Written questions by Timothy.

Which faith-based (a) charities and (b) organisations are permitted to visit prisons.

The Ministry of Justice recognises the vital contribution that charities and wider third sector organisations make to supporting prisoner rehabilitation. Decisions as to which individuals or organisations may enter, or work in, a prison are taken by the prison governor. These decisions take account of the proposed role, security requirements, and other operational factors. The Ministry of Justice does not maintain a central database of every organisation contributing to the work of prisons in England and Wales, as there is no operational need to do so.

How many Sharia law courts have operated in the UK in each year since 2010 and broken down by local authority area.

There are no sharia law courts.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of introducing a statutory duty of candour on (a) military intelligence and (b) Special Forces.

The Bill will apply to all public authorities, including military intelligence and the Special Forces.We have worked closely with representatives across Government on the policy in this Bill – including the impact that a duty of candour would have on military intelligence and Special Forces.We are clear that the duty of candour applies to all public authorities, including intelligence services, however, the duty of candour and processes for disclosure may need to apply in a different way to ensure that secure information is handled correctly.We are clear that nothing should undermine our national security.We are continuing to work closely across government with families, stakeholders and the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee to bring forward amendments that meet those aims. We will update the House in due course.

How many charges were laid under Prison rule 51 relating specifically to aggravation towards a protected characteristic of (a) race, (b) religion and (c) belief in the last year where data exists; and how many of those charges were proven.

Prison Rule 51 sets out the offences of which an adult prisoner can be found guilty, including those which relate to aggravation towards a protected characteristic. The information on the breakdown of which protected characteristics these offences against discipline relate to can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.Data on Adjudication outcomes related to these offences can be found in the Offender management statistics quarterly - GOV.UK, which are published quarterly.

What representations he has received from counterparts in Five Eyes countries that do not have a statutory duty of candour.

The sovereign capabilities of our security and intelligence agencies, underpinned by appropriate safeguards and oversight, enable us to keep ahead of our adversaries and provide the lynchpin for our collaboration with our Five Eyes partners.We work incredibly closely with our allies, particularly our Five Eyes partners, to ensure our collective national security.We are clear that the duty of candour must not undermine national security.

How many illegal marriages have been recorded in each year since 2010, broken down by local authority area.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold this data.

How many legal aid cases there were in each month since 23 April 2025.

Since April 2025 there has been a net increase to the number of providers contracted to deliver legal aid services. The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) publishes data about provider numbers as part of its official statistics (table 9.6). Data for the period April to December 2025 is scheduled for release on 26 March 2026. The LAA also routinely publishes data about the volume and value of legal aid cases across all legal aid schemes as part of its official statistics. As above, data for the period April to December 2025 is scheduled for release on 26 March 2026. As set out in my response to PQ 98862, since the serious criminal attack on the LAA’s digital services was identified we have worked closely with relevant law enforcement agencies and Police. As sensitive investigations remain ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment on the nature or detail of this engagement.

Pursuant to Answer of 22 December 2025 to Question 100065 on Legal Aid Scheme, how many legal aid providers have left the market in total since 23 April 2025.

Since April 2025 there has been a net increase to the number of providers contracted to deliver legal aid services. The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) publishes data about provider numbers as part of its official statistics (table 9.6). Data for the period April to December 2025 is scheduled for release on 26 March 2026. The LAA also routinely publishes data about the volume and value of legal aid cases across all legal aid schemes as part of its official statistics. As above, data for the period April to December 2025 is scheduled for release on 26 March 2026. As set out in my response to PQ 98862, since the serious criminal attack on the LAA’s digital services was identified we have worked closely with relevant law enforcement agencies and Police. As sensitive investigations remain ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment on the nature or detail of this engagement.

What information his Department holds on the number of people that have been prosecuted for honour-based offences broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) category of offence in each year since 2010.

The CPS define ‘honour’ based abuse as an incident or crime involving violence, threats of violence, intimidation coercion or abuse (including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, or emotional abuse) which has or may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of an individual, family and/ or community for alleged or perceived breaches of the family and/or community's code of behaviour. These data are accurate only to the extent that the flag is accurately applied.Management information is available from 2010 which shows the number of prosecuted defendants flagged with the so-called honour-based abuse monitoring flag. The number of prosecuted defendants last year were at their highest level for seven years.Table 1 (below) shows this information from 1st April 2010 to 30th September 2025, and Table 2 provides the same information by the Principal Offence Category allocated to the defendant at the conclusion of the prosecution proceeding. Table 1 – Prosecuted defendants charged with ‘honour’ based abuse monitoring flag 2010- 20112011- 20122012- 20132013- 20142014- 20152015- 20162016- 20172017- 20182018- 20192019- 20202020-20212021- 20222022- 20232023- 20242024- 2025Prosecutions23417220020622518217112772615376688095 Table 2 – Prosecuted defendants by principal offence category and flagged with the ‘honour’ based abuse monitoring flag 2010- 20112011- 20122012- 20132013- 20142014- 20152015- 20162016- 20172017- 20182018- 20192019- 20202020- 20212021- 20222022- 20232023- 20242024- 2025A Homicide1367312133821342B Offences Against the Person1521191211541831431469364454558616584C Sexual Offences9714744620010074D Burglary600401040000000E Robbery902700020000000F Theft and Handling114461210001000G Fraud and Forgery003000000010010H Criminal Damage711598250520001I Drugs Offences102200000000000J Public Order Offences1314159998113218001K All Other Offences (excluding Motoring)151414657130001012L Motoring Offences013100111002200Other (Not specified)8914487421115221Data source: CPS Case Management Information System The CPS collects data to assist in the effective management of its prosecution functions through its Case Management System (CMS). The CPS does not collect data that constitutes official statistics as defined in the Statistics and Registration Act 2007.

What progress has been made by law enforcement on apprehending those responsible for the Legal Aid Agency cyber attack.

Since April 2025 there has been a net increase to the number of providers contracted to deliver legal aid services. The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) publishes data about provider numbers as part of its official statistics (table 9.6). Data for the period April to December 2025 is scheduled for release on 26 March 2026. The LAA also routinely publishes data about the volume and value of legal aid cases across all legal aid schemes as part of its official statistics. As above, data for the period April to December 2025 is scheduled for release on 26 March 2026. As set out in my response to PQ 98862, since the serious criminal attack on the LAA’s digital services was identified we have worked closely with relevant law enforcement agencies and Police. As sensitive investigations remain ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment on the nature or detail of this engagement.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the effectiveness of introducing a statutory duty of candour on the military.

The Bill will apply to all public authorities, including the military.Appropriate safeguards for sensitive information will be in place and we are clear that nothing should undermine our national security.

With reference to the Written Statement of 22 January 2026 on Response to Legal Aid Agency cyber attack, HCWS1265, how much funding will be allocated to the transformation programme for Legal Aid Agency digital services.

The amount of funding which will be allocated to the transformation programme for Legal Aid Agency digital services is subject to final budget allocation decisions, which are currently ongoing.

Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to establish a development corporation in support of construction related to the Forest City 1 plan to build a city of a million people between Newmarket and Haverhill.

The government has no current plans to establish a development corporation in support of construction related to the Forest City 1 proposal.

What Border Force's policy is on the interception of (a) sodium nitrate and (b) other toxic materials at the border.

Border Force controls imports and exports of sodium nitrate and other toxic materials in line with legislation. Where appropriate, Border Force uses powers in the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (CEMA), The Police and Crime Evidence Act 1984, The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, and common law powers to detain or seize such goods, when they are liable to forfeiture under CEMA or evidence of an offence, referring to other law enforcement agencies for actioning as necessary.

Innovation and Technology, what steps Ofcom is taking to help tackle websites that provide instructions on committing suicide.

The Online Safety Act requires in-scope services to prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content encouraging, promoting, or providing instructions for suicide or self-harm.The independent regulator Ofcom enforces compliance with the Act. Ofcom’s first investigation under the Act targeted a pro-suicide forum. On 6 January, Ofcom confirmed it has informed the forum provider that Ofcom is working towards issuing a provisional notice of contravention in relation to Act breaches.Ofcom has also established a dedicated small but risky supervision taskforce, focusing on small services posing the most severe risk of harm.

On what grounds Border Force might allow (a) sodium nitrate and (b) other toxic materials onward passage to a postal address.

Border Force controls imports and exports of sodium nitrate and other toxic materials in line with legislation. Where appropriate, Border Force uses powers in the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (CEMA), The Police and Crime Evidence Act 1984, The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, and common law powers to detain or seize such goods, when they are liable to forfeiture under CEMA or evidence of an offence, referring to other law enforcement agencies for actioning as necessary.

What estimate he has made of the cost and feasibility of undergrounding new electricity transmission infrastructure in rural areas, including Suffolk.

Network developers, not Government, are responsible for assessing the cost and feasibility of construction methods for new electricity transmission infrastructure. This includes consideration of whether construction methods are technically deliverable and an assessment of any environmental impacts. Undergrounding is significantly more expensive, with the Institution of Engineering and Technology (April 2025) estimating that it costs around four and a half times more than overhead lines. As these costs are ultimately borne by electricity bill payers, overhead lines are the Government’s starting presumption for new transmission infrastructure.

What plans his Department has to include physiotherapy graduates in the Graduate Guarantee Scheme.

There are currently no plans to expand the Graduate Guarantee to physiotherapy graduates.

What discussions she has had with her US counterpart on the US sanctions applied to Zaher Birawi and the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of designating Zaher Birawi under the Counter-Terrorism (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

HMT is unable to provide details on any OFSI actions or investigations that may or may not be ongoing. HMT regularly reviews targets for designation to explore whether they meet our criteria for designation under the Counter-Terrorism (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

What representations did he receive from women with (a) endometriosis and (b) adenomyosis on provisions within the Employment Rights Bill to support employees with these conditions.

The Government is committed to improving women’s health and supporting employees through the Employment Rights Act (ERA). Officials have engaged with women’s health organisations, including endometriosis groups, informing voluntary Employer Action Plans on menopause from April 2026. We’re helping people with health conditions stay and thrive at work through programmes such as Keep Britain Working and greater access to flexible working. Statutory Sick Pay may also apply which, from April, becomes payable from day one of sickness absence. Beyond the ERA, endometriosis and adenomyosis may be considered disabilities, and if so, employers must offer reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.