Written questions by Timothy.

If he will list the organisations authorised to send religious and welfare packs to prisons in England and Wales for (a) Ramadan and (b) Eid.

Decisions on whether any external materials may be provided are taken by individual establishments. They are subject to governor approval, national policy on faith and pastoral care, security requirements, and extremism safeguards. All proposed materials are assessed by chaplaincy teams in conjunction with prison security staff, including scrutiny against the Inappropriate Materials Guidance and oversight by Prevent Leads and Chaplaincy headquarters, and may be refused or withdrawn where concerns arise.HMPPS chaplaincy teams do not request or use materials from the Islamic Human Rights Commission in prisons.

What proportion of meat served in prisons has been (a) halal and (b) kosher in each year since 2020, broken down by individual prison.

As this data is not held centrally the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.The Food in Prison Policy Framework requires that prisoners are provided with meals that meet an individual’s religious, cultural, and medical dietary needs. Prisons provide a multi-choice, pre-select menu for the lunchtime or evening meal which must reflect the diverse needs of the establishment’s population. When a Halal meat or poultry menu choice is offered, an alternative meat or poultry choice which is not Halal must be provided at the same meal.All prisons across England and Wales provide prisoners with a choice of at least five meal options at both lunch and the evening meal. As a minimum, these options include: one meat dish, one vegan dish, one vegetarian dish, one Halal dish, and one additional alternative option.

When she plans to respond to the letter of 18 December 2025 from the hon. Member for West Suffolk.

The correspondence from the hon. Member for West Suffolk is receiving attention and a response will be issued as soon as it is practical to do so.

How many (a) chaplains, (b) rabbis, (c) imams, (d) other religious ministers have been attached to each prison in England and Wales in each year since 2010.

His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) recognises that faith and belief can support rehabilitation and may act as a protective factor in reducing re-offending.The statutory duties of prison chaplains are set out in the Prison Act 1952 and reflected in the Prison Rules 1999 and Young Offender Institution Rules 2000. They include visiting prisoners on reception; when held in segregation or residential healthcare; and before release.HMPPS does not hold a complete historical record, by establishment and year, of the number of chaplains since 2010, as there is no operational requirement to do so. Chaplaincy provision is arranged locally according to operational need, and includes employed, sessional and voluntary chaplains, totalling over 1,200 people.

Whether the costs arising from his role as Deputy Prime Minister are being met from the department’s budget.

As outlined on gov.uk, the Deputy Prime Minister acts on behalf of the department and also deputises for the Prime Minister. Engagements completed on the Prime Minister's behalf, including international visits, are generally paid for by the Cabinet Office.

How many legal aid providers have represented appellants in the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber in each year since 2020.

Information about the number of distinct provider offices completing at least one case in the First-Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum) in each financial year since 2020 can be found in the table below:Financial Years Number of provider offices 2020-212522021-222352022-232272023-242172024-25224Legal aid for immigration and asylum services, including proceedings before the First Tier Tribunal is subject to both a legal merits test and an assessment of the individual’s financial circumstances.

How much legal aid funding has been provided to appellants in the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber in each year since 2020, broken down by (a) ethnicity, and (b) nationality of the appellant.

Legal aid expenditure in respect of cases before the First-Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum) broken down by ethnicity is set out in the annexed table. Data is self-reported to the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) by applicants or their legal aid solicitor, it is not verified by the LAA. It is not mandatory for applicants to complete the Equality and Diversity section of an application. Where this has been left blank ethnicity is recorded as ‘unknown’.Legal aid funding is not paid directly to the individual in receipt of legal aid. Legal aid is only paid to legal providers for the provision of legal advice and representation. Data in the annexed table therefore reflects expenditure relating to bills submitted by legal aid providers.Information relating to nationality of applicants is not centrally held.

How much funding has been provided to legal aid providers to represent appellants in the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber in each year since 2020, broken down by (a) ethnicity, and (b) nationality of the appellant.

Legal aid expenditure in respect of cases before the First-Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum) broken down by ethnicity is set out in the annexed table. Data is self-reported to the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) by applicants or their legal aid solicitor, it is not verified by the LAA. It is not mandatory for applicants to complete the Equality and Diversity section of an application. Where this has been left blank ethnicity is recorded as ‘unknown’.Legal aid funding is not paid directly to the individual in receipt of legal aid. Legal aid is only paid to legal providers for the provision of legal advice and representation. Data in the annexed table therefore reflects expenditure relating to bills submitted by legal aid providers.Information relating to nationality of applicants is not centrally held.

What estimate has his department made of the size of the (a) youth custody population, (b) youth secure estate for the next five years.

During the last 12 months, the population of the youth secure estate has varied in the range 440 to 510. Work on future projections is in hand, but owing to the small numbers involved and consequent volatility, there are difficulties in generating robust figures. Later this year, we will set out our plans for wider reforms to youth custody, to deliver better outcomes for children, communities and taxpayers. This will include consideration of the future shape and configuration of the youth secure estate.

How many prison inmates have had illicit relationships with prison officers in each year since 2010, broken down by offence group.

The table below shows the number of prisoners in the last six years recorded as being involved in proven cases where a member of prison staff has been convicted of Misconduct in Public Office. No data is held for years prior to 2020. Year of case outcome202020212022202320242025Number of prisoners055171022 An inappropriate relationship is defined as any relationship that compromises a staff member’s ability to perform their duties appropriately. Where officers fall below our high standards, we do not hesitate to take robust action. We are catching more of the minority who break the rules with our Counter Corruption Unit and stronger vetting. The figures in this table have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

How many racially and religiously aggravated offences against Christian people and places of worship have been (a) recorded, and (b) prosecuted in each year since 2020, broken down by the (i) ethnicity, (ii) nationality, and (iii) faith of the offender.

The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of religious hate crimes targeted at Christians recorded by the police in England and Wales. Information is not centrally held on the number of people prosecuted for these offences, nor the ethnicity, nationality or faith of the offender.The latest published statistics on the number of offences recorded are available here: Hate crime, England and Wales, year ending March 2025 - GOV.UKIt is not possible to tell, from the data held centrally, whether or not an offence was committed against a Christian place of worship.

What steps is he taking to improve the safety of officers in the Youth Custody Service.

Unacceptable levels of violence faced by Youth Justice Workers (i.e. officers) in young offender institutions were part of the wider difficulties across the criminal justice system that this Government has had to address. Making PAVA spray available in young offender institutions, subject to strict controls, was necessary to keep both staff and young people in custody safe. Each use of PAVA spray is reviewed by an independent panel and reported to Ministers for further scrutiny. H M Prison & Probation Service, as well as external organisations, are continuing to exercise very close scrutiny of any use of PAVA spray. The Youth Custody Service’s Framework for Integrated Care, known as ‘SECURE STAIRS’, which is delivered in partnership with the Department for Health and Social Care, and includes improvements in areas such as conflict resolution and specialist psychological interventions, is integral to improving safety within the youth estate. The Youth Custody Service has also developed roadmaps to effective practice which focus on outcomes in areas such as safety, behaviour management support and education.

How much funding has been allocated to the Youth Custody Service for the next five years.

As budget allocation across the Department is agreed annually, it is not possible to provide the information requested.

What steps he is taking to improve recruitment and retention in the Youth Custody Service.

The Youth Justice Worker (YJW) recruitment process includes multiple assessment stages designed to test candidates against the YJW success profile and give them realistic insight into the role. The success profile is based on job analysis with serving YJWs and identifies the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for effective practice.YJWs have a defined progression pathway. After completing their 12 month probation, they are offered a Level 4 qualification focused on working with children and young people in custody.His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service has a comprehensive approach to improving retention across the Prison and Probation Services. The Retention Framework sets out how data and insight are used to identify drivers of attrition and guide targeted interventions. This is supported by a retention toolkit, structured exit interviews, and an oversight process that conducts deep dive reviews at high attrition sites. National activity is coordinated through the Retention Delivery Committee to ensure alignment and minimise operational impact.

How many prison officers have been (a) arrested, (b) charged, and (c) prosecuted for having illicit relationships with prison inmates in each year since 2020, broken down by offence group.

The table below shows the number of prison officers at Bands 3-5 convicted in each of the last five years of an offence of misconduct in public office, where the offence related to an inappropriate relationship with a prisoner. 202020212022202320242025Misconduct in Public Office03512615An inappropriate relationship is defined as any relationship that compromises a staff member’s ability to appropriately perform their duties. The figures in this table have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

How many (a) defendants and (b) witnesses have requested translation services in each year since 2020 broken down by (i) ethnicity and (ii) nationality.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold information on the number of defendants or witnesses that have requested translation services. The booking portal does not collect information on whether the individual making the request is a defendant or witness and also does not collect information on the ethnicity and nationality of the requestor.

What analysis his Department has undertaken on the potential impact of the proposed Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts scheme on the financial viability of legal aid providers.

The Department has engaged with a range of relevant stakeholders to help shape policy proposals. We have engaged with firms that undertake legal aid work, as well as representative bodies, through bilateral engagement, legal aid providers’ roundtables and our recent consultation.We have also been working with relevant experts to consider the potential impacts of an ILCA scheme and the consultation collected evidence on the administration of the scheme and regulatory challenges.We are currently considering all the evidence received through engagement as part of our ongoing policy development and consultation response.

What assessment he has made of the potential (a) administrative and (b) regulatory challenges that the ILCA scheme may place on SME law firms.

The Department has engaged with a range of relevant stakeholders to help shape policy proposals. We have engaged with firms that undertake legal aid work, as well as representative bodies, through bilateral engagement, legal aid providers’ roundtables and our recent consultation.We have also been working with relevant experts to consider the potential impacts of an ILCA scheme and the consultation collected evidence on the administration of the scheme and regulatory challenges.We are currently considering all the evidence received through engagement as part of our ongoing policy development and consultation response.

How many offences against Jewish people and places of worship have been (a) recorded and (b) prosecuted in each year since 2020 broken down by the (i) ethnicity, (ii) nationality, and (iii) faith of the offender.

The Home Office publishes official statistics on religious hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales by targeted religion, including Jewish people. The latest statistical bulletin containing this information can be found here: Hate crime, England and Wales, year ending March 2025 - GOV.UK Information on whether the offence was targeted at a place of worship or not, or the ethnicity, nationality or faith of the offender for these offences is not centrally held. The CPS does not maintain a central record of the number of offences committed against Jewish people or the location of the offending, such as a place of worship. Nor is any central record kept of the nationality or faith of defendants prosecuted. To establish the number of prosecutions where these circumstances applied would require a manual review of case files and this would be at disproportionate cost.

How many prison officers have been (a) investigated, (b) disciplined and (c) dismissed for illicit relationships with inmates in each year since 2020, broken down by sex.

We only hold data on cases where staff were recommended for dismissal, as individuals may choose to resign before a dismissal can be formally enacted. As a result, we have used this field to respond to the question to avoid undercounting the number of people involved. This data can be found in the following tables. Table 1: Band 3-5 prison officers(1) investigated(2) due to an allegation of 'Inappropriate Relationship with a Prisoner / Ex-Prisoner' 2019/202020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25Female313624323431Male9947611Total404528394042Table 2: Band 3-5 prison officers facing a conduct and discipline(3), (4)charge of 'Inappropriate Relationship with a Prisoner / Ex-Prisoner' 2019/202020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25 Female9~~121618 Male3~~535 Total121114171923 Table 3: Band 3-5 prison officers recommended for dismissal following a conduct and discipline(3) charge of 'Inappropriate Relationship with a Prisoner / Ex-Prisoner' 2019/202020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25Female~~~~~~Male~~~~~~Total8~~1214~ Notes to tables:1. Band 3-5 Officers includes Bands 3-4 / Prison Officers (incl specialists), Band 4 / Supervising Officers, and Band 5 / Custodial Managers.2.    Staff subject to at least one investigation that was concluded during the relevant year.3.    Conduct and discipline cases are defined as where a penalty has been imposed on a member of HMPPS staff for a reason of conduct.4.    Staff with at least one conduct and discipline case concluded during the year. Equally staff involved in more than one case during the year are counted only once.5.    Allegations which meet a criminal threshold will be referred to the Police for investigation. If a criminal justice outcome is secured, this will result in a summary dismissal as per PSI 10/2016 Conduct and Discipline and will not be recorded against a specific ‘type’ of misconduct in the Conduct and Discipline data,6.    Years run from 1st April to 31st March.7.    In terms of the Gender data presented, the MoJ HR system holds demographic data on staff.  In the HR system there is a database field called Gender. The Gender field can only be one of two options – male or female. It is filled in for all staff when new staff records are created using details to confirm identity (i.e. name, date of birth, address) from official documentation supplied by the successful job applicant. However, it is possible for this information to be updated in line with departmental policy. The Office for Statistics Regulation recognises that this is an evolving area both for society and statistics, so advice and guidance is likely to change over time. ~ denotes suppressed values of 2 or fewer or other values which would allow values of 2 or fewer to be derived by subtraction. Low numbers are suppressed to prevent disclosure in accordance with the Data Protection Act, 2018. Additional Note:As with all HR databases, extracts are taken at a fixed point in time, to ensure consistency of reporting. However the database itself is dynamic, and where updates to the database are made late, subsequent to the taking of the extract, these updates will not be reflected in figures produced by the extract. For this reason, HR data are unlikely to be precisely accurate.