Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

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 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 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 piloting AI (a) transcription and (b) summarisation tools in probation services in (i) Kent, (ii) Surrey, (iii) Sussex, and (iv) Wales.

The Ministry of Justice is piloting AI transcription and summarisation tools in probation services across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Wales to reduce administrative burdens and free up frontline staff time for direct engagement and case management. Early user feedback and evaluations have been positive. The findings will inform future decisions on wider deployment and investment across probation services.

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.

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 prison officers require stab vests due to the danger of the prisoners in their charge.

The previous Lord Chancellor announced in June the mandatory use of Protective Body Armour (PBA – also known as stab vests), for staff in specialist units, which includes Close Supervision Centres, Separation Centres and Segregation Units in the Long-Term High Security Estate. Following this announcement, 750 vests have been ordered.PBA is available for use when deemed necessary in prisons, including:Operational Response and Resilience Unit staff who wear protective body armour when deployed. This includes the National Tactical Response Group and the National Dog and Tactical Support Group staff.Staff mobilised under ‘Operation Tornado’, a national mutual aid plan by which prisons support one another in the event of a serious incident or occurrence requiring a reinforcement of staff, are issued with PBA as part of their personal protective equipment.Prison Officers are required to wear PBA, along with other Personal Protective Equipment, when they engage in the planned use of force or where safe systems of work for the management of high-risk prisoners dictates.

What recent progress she has made on the Small Secure Houseblocks programme.

The Government’s commitment is to deliver 14,000 additional prison places, by 2031, as set out in the 2024 Prison Capacity Strategy. Since July 2024, we have already delivered c.2,500 additional prison places.The Small Secure Houseblocks (SSH) Programme is a key component of our plans to increase capacity. Based on current plans, this programme will deliver c.1,000 new Category C places across the estate. The design stage of the SSH programme is now complete and main construction work is underway.

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.

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.

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.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 53712 on Prisons: Construction, how many Category A prison places she plans to be built as part of the Prison Capacity Strategy.

This Government will get the prison places built that the previous Government failed to deliver or fund. We are delivering 14,000 additional prison places and aim to do so by 2031, as set out in the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy. This consists of the construction of four new prisons, including the recently delivered HMP Millsike, as well as the expansion and refurbishment of the existing estate and temporary accommodation. These places are all within the Category B, Category C, and Category D estates, where the greatest level of demand is projected.

How many prison spaces were available across all Category C specialist sex offender prisons as of 30 April 2025.

There are 9 specialist category C prisons that hold only prisoners convicted of sexual offences. These are listed below, alongside their published operational capacity on 28 April 2025.PrisonOperational Capacity (28 April 2025)Ashfield416Bure643Littlehey1241Risley1034Rye Hill1008Stafford761The Verne608Usk276Whatton836