burglary, (j) a drug-related offence, (k) criminal damage, (l) breach of an anti-social behaviour order, (m) fraud and (n) vehicle taking in each year since 2007 had (i) no and (ii) between (A) one and four, (B) five and nine, (C) 10 and 15, (D) 16 and 25, (E) 26 and 50, (F) 51 and 75, (G) 76 and 100 and (H) 101 or more convictions and cautions for an offence.

The information requested is provided in the table attached with this answer. This table includes data, covering the period 2007 – 2023, on the number of offenders with a specified number of previous cautions and convictions who were sentenced to immediate custody for a specified offence.This data is not regularly published or held in an easily accessible format. The information supplied has been sourced from a complicated retrieval from the Police National Computer database.It should be noted that sentencing decisions in individual cases are for the independent judiciary.