Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Tuesday 11 November 2025 · 12 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 11 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Questions were held on 2025-11-11.
  • The Minister discussed the need for neighbourhood policing and intensive supervision courts to address shoplifting issues.
  • The Justice Secretary addressed concerns over the early release scheme's impact on crime, highlighting inherited prison capacity issues.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Clive Jones Lib Dem Wokingham
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The Conservative Thames Valley police and crime commissioner has suggested the public should take more responsibility for preventing shoplifting. A constituent of Clive Jones experienced a violent incident during a shoplifting event.

Question

My constituent Sarah described being 'smacked into' during a shoplifting incident, feeling fear at that moment. Does the Minister agree with the police and crime commissioner's view that Sarah is part of the problem, or does he think the bigger issue is that over 80% of these offences result in no charge?

Answer from The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr David Lammy)

This issue does require more neighbourhood policing and bobbies on the beat—as the hon. Gentleman knows, numbers were cut under the last Government. I also think that the intensive supervision courts, provided for in the Sentencing Bill, will be able to make a huge difference. A lot of shoplifters need a judge checking in with them regularly, and sometimes dealing with their addiction issue, to get them to change course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not address whether the public has a role in preventing shoplifting or if more action is needed from law enforcement.

How: Did Not Directly Answer Question

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Q2 Robert Jenrick Reform Newark
Justice & Courts
Context

The National Police Chiefs’ Council stated that the Government’s early release scheme would lead to an increase in crime, following a news report about a man released from prison early who was subsequently charged with murder.

Question

Last week, the National Police Chiefs’ Council said there was ‘no doubt’ that the Government’s early release scheme would lead to an increase in crime. This followed the news that a man who had been released from prison early was charged with murder. Will the Justice Secretary rule out any more early release schemes for prisoners?

Answer from The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr David Lammy)

Can I just remind the right hon. Gentleman that, just before the general election in July 2024, his Government had three different versions of their early release scheme? We inherited a situation where prison capacity was completely unsustainable. Successive former Justice Secretaries under the previous Government have said this in the last week. We brought forward our early release scheme and it was important to do that to put capacity into the system.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not explicitly rule out future early release schemes but provided context about prison capacity issues inherited from previous governments.

How: Provided Historical Context

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Q3 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Justice & Courts Education
Context

The University and College Union reports that recent changes to the education contract have led to job losses, impacting prison education services.

Question

Meaningful activity and access to education in prison are key to supporting those leaving prison with skills and tools to move away from crime. However, recent changes to the education contract have triggered notable job losses. Will the Secretary of State provide an update on how the Government is supporting the prison education system?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Jake Richards)

That is a characteristically important question from my hon. Friend. Education has a vital role in our prisons, helping to clamp down on reoffending and with rehabilitation. We are working at pace to look at how we can improve education within the prison system, including through the third sector as well as through formal contracts we already have. I am going to a prison in just the next few weeks to look at literacy rates.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific details on current initiatives or funding but mentioned ongoing work.

How: Promised Future Actions

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Q4 Jess Brown-Fuller Lib Dem Chichester
Crime & Law Enforcement Children & Families
Context

Charities and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner report delays in the family court system, which allows perpetrators of domestic abuse to continue their behavior. Currently, training in identifying signs of domestic abuse is not mandatory.

Question

Reports show that the family court system provides a perfect environment for perpetrators of domestic abuse to continue coercive control. Training in identifying signs of domestic abuse is not currently mandatory. When will the Government bring forward legislation to reform the family court system and make domestic abuse training mandatory?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Davies-Jones)

This Government have announced that we will repeal the presumption of parental contact when parliamentary time allows—that is a priority. We are working closely with the judiciary to ensure they can spot signs of coercive and controlling behaviour, protecting victims.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific timelines for legislative changes but mentioned ongoing work with the judiciary.

How: Promised Future Actions

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Q5 Mike Reader Lab Northampton South
Policing & Resources Justice & Courts
Context

The Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner reported that the Probation Service has a 40% staff vacancy rate.

Question

Northampton still has a 40% staff vacancy rate in the Probation Service. What is the Department doing to support recruitment and retention of skilled staff?

Answer from The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr David Lammy)

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We recruited over 1,000 staff last year and 1,300 this year—we must retain them. Key to that is reducing caseloads, and that is why I am introducing AI.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific recruitment or retention initiatives but mentioned AI for reducing caseloads.

How: Mentioned Future Technology

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Q6 Sarah Owen Lab Luton North
Justice & Courts
Context

Court delays mean that only around 3% of rape reports result in a charge. Survivors face painful waits for their cases to be resolved.

Question

Court backlogs cause painful waits for survivors of rape and sexual assault. The system fell apart under the previous Government, meaning that only around 3% of rape reports result in a charge. What is the Minister doing to reduce the waiting times for cases of rape and sexual assault?

Answer from Alex Davies-Jones

Rape charges have doubled since 2019. We have asked Sir Brian Leveson to propose bold reforms to deliver swifter justice for all victims, and we are funding a record allocation of sitting days in the Crown court. This Government are spending £350 million on supporting victims of crime this year.

Partly answered

How: Working On

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Q7 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Despite discussions for a long time, only around 3% of rape cases result in charges. It takes an average of 400 days for these cases to be resolved.

Question

Still less than 3% of rape cases result in a charge. It takes 400 days for resolution—painful delays for the victims. We have talked about this for so long, so often. What are the barriers to change?

Answer from Sarah Sackman

We need investment, structural reform and modernisation—that is, the adoption of technology. That is why we have asked Sir Brian Leveson to conduct his detailed review. We have got part 1, which suggests to us that structural reform. We are awaiting part 2, which should arrive by the end of the year, which will direct us as to how we can drive efficiency and get swifter justice for all victims.

Partly answered

How: Awaiting Review

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Q8 Lorraine Beavers Lab Blackpool North and Fleetwood
Justice & Courts
Context

Sasha Marsden was murdered, raped, and set on fire by David Minto. Her sister Katie is campaigning for victims’ families to have fairer access to sentencing appeals.

Question

Despite the need for closure in sentencing, perpetrators are given multiple appeal opportunities, while victims’ families have just one chance. What will the Government do to ensure that victims’ families do not have fewer rights than perpetrators in this process?

Answer from Alex Davies-Jones

This Government are determined to put victims at the heart of the criminal justice system. I commend my hon. Friend for representing Katie Brett and her family. The Victims and Courts Bill is currently moving through Parliament, and I am determined that we do all we can to support victims.

Partly answered

How: Determined To Work

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Q9 Al Pinkerton Lib Dem Surrey Heath
Children & Families
Context

A Surrey Heath resident is enduring the family court process following domestic abuse, and has raised concerns about child safety during court-ordered contact.

Question

Will the Minister commit today to implementing the Domestic Abuse Commissioner's recent recommendations to better protect children at risk?

Answer from Alex Davies-Jones

This Government are clear that child safety during court-ordered contact is vital. We are improving multi-agency working to support early identification of risk and enable referral to specialist domestic abuse support. We are carefully considering the Domestic Abuse Commissioner's report, and we will publish our response by the end of this year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment without a specific timeline or concrete action

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Q10 Rupert Lowe Restore Britain Great Yarmouth
Immigration Justice & Courts
Context

There is a call for transparency and accountability in the reporting of criminal activities by illegal migrants.

Question

Will the Secretary of State today agree to publish clear, honest and regular statistics on the number of illegal migrants convicted of sexual offences, murder or indeed any other crime?

Answer from Lammy

We do publish statistics in the usual way after they have been properly analysed. We have to make sure that all facts are verified, and we have done that in the same way that the last Government did.

Answered
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Q11 John Glen Con Salisbury
Context

An international charity based in Wiltshire is facing serious historical allegations, and the current investigation falls between several agencies.

Question

Will one of the Ministers meet with me? It is not right that charity investigations are not conducted properly when there are serious allegations.

Answer from Lammy

I am very happy to look at that and ensure that a Minister meets with the right hon. Gentleman.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment without specifying who will meet or timeline

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Q12 Jack Rankin Con Windsor
Policing & Resources Justice & Courts
Context

An approved premises housing high-risk offenders has caused problems in the small village of Old Windsor.

Question

Does the Minister agree that, first, probation services have responsibility for residents’ behaviour when they are outside that facility and, secondly, the police should have more focus on Old Windsor than they might otherwise have, given the location of that facility?

Answer from Jake Richards

It is right that the Probation Service takes those facilities and premises incredibly seriously. We are investing more in probation than ever before—£750 million, a 45% increase—to fix a service that was utterly dismantled by the last Conservative Government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to invest without addressing specific responsibilities or police focus

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