Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

How many emergency visa extensions has his department applied for HMPPS staff since 1 November 2025.

The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.

What information he holds on the number of British-qualified judges sit on the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal publishes the names of its non-permanent judges on its website.The list is available at https://www.hkcfa.hk/en/about/who/judges/npjs/index.html.

What is the full scope of the five point action plan to tackle release inaccuracy announced by him on 11 November 2025.

Releases in error are never acceptable, and we are bearing down on those errors that do occur. Releases in error have always existed, and are another long-term symptom of the prison system crisis this Government inherited. While the overwhelming majority of offenders are released correctly, we are taking decisive action to address this issue to reduce the risk of future mistakes. On 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point action plan. This includes:a new Justice Performance Board which will give a comprehensive view of performance across the criminal justice system;the introduction of an urgent query process to allow prisons to quickly escalate warrant-related queries;a multi-million pound investment in new technology to reduce human error;the simplification of release policy to reduce the scope for errors through the implementation of the Sentencing Bill; andan independent system-wide review, led by Dame Lynne Owens, which will report its recommendations in spring next year.

How many staff within the HM Prison & Probation Service reliant on visas for employment have been employed since 5 July 2024.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold the requested information requested data in an easily accessible format. Right to Work data is collected during the vetting stage but is not retained within the employment record. As a result, extracting this information would require a manual review of individual vetting files, which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Pursuant to the answer of 18th November 2025 to question 88988 on Prisoners, a) how long for and b) how much compensation did each prisoner unlawfully detained between 5th July 2024 and 31st March 2025 receive.

Release inaccuracy is yet another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government. While the overwhelming majority of offenders are released correctly, we are clamping down on those errors that do occur, and this includes unlawful detentions.On 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point action plan setting out initial steps which includes strengthening release checks across prisons and an independent inquiry will report its recommendations to prevent further inaccuracies. The Government is determined to fix release inaccuracies and ensure the public is properly protected.The data requested comes from internal management information and is not fully Quality Assured. We are therefore unable to answer this question within cost limits.

Pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025 to question 88988 on Prisoners, how many of the prisoners unlawfully detained following completion of their sentence in 2024-25 were detained between 5 July 2024 and 31 March 2025.

Release inaccuracy is yet another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government. While the overwhelming majority of offenders are released correctly, we are clamping down on those errors that do occur, and this includes unlawful detentions.On 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point action plan setting out initial steps which includes strengthening release checks across prisons and an independent inquiry will report its recommendations to prevent further inaccuracies. The Government is determined to fix release inaccuracies and ensure the public is properly protected.The data requested comes from internal management information and is not fully Quality Assured. We are therefore unable to answer this question within cost limits.

How many staff within the HM Prison & Probation Service are reliant on a visa for their employment.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold the requested data in an easily accessible format. Information on right to work status does not provide a distinction between employees presently working for the Ministry of Justice and employees who have since left employment, therefore distinguishing the data accurately would incur disproportionate cost.

How many prison places have been delivered through the Small Secure Houseblocks programme since 5 July 2024; and at which locations.

No places have yet been delivered under the Small Secure Houseblocks (SSH) programme. Following completion of the design stage, the programme is now in its main construction phase. Based on current plans, the Small Secure Houseblocks programme will deliver c.1,000 new Category C places and supporting ancillaries across the estate.The Government committed to delivering 14,000 additional prison places in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy. We are on track to deliver these by 2031, having delivered c.2,600 since taking office.

Pursuant to the answer of 17th November 2025, to question 88464 on Prison Accommodation, how many a) places at new prisons, b) permanent cells at existing prisons and c) Rapid Deployment Cells will form the 3,250 places in the South West and Central region.

As set out in the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, published in December 2024, we are delivering an additional 14,000 prison places, and aim to do so by 2031, having already delivered c.2,600 since taking office. The following table provides a breakdown of the places to be delivered in each region by new prison places, permanent cells at existing prisons and rapid deployment cells (RDCs), with each number rounded to the nearest 50 places. Due to rounding, total places may not align to the other categories.Region Total Places New Prison Places Permanent Cells RDCs South West & Centralc.3,250c.1,450c.1,600c.200South East & Eastc.2,4000c.2,100c.250Walesc.3500c.250c.100Midlandsc.2,750c.2,000c.700c.50North Westc.2,900c.1,700c.1,100c.100North Eastc.6500c.400c.200This breakdown represents current projections which may vary when compared to previous projections due to changes in programme scope or our delivery approach, as well as the inclusion in the original response of temporary additional places used in private prisons (which are not covered in the questions above).Due to rounding, and contingency within the programmes, our delivery total exceeds the 14,000 place commitment.

What progress has she made in replacing the key supplier for the 10K Additional Prison Places Estate Expansion Houseblocks and Refurbishment programme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 November 2025 to Question 87997.

What progress he has made in replacing the key supplier for the 10K Additional Prison Places Estate Expansion Category D programme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 November 2025 to Question 87997.

Pursuant to the answer of 17th November 2025, to question 88464 on Prison Accommodation, how many a) places at new prisons, b) permanent cells at existing prisons and c) Rapid Deployment Cells will form the 350 places in Wales.

As set out in the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, published in December 2024, we are delivering an additional 14,000 prison places, and aim to do so by 2031, having already delivered c.2,600 since taking office. The following table provides a breakdown of the places to be delivered in each region by new prison places, permanent cells at existing prisons and rapid deployment cells (RDCs), with each number rounded to the nearest 50 places. Due to rounding, total places may not align to the other categories.Region Total Places New Prison Places Permanent Cells RDCs South West & Centralc.3,250c.1,450c.1,600c.200South East & Eastc.2,4000c.2,100c.250Walesc.3500c.250c.100Midlandsc.2,750c.2,000c.700c.50North Westc.2,900c.1,700c.1,100c.100North Eastc.6500c.400c.200This breakdown represents current projections which may vary when compared to previous projections due to changes in programme scope or our delivery approach, as well as the inclusion in the original response of temporary additional places used in private prisons (which are not covered in the questions above).Due to rounding, and contingency within the programmes, our delivery total exceeds the 14,000 place commitment.

Pursuant to the answer of 17th November 2025, to question 88464 on Prison Accommodation, how many a) places at new prisons, b) permanent cells at existing prisons and c) Rapid Deployment Cells will form the 650 places in the North East.

As set out in the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, published in December 2024, we are delivering an additional 14,000 prison places, and aim to do so by 2031, having already delivered c.2,600 since taking office. The following table provides a breakdown of the places to be delivered in each region by new prison places, permanent cells at existing prisons and rapid deployment cells (RDCs), with each number rounded to the nearest 50 places. Due to rounding, total places may not align to the other categories.Region Total Places New Prison Places Permanent Cells RDCs South West & Centralc.3,250c.1,450c.1,600c.200South East & Eastc.2,4000c.2,100c.250Walesc.3500c.250c.100Midlandsc.2,750c.2,000c.700c.50North Westc.2,900c.1,700c.1,100c.100North Eastc.6500c.400c.200This breakdown represents current projections which may vary when compared to previous projections due to changes in programme scope or our delivery approach, as well as the inclusion in the original response of temporary additional places used in private prisons (which are not covered in the questions above).Due to rounding, and contingency within the programmes, our delivery total exceeds the 14,000 place commitment.

Pursuant to the answer of 17th November 2025, to question 88464 on Prison Accommodation, how many a) places at new prisons, b) permanent cells at existing prisons and c) Rapid Deployment Cells will form the 2,800 places in the Midlands.

As set out in the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, published in December 2024, we are delivering an additional 14,000 prison places, and aim to do so by 2031, having already delivered c.2,600 since taking office. The following table provides a breakdown of the places to be delivered in each region by new prison places, permanent cells at existing prisons and rapid deployment cells (RDCs), with each number rounded to the nearest 50 places. Due to rounding, total places may not align to the other categories.Region Total Places New Prison Places Permanent Cells RDCs South West & Centralc.3,250c.1,450c.1,600c.200South East & Eastc.2,4000c.2,100c.250Walesc.3500c.250c.100Midlandsc.2,750c.2,000c.700c.50North Westc.2,900c.1,700c.1,100c.100North Eastc.6500c.400c.200This breakdown represents current projections which may vary when compared to previous projections due to changes in programme scope or our delivery approach, as well as the inclusion in the original response of temporary additional places used in private prisons (which are not covered in the questions above).Due to rounding, and contingency within the programmes, our delivery total exceeds the 14,000 place commitment.

Pursuant to the answer of 17th November 2025, to question 88464 on Prison Accommodation, how many a) places at new prisons, b) permanent cells at existing prisons and c) Rapid Deployment Cells will form the 2,400 places in the South East and East region.

As set out in the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, published in December 2024, we are delivering an additional 14,000 prison places, and aim to do so by 2031, having already delivered c.2,600 since taking office. The following table provides a breakdown of the places to be delivered in each region by new prison places, permanent cells at existing prisons and rapid deployment cells (RDCs), with each number rounded to the nearest 50 places. Due to rounding, total places may not align to the other categories.Region Total Places New Prison Places Permanent Cells RDCs South West & Centralc.3,250c.1,450c.1,600c.200South East & Eastc.2,4000c.2,100c.250Walesc.3500c.250c.100Midlandsc.2,750c.2,000c.700c.50North Westc.2,900c.1,700c.1,100c.100North Eastc.6500c.400c.200This breakdown represents current projections which may vary when compared to previous projections due to changes in programme scope or our delivery approach, as well as the inclusion in the original response of temporary additional places used in private prisons (which are not covered in the questions above).Due to rounding, and contingency within the programmes, our delivery total exceeds the 14,000 place commitment.

Pursuant to the answer of 17th November 2025, to question 88464 on Prison Accommodation, how many a) places at new prisons, b) permanent cells at existing prisons and c) Rapid Deployment Cells will form the 2,900 places in the North West.

As set out in the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, published in December 2024, we are delivering an additional 14,000 prison places, and aim to do so by 2031, having already delivered c.2,600 since taking office. The following table provides a breakdown of the places to be delivered in each region by new prison places, permanent cells at existing prisons and rapid deployment cells (RDCs), with each number rounded to the nearest 50 places. Due to rounding, total places may not align to the other categories.Region Total Places New Prison Places Permanent Cells RDCs South West & Centralc.3,250c.1,450c.1,600c.200South East & Eastc.2,4000c.2,100c.250Walesc.3500c.250c.100Midlandsc.2,750c.2,000c.700c.50North Westc.2,900c.1,700c.1,100c.100North Eastc.6500c.400c.200This breakdown represents current projections which may vary when compared to previous projections due to changes in programme scope or our delivery approach, as well as the inclusion in the original response of temporary additional places used in private prisons (which are not covered in the questions above).Due to rounding, and contingency within the programmes, our delivery total exceeds the 14,000 place commitment.

What recent progress has she made in implementing the 10K Additional Prison Places Estate Expansion Houseblocks and Refurbishment programme.

To date, the Houseblocks and Refurbishments programme has delivered c.1,000 places, c.200 of which were delivered under this Government. As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Capacity Strategy, we are committed to delivering 14,000 additional prison places, aiming to do so by 2031. We are currently on track to meet this target, having delivered c.2,600 since taking office.

With reference to his Statement in the House on 11 November 2025, how many personnel from his Department will form the digital rapid response unit.

We plan to allocate up to 15 members of staff to the digital rapid response unit. We will keep this resource allocation under review.

With reference to his Statement in the House on 11 November 2025, how many personnel from his Department will form the urgent warrant query unit.

The Urgent Warrant Query Unit (UWQU) will be formed out of an existing national service centre which currently answers all calls to the Magistrates’ Courts in England and Wales. Its function will be to provide a reliable and accountable route of escalation for urgent queries to HMCTS from Prisons, covering both Crown and Magistrates' Courts.We anticipate the unit will be initially staffed with 8 members of existing staff daily based on an assessment of likely contact volumes. Staff allocated to the unit will be given additional training and flexibly deployed to the Query Unit to ensure all calls and emails to the Unit from Prisons are answered and then dealt with swiftly.

In which prisons the planned new houseblocks will be constructed.

As set out in the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we are committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places. This consists of the construction of four new prisons, including HMP Millsike that opened in early 2025, as well as the expansion and refurbishment of the existing estate.Our delivery plans include contingency places that act as resilience to the programme if a project becomes undeliverable or provides poor value for money and is not taken forward.The planned expansion of the estate includes the delivery of new houseblocks at the following prisons:HMP Fosse WayHMP ElmleyHMP NorthumberlandHMP HumberHMP RanbyHMP BullingdonHMP ErlestokeHMP Guys MarshHMP OnleyHMP Lancaster FarmsHMP ParcHMP Channings WoodHMP HighpointHMP LeyhillHMP Standford HillHMP SpringhillHMP WaylandHMP HatfieldHMP FordHMP HindleyWe are on track to deliver 14,000 additional places by 2031 and have already delivered c.2,600 since taking office.