Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what assessment she made of the reasons for the Infrastructure and Projects delivery confidence assessment rating of red for the 10K Additional Prison Places Estate Expansion Category D programme.

At the time of the report, both the Houseblocks and Refurbishments Programme and Category D Expansion Programme had been impacted by ISG, a supplier of prison building contracts, entering in administration in September 2024. The loss of the building contractor meant the programmes had no guaranteed route to delivery or cost certainty until the reprocurement of those contracts concluded, meaning a red assessment was appropriate at the time.As part of contingency plans in place, we have appointed a number of replacement constructors to take over projects that were previously with ISG. These contracts have been signed, and constructors are safely taking over sites and reviewing existing designs. Once this is complete, a programme will be developed to recommence delivery.We are committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and are on track to do so by 2031; we have already delivered c.2,500 of these since taking office.

With reference to his Department's policy paper entitled AI action plan for justice, published on 31 July 2025, what his Department's projected completion date is for the roll out of Microsoft 365 Copilot to leadership judges.

The Judicial Office, an office of the Ministry of Justice that supports the judiciary carry out its duties, purchased 300 Copilot 365 licences for leadership judges in July 2025. Leadership judges include: the Lady Chief Justice, Master of the Rolls, Heads of Division, Senior President of Tribunals, Lords and Lady Justices of Appeal, High Court Presiders, Tribunal Presidents, Senior Circuit Judges, Resident Judges, Regional Judges, Tribunal Presidents, Designated Judges, Judicial College Directors of Training, Chief Coroner, and the Chief Magistrate.

With reference to his Department's policy paper entitled AI action plan for justice, published on 31 July 2025, what progress he has made in strengthening partnerships with criminal justice partners on a collective response to AI-enabled criminality.

The Criminal Justice Action Group, chaired by the Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary and attended by core criminal justice partners (the police, Home Office, AGO, CPS, Judicial Office, HMCTS and HMPPS), is actively considering the risks to the criminal justice system of AI-enabled criminality and a collective response. This is part of the Government’s wider response to tackling AI enabled crime and emerging risks from AI, working closely with the AI sector, law enforcement and international partners.

With reference to his Department's policy paper entitled AI action plan for justice, published on 31 July 2025, what steps he is taking to enhance (a) AI leadership, (b) governance, (c) ethics, (d) data, (e) digital infrastructure and (f) commercial frameworks.

The Ministry of Justice’s AI Action Plan for Justice set out a series of bold, ambitious steps to promote the responsible use of AI tools across the department and the wider justice system. A Justice AI Unit headed up by a Chief AI Officer has been established. To embed ethics into our approach, we have developed a publicly accessible AI and Data Science Ethics Framework. This practical toolkit, created in partnership with the Alan Turing Institute, guides developers, policymakers, and decision-makers from inception through to deployment. We are also taking steps to improve the quality of our data to facilitate greater AI enablement. This includes linking offender data across systems through our BOLD and Data First programmes to improve public safety, rehabilitation, youth justice, prevention and victim services.The Ministry of Justice is working with existing suppliers to leverage their AI capabilities to support the delivery of services and will continue to explore the opportunities available in the supplier market that will support the delivery of the AI Action Plan. Through Procurement framework including Crown Commercial Services Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Spark DPS frameworks and leveraging the benefits of Memorandums of Understanding in place between HMG and supplier in the marketplace, the Ministry of Justice will develop AI capabilities for the future.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what assessment she made of the reasons for the Infrastructure and Projects delivery confidence assessment rating of red for the 10K Additional Prison Places Estate Expansion Houseblocks and Refurbishment programme.

At the time of the report, both the Houseblocks and Refurbishments Programme and Category D Expansion Programme had been impacted by ISG, a supplier of prison building contracts, entering in administration in September 2024. The loss of the building contractor meant the programmes had no guaranteed route to delivery or cost certainty until the reprocurement of those contracts concluded, meaning a red assessment was appropriate at the time.As part of contingency plans in place, we have appointed a number of replacement constructors to take over projects that were previously with ISG. These contracts have been signed, and constructors are safely taking over sites and reviewing existing designs. Once this is complete, a programme will be developed to recommence delivery.We are committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and are on track to do so by 2031; we have already delivered c.2,500 of these since taking office.

With reference to his Department's policy paper entitled IA action plan for justice, published on 31 July 2025, what progress he has made in linking offender data through (a) BOLD and (b) Data First programmes.

Using ‘Splink’ (Splink: MoJ’s open source library for probabilistic record linkage at scale - GOV.UK), the Department has made significant progress in linking offender data through both the BOLD and Data First programmes, as follows: Through BOLD: Data has been shared and linked across Government Departments and other agencies to produce 16 offender-related datasets linking cases and people across contact with the criminal courts, police, prisons, and probation services, drug treatment services, local authorities (in relation to homelessness) as well as assessments of offender risks and needs and child benefit. To date, these datasets have been used to address key critical evidence gaps in policy (leading to 8 offender-related analytical publications), and to develop new operational tools for frontline staff. Details on the BOLD programme and its outputs to date can be found at: Ministry of Justice: Better Outcomes through Linked Data (BOLD) - GOV.UK. More recently, BOLD have developed a software package, Laurium, which uses AI to extract structured insights from free-text data (like case notes), thereby extracting more value from linked datasets. Through Data First: The Ministry of Justice has linked and shared eight justice datasets, connecting cases and people across civil, family and criminal courts, prisons, and probation services, as well as assessments of offender risks and needs. These datasets are made available to accredited academic researchers via trusted research environments, facilitating powerful new research insights both within individual domains, where repeat service users can be identified for the first time, as well as on end-to-end cross justice system journeys. To date, this has resulted in over 50 academic projects. Details on Data First datasets and outputs to date can be found at: Ministry of Justice: Data First - GOV.UK.

With reference to his Department's policy paper entitled AI action plan for justice, published on 31 July 2025, what progress he has made in establishing a (a) single and (b) secure identity for each individual within the criminal justice system.

We are continuing to explore the potential for a single, secure digital identity for each person interacting with the justice system. The Core Person Record service, which links existing data across courts, prisons and probation, is currently being piloted and represents an early step towards this ambition. Delivering a single, secure identity will form part of a wider programme of long-term transformation, supported by investment in data quality, interoperability and infrastructure across the justice system.

How much capacity within the prison estate will be created via the deportation of foreign national offenders by 31 December 2025.

The removal of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) is a priority of this Government. Deporting FNOs as quickly as possible protects the public, reduces pressures on prison capacity and lessens the associated expense to the taxpayer.From 5 July 2024 to 4 July 2025 there were 2,632 Early Removal Scheme (ERS) removals from prison, which is a 10% increase compared to the 2,385 in the same period 12 months prior.And this Government is going further: on 23 September we changed the law to reduce the time that FNOs must serve in prison before removal to 30% of their prison sentence. In steady state we expect this change will free up approximately 500 additional prison spaces a year.Additionally, the Sentencing Bill currently before Parliament proposes to remove the minimum time to serve requirement altogether so that FNOs can be eligible for deportation immediately after they are sentenced.The timing of when prison place savings will be realised from deporting FNOs is dependent on the Home Office’s rate of removals which will continue to be monitored over the coming months.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 73845 on Prison Accommodation, how many of those places were approved for construction since July 2024 in each location.

None of the places referenced in PQ 73845 were approved for construction since July 2024. They were all approved prior to July 2024.

With reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, whether he has made progress on expanding the (a) legal and (b) law enforcement toolkit.

The information requested regarding the law enforcement toolkit falls under the responsibility of the Home Office.However, my Department shares responsibility for the legal toolkit. We are strengthening the legislative framework to better combat state and non-state actors that pose a national security risk. Through the Sentencing Bill, we are introducing more robust sentencing and release arrangements for national security offences, and through the Crime and Policing Bill, we are introducing changes to strengthen our management of terrorist risk in prison and in the community on licence. In relation to combatting criminal gangs who are engaged in people trafficking and illegal migration, a key part of the National Security Strategy 2025, my Department is working with the Home Office to deliver the Government's agenda to use legal tools to swiftly remove those with no legal right to remain in the UK and deter dangerous small boat crossings and the vile trade of people traffickers.National security is of the upmost importance to this Government and implementing the National Security Strategy will continue to be a priority for this Department.

With reference to his Department's policy paper entitled AI action plan for justice, published on 31 July 2025, what progress he has made in strengthening partnerships with regulators to support AI-driven legal innovation.

The AI Action Plan for Justice commits the Ministry of Justice to working with regulators to support responsible AI adoption across the legal sector (Action 3.5). Legal Service Regulators are independent of government, but the Ministry of Justice maintains strong and close working relationships with them – for example, by offering AI-related training, facilitating knowledge-sharing, and maintaining regular engagement, including hosting a recent roundtable with a broad range of regulators to identify practical ways to support innovation across the sector. Our shared goal is to ensure regulation remains proportionate, evidence-based, and adaptable as AI technologies evolve.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 73845 on Prison Accommodation, how many of the 2,405 prisoners places were planned (a) prior to and (b) after the 5 July 2025; and on what date was each prison expansion signed off.

All 2,405 prison places delivered between July 2024 and 23 August 2025 referred to in Question 73845 were planned prior to 5 July 2025. The Full Business Cases (FBC) for each project were approved by HM Treasury on the following dates:Site Places FBC Date HMP Millsike1,468May 2021HMP Rye Hill458May 2021HMP Stocken214June 2022HMP Sudbury120March 2022HMP Cookham Wood70June 2024*HMP Fosse Way54July 2020HMP Holme House21October 2022Total 2,405 *Due to the lower cost associated with the re-role of HMYOI Cookham Wood into a category C men’s prison, and departmental delegation levels, approval was given at an internal Board level.Despite the FBC being granted by HM Treasury before July 2024, I am pleased to confirm that all 2,400 were delivered from 5 July 2024 onwards.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, when she plans to implement the reduction in opportunities to challenge consent decisions.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces changes to the way judicial reviews are handled for National Policy Statements and development consent orders relating to nationally significant infrastructure projects. It removes the paper permission stage, meaning applications will go directly to an oral permission hearing in the High Court. In addition, where the High Court decides at that hearing that a case is “totally without merit,” the claimant will not have a right of appeal.The Government intends to commence these provisions as soon as practicable after Royal Assent, once the necessary procedural changes are in place.

How many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.

Information on sickness absence is published annually as part of the Civil Service Sickness Absence report.Data has been published up to the end of the 2023/24 financial year and is available on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-sickness-absence-2024/civil-service-sickness-absence-2024-report.Data for subsequent years, including those spanning the periods requested are due for publication, from early 2026 and annually following that.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled Criminals to face football, travel, club and pub bans, published on 23 August 2025, which prisons are the 2,400 new prison places since July 2024 located in.

We are committed to continuing the prison build programmes, aiming to deliver 14,000 places by 2031. Between July 2024 and 23 August 2025, places were delivered at the following sites:SitePlacesHMP Millsike1,468HMP Rye Hill458HMP Stocken214HMP Sudbury120HMP Cookham Wood70HMP Fosse Way54HMP Holme House21Total2,405 We have also delivered an additional 64 places at other sites through refurbishments of individual cells.

With reference to page 25 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published on 24 June 2025, if she will take legislative steps to introduce a new offence for (a) acts preparatory to extreme violence and (b) individuals identified as violence fixated.

As mentioned in the National Security Strategy 2025, the Government accepts and strongly supports the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation’s (IRTL) recommendation to consider creating a new offence to capture individuals intending to kill multiple people and planning for such attacks.As recognised by the IRTL, this is a complex area of law and will require working through difficult legal and ethical issues to avoid unintended consequences. We are considering carefully the best way to close the gap in the legislation.The Government is also working at pace to understand the causal factors and adequacy of public policy interventions to address the risk posed by individuals fascinated with extreme violence and/or mass casualty attacks, but who do not meet the terrorism threshold.

What stab vests are issued to prison officers.

Protective body armour (PBA) is currently issued in the following circumstances:Operational Response and Resilience Unit staff wear PBA when deployed. Where necessary, ballistic protection may be required.Operation Tornado mobilised staff are issued PBA as part of their PPE.Prison Officers are required to wear PBA during planned use of force or when managing high-risk prisoners.Following a violent attack at HMP Frankland in April 2025, the Ministry of Justice conducted a snap review. As a result, rollout of PBA was announced for officers working in:Close Supervision CentresSeparation CentresSegregation Units within the high-security estateThe rollout is ongoing and includes individual fitting to ensure maximum protection.All body armour conforms to the Home Office 2017 standards and all versions have knife and spike resistant protection.

How many of the 14,000 additional prison places will be delivered through the Rapid Deployment Cells project.

As outlined in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, this Government is committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places through the 20,000 prison places programmes.The Rapid Deployment Cells Programme is a key part of our strategy to increase prison capacity and reduce pressure on the existing prison estate. Based on current plans, the programme will deliver approximately 1,800 places. As of September 2025, the project has installed 828 Rapid Deployment Cells across 16 sites.

What recent progress she has made on the electronic monitoring expansion programme.

The Electronic Monitoring Expansion programme was set up to expand the impact, use and efficiency of electronic monitoring (EM) as a tool for managing offenders in the community. All expansion initiatives to deliver new EM-related services have been delivered. The remaining project, to successfully transition delivery of the service to new suppliers (Serco and Allied Universal), is nearing completion with the majority of cases now transitioned to the new systems. Migration of the remaining cohort is underway and expected to complete in Autumn 2025.The EM expansion programme has funded evaluations into electronic monitoring and its pilots and has since published 6 research reports. An impact evaluation of the acquisitive crime pilot was published on 28 August 2025, and demonstrated offenders electronically monitored as part of the pilot were 20% less likely to reoffend within 12 months of release from prison. An impact evaluation of Radio Frequency EM as part of a community order found that adult offenders were significantly less likely to be reconvicted of another offence whilst being electronically monitored.

What progress she has made on the Rapid Deployment Cells project.

As outlined in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, this Government is committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places through the 20,000 prison places programmes.The Rapid Deployment Cells Programme is a key part of our strategy to increase prison capacity and reduce pressure on the existing prison estate. Based on current plans, the programme will deliver approximately 1,800 places. As of September 2025, the project has installed 828 Rapid Deployment Cells across 16 sites.