Written questions by Morris.

Whether the Department maintains a public register or internal inventory of automated decision-making systems.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure compliance with data protection requirements relating to the processing of special category data, including data relating to health or protected characteristics.

Awaiting answer.

To what extent are automated decision-making systems used in relation to civil service employment, including recruitment, performance management, discipline, or allocation of work.

Awaiting answer.

What steps has the Department taken to assess and mitigate risks of bias or discrimination arising from the use of automated decision-making systems.

Awaiting answer.

What measures are in place to ensure that human oversight is substantive and effective, rather than limited to formal or nominal review.

Awaiting answer.

How does the Department define and ensure meaningful human involvement in decisions supported or made by automated systems.

Awaiting answer.

What consultation has taken place with recognised trade unions regarding the introduction or use of automated decision-making systems affecting staff.

Awaiting answer.

What processes are in place to enable individuals to seek human review and to challenge decisions made by automated systems in the context of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

Awaiting answer.

Whether significant Automated Decision-Making is taking place or planned within his Department, and if he will make a statement.

Awaiting answer.

What safeguards he has implemented to ensure compliance with statutory requirements relating to automated decision-making, including rights to information, human review and challenge in the context of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

Awaiting answer.

How individuals are informed that decisions have been taken in (a) whole and (b) part by automated means in the context of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

Awaiting answer.

What internal guidance his Department has issued on the potential impact of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 on automated decision-making.

Awaiting answer.

What steps is the Minister taking to improve the speed of security and vetting checks for prison service applicants.

The checks that HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) undertake are required to assess individuals against a range of legislative requirements and security related factors that are pertinent to anyone working within a HMPPS environment. We are aware o...

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of delays in security and vetting processes on staffing levels across the prison estate.

Whilst we acknowledge the impact lengthened timescales may have on staffing levels across the prison estate, Personnel Security Vetting is the first line of defence in the screening of people working for or on behalf of HM Prison & Probation Service (...

How many people are awaiting completion of security and vetting checks before commencing employment within His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.

The number of individuals currently awaiting completion of security and vetting checks within His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) was 14,694 as of 18 May 2026.This figure reflects the full onboarding pipeline, covering candidates from the ...

How many people have been waiting (a) more than three months, (b) more than six months and (c) more than 12 months for security and vetting clearance required for employment in the prison service.

The number of individuals currently awaiting completion of security and vetting checks within His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) was 14,694 as of 18 May 2026.This figure reflects the full onboarding pipeline, covering candidates from the ...

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the statistical analysis of prison leavers in England entitled Prison leavers in substance misuse treatment: 4-week outcomes – report,

The Department of Health and Social Care’s analytical report on Prison Leavers in Substance Misuse Treatment: 4-week outcomes provides valuable data on the early outcomes of prison leavers receiving substance misuse treatment, including mortality and rein...

If he will make an estimate of the cumulative number of years of experience held by prison officers in each year since 2010.

The cumulative length of service, in years, held by public sector band 3-5 prison officers is given in the following table. Figures are given as at 31 December each year.Table 1 – Cumulative length of service1 of public sector band 3-5 prison officers2 in England and Wales, as at 31 December each year from 2010 to 20253DateNumber of prison officers in post Cumulative length of service of these prison officers (Years)(Full Time Equivalent)31/12/201024,501329,35331/12/201123,054326,56331/12/201221,841326,66031/12/201318,731287,92131/12/201417,796278,25831/12/201518,226271,98431/12/201617,879261,50131/12/201719,892253,28631/12/201822,673247,62031/12/201922,100245,85531/12/202021,485242,22931/12/202122,057239,72331/12/202221,546226,36731/12/202323,174219,79231/12/202423,041215,66031/12/202522,067213,125 Notes:1. The length of service in HMPPS is calculated from most recent hire date. Where staff have transferred in from another Government Department or have transferred in through HMPPS taking over a function, length of service is calculated from entry to HMPPS2. Band 3-5 Officers includes Band 3-4 / Prison Officers (incl. specialists), Band 4 / Supervising Officers, and Band 5 / Custodial Managers3. The dates reflect the Full Time Equivalent and cumulative years of service at that particular point of the year.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of utilising alcohol interlock technology as part of judicial sentencing criteria.

We believe that the courts should have the flexibility they need to sentence offenders appropriately and, as part of a community or suspended sentence the courts have a range of robust powers to punish and rehabilitate offenders and protect the public. This includes the option for an Alcohol Abstinence and Monitoring Requirement (AAMR) which imposes an alcohol ban for up to 120 days, with compliance electronically monitored using an alcohol tag.Published statistics show a compliance rate with the ban of 97.2% for days monitored, since introduction: Electronic Monitoring Statistics Publication, June 2023 - GOV.UK. The courts also have powers to include treatment requirements as part of a sentence served in the community, with the aim of addressing the root causes of offending.The Ministry of Justice is committed to continuous improvement and innovation, and we will continue to assess the capabilities and reliability of technology.

How the (a) proposed earned progression model and (b) consequential increase in tagging will operate for people released from prison without suitable accommodation.

The Sentencing Bill will introduce a new earned progression model which will see offenders enter a period of intensive supervision once they are released from custody. We are providing probation with wider powers to ensure they can continue to effectively manage offenders in the community with the level of supervision tailored according to their risk and the type of crime they committed. Alongside the progression model, we will also introduce a presumption that prison leavers will be electronically monitored to ensure they are closely monitored in the community. This will result in thousands more offenders tagged, to manage risk and increase protection for victims. The Probation Service will, however, retain the ability to exercise its professional judgement to ensure that only those who are suitable receive a tag based on an individual’s risk and circumstances including accommodation status. HMPPS delivers a transitional accommodation service, known as Community Accommodation Service – Tier 3 (CAS-3) which supports prison leavers who are at risk of being released from prison homeless and will be subject to probation supervision upon release by providing up to 12 weeks of temporary accommodation. We are expanding our community accommodation service to support prison leavers at risk of homelessness while additionally we are increasing the probation annual budget to expand our community accommodation service for those at risk of homelessness, as well as tagging and monitoring tens of thousands more offenders in the community.