I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Lord Chancellor, who has been in Riga attending a Council of Europe meeting. He is sorry not to be here for these oral questions and he has asked me to convey to the House his thanks to the Metropolitan police for their quick work in finding and returning Daniel Khalife to custody. The independent investigation that the Lord Chancellor commissioned must now get to the bottom of this serious breach. Since the last oral questions, the Government have also announced that we will make whole life orders the expectation in sentencing where they can be applied and outlined plans to order the worst offenders to attend court for their sentencing hearings.

We are putting more money into legal aid and criminal legal aid following the independent review. Specifically on housing, which the hon. Lady mentioned, we are injecting an additional £10 million from 1 August.

The safety of our roads is a key objective for the Government, and protecting all road users is a priority. Department for Transport colleagues are considering bringing forward legislation to introduce new offences concerning dangerous cycling to tackle those rare instances where victims have been killed or seriously injured by irresponsible cycling behaviour.

We take these matters extremely seriously. The independent investigation will look at the 2019 incident to ensure that lessons were learned. There has been an increase of some 25% in staffing specifically at Wandsworth since 2017.

It is. The hon. Lady would not expect me to get into a running commentary on transfer arrangements when we are talking about security. I want to reassure her, the House and the public that escapes from prisons are very rare now than they used to be.

As part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, there was an increase in the minimum disqualification periods for the serious offence of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs from two years to five years. The Department for Transport is also currently considering a broader call for evidence on motoring offences.

I think the hon. Gentleman has achieved his objective: to get something on the record. I will not comment on ongoing cases, but, speaking more generally, access to justice is at the heart of what we do.

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend who has always taken a keen interest in supporting victims of crime. The government is consulting on changes following the report of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse alongside previous consultations, which will be post-passage of the Victims and Prisoners Bill.

The team will monitor performance and share best practice across the tribunal process. The hon. Lady can write to me with details of a particular case, and I can investigate.

My hon. Friend highlights the scourge of knife crime and need for tough sentences. Sentencing is a matter for the independent judiciary, which considers individual circumstances. However, average sentences are up from 6.5 months in 2010 to 8.1 months in 2020.

I am always happy to look at individual cases for specific issues. Broadly, I work with colleagues at the Home Office and Solicitor General's office to ensure delays are smoothed out.

My hon. Friend raises an important point. The Department has not and will not conduct a review into how the judiciary undertakes its functions in individual cases, but the judiciary ensures that relevant agencies undertake their functions smoothly.

We look carefully at why cases are vacated; often, it is due to non-availability of prosecution or defence counsel, not legal executives.

The time taken once all required documents are received is between six and nine weeks. Despite a significant increase in applications, the service is recruiting and training over 100 new caseworkers to deliver the service.

We are very conscious of difficulties around IPP sentences, which would not be introduced today. People in prison who have been recalled or not released by the parole board because they are not considered safe for release remain a focus.

My hon Friend is so right. In topical questions, I do not have time to unpack all things, but brilliant companies are providing training opportunities.

I am grateful to the hon. Lady. I know she is meeting the Secretary of State and I can join that or meet separately if helpful.

Yes, it will. Both the Health Minister and I are pushing this as fast as we can.

We are seeing progress. It is a combined approach of drug recovery wings and incentivised subsidised free living, ensuring security stops drugs through things like x-ray body scanners deployed in many prisons.

My hon Friend is exactly right. He has a long history with this issue since before he reached this House, ultimately it is about rehabilitation, reducing reoffending, and keeping the public safe.

I am always happy to meet the hon. and learned Lady.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I know Lord Burnett and I can pay tribute to his exceptional period as Lord Chief Justice.

I can commit to wait until we have seen what the CPS uncovers. Once data is available, a rational discussion on next steps will follow.

The Department is well aware of concerns and matter under review. Results, including data and research behind outcomes, will be published later this year.