Information since 5 Jun 2025, 12:34 p.m.
Live Transcript |
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Note: Cited speaker in live transcript data may not always be accurate. Check video link to confirm. |
25 Jun 2025, 1:41 p.m. - House of Commons "seeing the detail of how the commendations will be implemented. In the forthcoming Sentencing Bill. " Andy Slaughter MP (Hammersmith and Chiswick, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
25 Jun 2025, 1:44 p.m. - House of Commons "result from the Sentencing Bill. The " Andy Slaughter MP (Hammersmith and Chiswick, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
2 Sep 2025, 2:39 p.m. - House of Commons ">> Sentencing Bill. >> Reading Second Reading what day? >> Tomorrow. " Presentation of Bills - View Video - View Transcript |
2 Sep 2025, 2:39 p.m. - House of Commons "Presentation of Bills, minister. >> Sentencing Bill. " Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
3 Sep 2025, 11:44 a.m. - House of Commons "concerned about the impact on domestic abuse victims of the Sentencing Bill coming to the House. " Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP (Skipton and Ripon, Conservative) - View Video - View Transcript |
4 Sep 2025, 10:42 a.m. - House of Commons "Sentencing Bill. The House will rise for the conference recess at the conclusion of business on Tuesday " Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour ) - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Sep 2025, 11:49 a.m. - House of Commons " No doubt, she will be contributing to the debate a little later with our sentencing bill. This was an issue raised by probation " Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Sep 2025, 11:51 a.m. - House of Commons "the sentencing bill. " Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Sep 2025, 12:01 p.m. - House of Commons "2,500. I hope you will be supporting the Sentencing Bill later this " Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Sep 2025, 12:13 p.m. - House of Commons "Sentencing Bill, looking at how we redress the balance here. But the Law Commissioners also doing a " Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Sep 2025, 4:08 p.m. - House of Commons ">> Sentencing Bill second reading. " Points of Order - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Sep 2025, 4:13 p.m. - House of Commons ">> There is much to welcome in the sentencing Bill, including the inclusion of restrictions owner measures, which are testament to the tireless work of my constituents and " Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Sep 2025, 5:13 p.m. - House of Commons "am sure is very much up to the task. The sentencing bill shifts the focus from custodial sentences to dealing with offenders in the community. It is paramount therefore that " Andy Slaughter MP (Hammersmith and Chiswick, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Sep 2025, 4:44 p.m. - House of Commons "on Deputy Prime Minister. When he rose to introduce the sentencing bill, earlier that I half expected him to rise waving a flag instead of " Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP (Newark, Conservative) - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Sep 2025, 5:08 p.m. - House of Commons "he does. No Madam Deputy Speaker the sentencing bill is soft on crime is " Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP (Newark, Conservative) - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Sep 2025, 6:40 p.m. - House of Commons ">> I want to speak today about how the Sentencing Bill will bring some common sense to sentencing and will " Pam Cox MP (Colchester, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Sep 2025, 6:58 p.m. - House of Commons "much welcome the move to favoured community sentences over short custodial sentences, as outlined in the Sentencing Bill. As we know, and has as been outlined, short-term " Sally Jameson MP (Doncaster Central, Labour ) - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Sep 2025, 7:19 p.m. - House of Commons "Sentencing Bill is so necessary. It recognises that capacity must be built, yes, but also the sentences " Tristan Osborne MP (Chatham and Aylesford, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
15 Sep 2025, 2:43 p.m. - House of Lords " The sentencing bill is independent of the review and IPP was not in school because it focused " Lord Timpson, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
11 Sep 2025, 11:53 a.m. - House of Commons "September consideration of Lords amendments to the employment rights Bill, Tuesday, 16 September, second reading of the Sentencing Bill, the " Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Tynemouth, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
14 Oct 2025, 3:03 p.m. - House of Lords "they have a different approach. But with the sentencing bill, which is going to come to your lordships, how " Lord Timpson, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
14 Oct 2025, 3:08 p.m. - House of Lords "prisons well when they're at 99.9% full. That is why our focus with the sentencing bill is to have a " Lord Timpson, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
15 Oct 2025, 6:40 p.m. - House of Commons ">> And communities. But also for the public purse. And as my hon. Friend has mentioned, next week we are debating the sentencing bill at committee stage, and I. " Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
15 Oct 2025, 6:43 p.m. - House of Commons "that I've tabled to the sentencing bill, which takes those aspects after sentencing and puts them on the prisoners that are on remand so " Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Oct 2025, 6:02 p.m. - House of Lords "better community sentencing, and focusing on. Rehabilitation and training. The sentencing bill will " Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames (Liberal Democrat) - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Oct 2025, 6:02 p.m. - House of Lords "training. The sentencing bill will cover these issues, but this bill betrays a. >> Lack. " Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames (Liberal Democrat) - View Video - View Transcript |
16 Oct 2025, 11:13 a.m. - House of Commons "whole House of the sentencing Bill. Wednesday the 22nd of October. Consideration of a Lords message to " Business Statement: Business Questions to the Leader of the House - View Video - View Transcript |
21 Oct 2025, 4:20 p.m. - House of Commons "relatively effective. But now, as this new sentencing bill goes through, which we welcome will be " Rt Hon John McDonnell MP (Hayes and Harlington, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
21 Oct 2025, 3:17 p.m. - House of Lords "things that I am trying to get into the system and the sentencing bill that will come to your lordships House is has a real focus on " Lord Timpson, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
21 Oct 2025, 3:26 p.m. - House of Commons "my amendment to the sentencing bill. >> And will be back. " Ben Obese-Jecty MP (Huntingdon, Conservative) - View Video - View Transcript |
21 Oct 2025, 5:40 p.m. - House of Commons "earned model. >> Within the sentencing bill? And primary legislations are specific punishments for offenders that do " Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
21 Oct 2025, 5:37 p.m. - House of Commons "conclusion of 14 years of Tory failure, and alongside the largest prison building programme since the Victorian era, this sentencing bill " Zöe Franklin MP (Guildford, Liberal Democrat) - View Video - View Transcript |
21 Oct 2025, 5:37 p.m. - House of Commons "Victorian era, this sentencing bill fixes that mess. Madam Chair, under this government, never again. And secondly, whilst we stabilise the " Zöe Franklin MP (Guildford, Liberal Democrat) - View Video - View Transcript |
23 Oct 2025, 11:28 a.m. - House of Commons ">> To be announced. >> Wednesday. The 29th of October. Remaining stages of the sentencing Bill. >> Thursday the. " Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
Calendar |
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Wednesday 12th November 2025 Ministry of Justice Lord Timpson (Labour - Life peer) Legislation - Main Chamber Subject: Sentencing Bill - second reading Sentencing Bill 2024-26 View calendar - Add to calendar |
Wednesday 29th October 2025 Legislation - Main Chamber Subject: Sentencing Bill : Remaining stages Sentencing Bill 2024-26 View calendar - Add to calendar |
Tuesday 21st October 2025 Legislation - Main Chamber Subject: Committee of the whole House on the Sentencing Bill Sentencing Bill 2024-26 View calendar - Add to calendar |
Tuesday 16th September 2025 Legislation - Main Chamber Subject: Sentencing Bill: Second reading Sentencing Bill 2024-26 View calendar - Add to calendar |
Parliamentary Debates |
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Sentencing Bill
189 speeches (44,020 words) Committee of the whole House Tuesday 21st October 2025 - Commons Chamber Ministry of Justice Mentions: 1: None document: Correspondence from the Joint Committee on Human Rights to the Lord Chancellor, on the Sentencing Bill - Link to Speech 2: Esther McVey (Con - Tatton) To call the Bill a “sentencing” Bill makes a mockery of us all. - Link to Speech 3: John McDonnell (Lab - Hayes and Harlington) It was relatively effective, but in this new Sentencing Bill, which we welcome, it will be expanded on - Link to Speech 4: Jake Richards (Lab - Rother Valley) Alongside the largest prison building programme since the Victorian era, this Sentencing Bill fixes that - Link to Speech 5: Jake Richards (Lab - Rother Valley) Within the Sentencing Bill and primary legislation are specific punishments for offenders who do not - Link to Speech |
Education in Prisons
20 speeches (1,810 words) Tuesday 21st October 2025 - Lords Chamber Ministry of Justice Mentions: 1: Lord Timpson (Lab - Life peer) The Sentencing Bill that will come to your Lordships’ House has a real focus on stability. - Link to Speech |
Crime and Policing Bill
146 speeches (49,599 words) 2nd reading Thursday 16th October 2025 - Lords Chamber Home Office Mentions: 1: Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames (LD - Life peer) The Sentencing Bill will cover these issues, but this Bill betrays a lack of co-ordination across criminal - Link to Speech |
Knife Crime
89 speeches (14,144 words) Wednesday 15th October 2025 - Westminster Hall Home Office Mentions: 1: Sarah Pochin (RUK - Runcorn and Helsby) The Sentencing Bill, which will have its next stage on Tuesday, will take away the power of magistrates - Link to Speech |
Work for Serving Prisoners
27 speeches (4,869 words) Wednesday 15th October 2025 - Commons Chamber Ministry of Justice Mentions: 1: Jake Richards (Lab - Rother Valley) Friend has mentioned, we are debating the Sentencing Bill in Committee next week, and I hope that the - Link to Speech 2: Jess Brown-Fuller (LD - Chichester) I wonder whether he will give consideration to my amendment to the Sentencing Bill, which applies matters - Link to Speech |
Prisoners: Reoffending
18 speeches (1,795 words) Tuesday 14th October 2025 - Lords Chamber Ministry of Justice Mentions: 1: Lord Timpson (Lab - Life peer) With the Sentencing Bill, which will come to your Lordships’ House soon, the inspiration has been the - Link to Speech 2: Lord Timpson (Lab - Life peer) That is why our focus in the Sentencing Bill is on a sustainable justice system, so that prisons and - Link to Speech |
Oral Answers to Questions
163 speeches (9,531 words) Tuesday 16th September 2025 - Commons Chamber Ministry of Justice Mentions: 1: David Lammy (Lab - Tottenham) I hope he will contribute to the debate on the Sentencing Bill later today. - Link to Speech 2: Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) The Opposition will table an amendment to the Sentencing Bill that would give the same protection to - Link to Speech 3: Jake Richards (Lab - Rother Valley) Member will support the Sentencing Bill later this afternoon, which will do that. - Link to Speech 4: Jake Richards (Lab - Rother Valley) There is also the Sentencing Bill, and I hope that my hon. - Link to Speech 5: Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) Friend will know that we are debating the Sentencing Bill later today, looking at how we redress the - Link to Speech |
Sentencing Bill
139 speeches (32,312 words) 2nd reading Tuesday 16th September 2025 - Commons Chamber Ministry of Justice Mentions: 1: Liz Saville Roberts (PC - Dwyfor Meirionnydd) There is much to welcome in the Sentencing Bill, including the inclusion of restriction zone measures - Link to Speech 2: Edward Morello (LD - West Dorset) I cannot deny that clause 4 of the sentencing Bill is a step forward for victims, but I believe it can - Link to Speech 3: Lizzi Collinge (Lab - Morecambe and Lunesdale) They deserve this Sentencing Bill. - Link to Speech 4: Tristan Osborne (Lab - Chatham and Aylesford) That is why the Sentencing Bill is so necessary; it recognises that capacity must be built, but also - Link to Speech |
IPP Sentences
22 speeches (1,635 words) Monday 15th September 2025 - Lords Chamber Ministry of Justice Mentions: 1: Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick (XB - Life peer) will say, “Don’t say anything negative about probation”, but might he consider something in the Sentencing Bill - Link to Speech 2: Lord Timpson (Lab - Life peer) The Sentencing Bill implements the independent sentencing review. - Link to Speech |
Business of the House
97 speeches (10,476 words) Thursday 11th September 2025 - Commons Chamber Leader of the House Mentions: 1: Alan Campbell (Lab - Tynemouth) On Tuesday we have the Second Reading of the Sentencing Bill. - Link to Speech |
Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Removal of Prisoners for Deportation) Order 2025
7 speeches (2,556 words) Monday 8th September 2025 - Grand Committee Ministry of Justice Mentions: 1: Lord Timpson (Lab - Life peer) necessary.Noble Lords will also know that the Government are seeking to go further still in the Sentencing Bill - Link to Speech 2: Lord Timpson (Lab - Life peer) That is starting to make a difference, but it is clear that the Sentencing Bill is needed to help us - Link to Speech |
Oral Answers to Questions
135 speeches (9,956 words) Wednesday 3rd September 2025 - Commons Chamber Cabinet Office Mentions: 1: Julian Smith (Con - Skipton and Ripon) The Parole Board is extremely concerned about the impact on domestic abuse victims of the Sentencing Bill - Link to Speech |
Imprisonment for Public Protection (Re-sentencing) Bill [HL]
35 speeches (11,870 words) Committee stage Friday 4th July 2025 - Lords Chamber Ministry of Justice |
Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Suitability for Fixed Term Recall) Order 2025
16 speeches (4,403 words) Tuesday 1st July 2025 - Grand Committee Ministry of Justice Mentions: 1: Lord Timpson (Lab - Life peer) in the longer term, recall will form part of the discussions around the Gauke review and the sentencing Bill - Link to Speech |
Criminal Justice
54 speeches (13,599 words) Wednesday 25th June 2025 - Commons Chamber Ministry of Justice Mentions: 1: Andy Slaughter (Lab - Hammersmith and Chiswick) deal with the dramatic increase in demand on its services that will inevitably result from the sentencing Bill - Link to Speech |
Theft of Tools of Trade
24 speeches (4,270 words) Wednesday 11th June 2025 - Westminster Hall Ministry of Justice Mentions: 1: Amanda Martin (Lab - Portsmouth North) I introduced a ten-minute rule Bill, the Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill. - Link to Speech 2: David Taylor (Lab - Hemel Hempstead) cause long-lasting emotional harm.That is why I strongly support the Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill - Link to Speech |
Written Answers |
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Prison Accommodation: Northern Ireland
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford) Tuesday 21st October 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has had discussions with his Northern Irish counterpart on increasing capacity in the prison estate. Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip The Secretary of State for Justice has not yet had discussions with his Northern Irish counterpart on increasing capacity in the prison estate. However, the UK Government is in regular dialogue with the Northern Ireland Executive on prison capacity challenges at ministerial level through the Inter-Ministerial Group for Justice, and at official level through the Five Nations Forum on Prison Capacity, as well as bilaterally. Lord Timpson will shortly be visiting Northern Ireland to meet the Northern Ireland Justice Minister, where they will discuss a range of justice related issues, including prison capacity. The UK Government has already taken action to progress towards a sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis in England and Wales. On 22 May, David Gauke’s Sentencing Review was published, and on 2 September we introduced legislation to take forward most of the recommendations made by the review. Our landmark sentencing reforms will ensure we never run out of prison places again. To ensure we have sufficient capacity in the lead up to implementation of the Sentencing Bill, the previous Lord Chancellor also announced further measures to manage the prison population, such as extending the Home Detention Curfew, and expanding the Early Removal Scheme, enabling the earlier removal of foreign national offenders. |
Offenders: Deportation
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk) Tuesday 21st October 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is his policy that offenders to be deported under Clause 32 in the Sentencing Bill would be required to serve any custodial sentence in their home country. Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip The Sentencing Bill will amend the Early Removal Scheme (ERS) to allow eligible Foreign National Offenders (FNO) serving determinate sentences to be removed from prison for the purposes of immediate deportation any time after sentencing. FNOs removed under ERS are not subject to further imprisonment after they are removed from the UK but are barred from ever returning to the UK. If they return unlawfully, they will be liable to serve the rest of their sentence from the point they were deported. Those serving life and other indeterminate sentences are not eligible for removal under ERS. Offenders serving a terrorism or terrorism-connected offence are also excluded from removal. ERS can be refused by HMPPS in certain circumstances for example if there is serious evidence an offender is planning a further crime. Prisoner Transfer Agreements, where prisoners continue to serve their sentence in their home countries, will still be used in certain circumstances where we have an agreement in place and there is cooperation with the receiving country. Enhancing our prisoner transfer capability with partner countries remains important to the Ministry of Justice. |
Prisoners' Release: Housing
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington) Monday 20th October 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how the (a) proposed earned progression model and (b) consequential increase in tagging will operate for people released from prison without suitable accommodation. Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip 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. |
Offenders: Rehabilitation
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington) Monday 20th October 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that prison-based treatment and rehabilitation services are adequately resourced for the provisions of the Sentencing Bill. Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip We know that continued engagement with treatment is vital to addressing the underlying causes of offending. That is why we want to divert offenders with a substance misuse need away from custody and into community treatment where appropriate. For those where a prison sentence is appropriate, we need to make prison a place that reforms offenders and supports them to recover from substance misuse.
The Ministry of Justice works closely with NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to ensure that all offenders who need it have access to high-quality alcohol and substance misuse treatment. Responsibility for commissioning and delivery of substance misuse treatment in the community lies with Local Authorities, and NHS England is responsible for treatment in custody. While decisions about future funding positions are ongoing, they are considering the needs of offenders. This is demonstrated by DHSC’s existing, targeted investment to support those referred by the criminal justice system, including funding 575 drug and alcohol workers with criminal justice specialisms who work closely with prisons, probation and in courts as well as the police to improve access to and quality of treatment. The National Partnership Agreement sets out the basis of a shared understanding of, and commitment to, the way in which the partners will work together.
The Ministry of Justice’s overall Impact Assessment was published with the Sentencing Bill and noted that more offenders can be expected to be diverted from short custodial sentences to suspended sentence orders. This will likely result in more people in the community who would have otherwise required treatment in prison needing support. We are also extending drug testing powers through the Sentencing Bill, meaning any offender on licence can be tested. This may lead to an increase in treatment referrals.
The Impact Assessment sets out that delivering treatment in prison is often more costly than delivering it in the community. By diverting someone from prison, we are not increasing the number of people who need treatment but are changing the setting in which they receive it. We are working closely with DHSC on the impacts and will be engaging with the sector. |
Offenders: Rehabilitation
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington) Monday 20th October 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of proposed powers for probation to test offenders on licence on the (a) capacity and (b) resourcing of local drug and alcohol treatment services. Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip We know that continued engagement with treatment is vital to addressing the underlying causes of offending. That is why we want to divert offenders with a substance misuse need away from custody and into community treatment where appropriate. For those where a prison sentence is appropriate, we need to make prison a place that reforms offenders and supports them to recover from substance misuse.
The Ministry of Justice works closely with NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to ensure that all offenders who need it have access to high-quality alcohol and substance misuse treatment. Responsibility for commissioning and delivery of substance misuse treatment in the community lies with Local Authorities, and NHS England is responsible for treatment in custody. While decisions about future funding positions are ongoing, they are considering the needs of offenders. This is demonstrated by DHSC’s existing, targeted investment to support those referred by the criminal justice system, including funding 575 drug and alcohol workers with criminal justice specialisms who work closely with prisons, probation and in courts as well as the police to improve access to and quality of treatment. The National Partnership Agreement sets out the basis of a shared understanding of, and commitment to, the way in which the partners will work together.
The Ministry of Justice’s overall Impact Assessment was published with the Sentencing Bill and noted that more offenders can be expected to be diverted from short custodial sentences to suspended sentence orders. This will likely result in more people in the community who would have otherwise required treatment in prison needing support. We are also extending drug testing powers through the Sentencing Bill, meaning any offender on licence can be tested. This may lead to an increase in treatment referrals.
The Impact Assessment sets out that delivering treatment in prison is often more costly than delivering it in the community. By diverting someone from prison, we are not increasing the number of people who need treatment but are changing the setting in which they receive it. We are working closely with DHSC on the impacts and will be engaging with the sector. |
Offenders: Rehabilitation
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington) Monday 20th October 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the funding required for community drug and alcohol treatment providers to support the additional cohort of offenders serving sentences in the community under the provisions of the Sentencing Bill. Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip We know that continued engagement with treatment is vital to addressing the underlying causes of offending. That is why we want to divert offenders with a substance misuse need away from custody and into community treatment where appropriate. For those where a prison sentence is appropriate, we need to make prison a place that reforms offenders and supports them to recover from substance misuse.
The Ministry of Justice works closely with NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to ensure that all offenders who need it have access to high-quality alcohol and substance misuse treatment. Responsibility for commissioning and delivery of substance misuse treatment in the community lies with Local Authorities, and NHS England is responsible for treatment in custody. While decisions about future funding positions are ongoing, they are considering the needs of offenders. This is demonstrated by DHSC’s existing, targeted investment to support those referred by the criminal justice system, including funding 575 drug and alcohol workers with criminal justice specialisms who work closely with prisons, probation and in courts as well as the police to improve access to and quality of treatment. The National Partnership Agreement sets out the basis of a shared understanding of, and commitment to, the way in which the partners will work together.
The Ministry of Justice’s overall Impact Assessment was published with the Sentencing Bill and noted that more offenders can be expected to be diverted from short custodial sentences to suspended sentence orders. This will likely result in more people in the community who would have otherwise required treatment in prison needing support. We are also extending drug testing powers through the Sentencing Bill, meaning any offender on licence can be tested. This may lead to an increase in treatment referrals.
The Impact Assessment sets out that delivering treatment in prison is often more costly than delivering it in the community. By diverting someone from prison, we are not increasing the number of people who need treatment but are changing the setting in which they receive it. We are working closely with DHSC on the impacts and will be engaging with the sector. |
Offenders: Deportation
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon) Monday 20th October 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much capacity within the prison estate will be created via the deportation of foreign national offenders by 31 December 2025. Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip The removal of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) is a priority of this Government. Deporting FNOs as quickly as possible protects the public, reduces pressures on prison capacity and lessens the associated expense to the taxpayer. From 5 July 2024 to 4 July 2025 there were 2,632 Early Removal Scheme (ERS) removals from prison, which is a 10% increase compared to the 2,385 in the same period 12 months prior. And this Government is going further: on 23 September we changed the law to reduce the time that FNOs must serve in prison before removal to 30% of their prison sentence. In steady state we expect this change will free up approximately 500 additional prison spaces a year. Additionally, the Sentencing Bill currently before Parliament proposes to remove the minimum time to serve requirement altogether so that FNOs can be eligible for deportation immediately after they are sentenced. The timing of when prison place savings will be realised from deporting FNOs is dependent on the Home Office’s rate of removals which will continue to be monitored over the coming months. |
National Security
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon) Monday 20th October 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, 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. Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice) 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.
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Domestic Abuse: Victims
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil) Wednesday 15th October 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the provisions in Part Two of the Sentencing Bill on victims of domestic abuse. Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice) The Sentencing Bill includes a range of measures that will strengthen protections for victims of domestic abuse and ensure the justice system responds robustly to offending. These measures will help to ensure that prisons never run out of space again and dangerous offenders can be kept off the streets. We are introducing a new judicial finding of domestic abuse at sentencing, which will help ensure domestic abuse offenders are better identified and monitored throughout the system. This will support stronger protections for victims, whether the perpetrator is in custody or in the community. The Bill also retains a different release point for the most serious violent and sexual offenders and gives judges full discretion to impose immediate custody in cases involving significant risk of harm to an individual – including to protect victims of domestic abuse. In addition, we are imposing tough restriction zones for serious sexual and violent offenders, which limit the movement of perpetrators rather than victims. These reforms are part of our wider commitment to a justice system that punishes offenders, protects the public, and supports victims – including those affected by domestic abuse. |
Homicide: Offenders
Asked by: Steve Witherden (Labour - Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr) Wednesday 15th October 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether bereaved families of victims of murder would be protected under the restriction zone requirement in the Sentencing Bill. Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip It is crucial that we have a justice system that punishes offenders and supports victims. That is why increasing restriction on serious sexual and violent offenders is part of our Plan for Change to cut crime and make streets safer. Through the Sentencing Bill, we are introducing a new power which will allow restriction zones on offenders to be imposed on offenders on licence, where appropriate. These will restrict certain offenders to specific areas – so their victims know they are safe wherever else they want to go. Licence conditions for offenders convicted of murder are determined by the independent Parole Board. We are working to finalise the operation of, and eligibility for, these zones, subject to the passage of the Sentencing Bill. |
Homicide: Offenders
Asked by: Steve Witherden (Labour - Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr) Wednesday 15th October 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the restriction zone requirement in the Sentencing Bill would apply to offenders of murder. Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip It is crucial that we have a justice system that punishes offenders and supports victims. That is why increasing restriction on serious sexual and violent offenders is part of our Plan for Change to cut crime and make streets safer. Through the Sentencing Bill, we are introducing a new power which will allow restriction zones on offenders to be imposed on offenders on licence, where appropriate. These will restrict certain offenders to specific areas – so their victims know they are safe wherever else they want to go. Licence conditions for offenders convicted of murder are determined by the independent Parole Board. We are working to finalise the operation of, and eligibility for, these zones, subject to the passage of the Sentencing Bill. |
Prisons: Drugs
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer) Thursday 25th September 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase mandatory random drug testing in prisons in England and Wales, and to expand the range of drugs tested for. Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice) The Government is committed to tackling drug use in prisons, which threatens prison safety and security, undermines our work to rehabilitate prisoners and drives reoffending. We therefore need to have a multi-pronged approach that tackles the supply of drugs, drives down demand and supports recovery – drug testing plays an important role in delivering this. We test for a wide range of substances and keep this under regular review to ensure we identify emerging trends to keep both staff and prisoners safe. Our new drug testing contract supports this by giving us greater flexibility to identify areas for improvement in our drug testing capabilities, ensuring we can keep pace with changing patterns of drug use and target support where it is most needed. In recent years, levels of rMDT have fallen short across the estate because of staffing constraints, and as a result, volumes have not been sufficient nor consistently high enough to produce publishable data – though results are still used as part of adjudication proceedings. There has been some encouraging progress made in recent months to increase levels, and we will continue to keep performance under close review. |
Electronic Tagging: Procurement
Asked by: Robert Jenrick (Conservative - Newark) Thursday 11th September 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has a target date for acquiring adequate numbers of electronic tags to accommodate the provisions of the Sentencing Bill. Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip The Ministry of Justice and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service are continuing to assess the likely impact of the Sentencing Bill on demand for Electronic Monitoring and will order the required numbers of tags in line with those assessments and contractual requirements. |
Electronic Tagging: Procurement
Asked by: Robert Jenrick (Conservative - Newark) Thursday 11th September 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many electronic tags his Department has acquired in the context of the Sentencing Bill. Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip The Ministry of Justice and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service are continuing to assess the likely impact of the Sentencing Bill on demand for Electronic Monitoring and will order the required numbers of tags in line with those assessments and contractual requirements. |
Sentencing: Parliamentary Scrutiny
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde) Wednesday 10th September 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Justice Secretary introduces democratic lock over Sentencing Council, published on 2 September 2025, what plans she has for enabling Parliament to (a) scrutinise and (b) influence future Sentencing Council guidelines. Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice) The Lord Chancellor has brought forward measures in the Sentencing Bill to ensure that there is stronger democratic and judicial oversight of sentencing guidelines the Sentencing Council produces. The Council will be placed under a statutory obligation to obtain approval from both the Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice for all guidelines. This means that no guidelines can be issued without the Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice each explicitly approving it. The Council will also be required to obtain Lord Chancellor approval of its annual business plan. The Sentencing Council has an existing statutory obligation to consult with the Justice Select Committee on draft sentencing guidelines, which is unaffected by the measures we are taking forward in the Sentencing Bill. |
Offenders
Asked by: Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk) Wednesday 10th September 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Criminals to face football, travel, club and pub bans, published on 23 August 2025, what impact her Department estimates these measures will have on (a) rates of first offence and (b) rates of reoffence. Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice) Through the Sentencing Bill we will introduce new powers available to the courts when imposing a community or suspended sentence. This will provide courts with greater flexibility than ever before to tailor punishments to offenders and ensure sentences served in the community are not a “soft option” but represent a genuine punishment by restricting offenders’ freedoms. The four new powers which this Bill includes are:
We believe that these new powers, for example banning criminals from football matches and pubs, will help to deter offending and hammer home that under this Government, crime no longer pays. The Sentencing Bill seeks to increase the robustness of community sentencing. Evidence suggests that community orders and suspended sentences are more effective than short custodial sentences at reducing reoffending in certain circumstances. |
Reoffenders: Community Orders
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West) Friday 5th September 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of community sentencing in reducing reoffending. Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Vice Chamberlain (HM Household) (Whip, House of Commons) There is evidence that community orders and suspended sentence orders are more effective at reducing reoffending than sentences of immediate custody in certain circumstances. Robust analysis (using a matched comparison group to account for cohort differences such as drug use and unemployment), found that custodial sentences of less than 12 months were associated with higher reoffending rates (4 percentage points difference) compared to court orders (community or suspended sentence): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d1c732ee5274a08cdbe45c4/impact-short-custodial-sentences.pdf. The Department’s latest published reoffending data (July to September 2023) shows that the one year proven reoffending rate for those on a court order was 34% and 62% for those released from a determinant sentence of less than 12 months: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/proven-reoffending-statistics-july-and-september-2023. Ministry of Justice research findings indicate that individuals sentenced with a Community Sentence Treatment Requirement reoffend less often compared with those given a short custodial sentence. For example, Mental Health Treatment Requirements recipients had a lower reoffending rate than those on a short custodial sentence recipients by 9 percentage points. We welcome the Independent Sentencing Review’s emphasis on increasing the use of community sentences for lower-level offenders, ensuring that prisons are focused on locking up the most dangerous offenders. In the Sentencing Bill, we have introduced new powers to allow the courts to have greater flexibility than ever before to tailor punishments to offenders and ensure sentences served in the community are not a “soft option” but represent a genuine punishment by restricting offenders’ freedoms. These new powers will include banning offenders from driving, from attending pubs and bars, as well as public events such as sports and concerts. We are also introducing tough new restriction zones that will limit offenders to a specific geographical area. |
Prison Sentences
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West) Friday 5th September 2025 Question to the Ministry of Justice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she is taking steps to reduce the use of short custodial sentences for non-violent offences. Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Vice Chamberlain (HM Household) (Whip, House of Commons) In line with the Independent Sentencing Review’s recommendation on reducing the use of short custodial sentences, the Sentencing Bill 2025 introduces a presumption to suspend short custodial sentences of 12 months or less, including for non-violent offences. We are not abolishing short sentences - judges will always have the power to send offenders to prison where they have breached a court order, where there is a significant risk of physical or psychological harm to a particular individual, or in exceptional circumstances.
Evidence shows community orders and suspended sentences can be more effective at reducing reoffending than short custodial sentences. Around 60% of adults jailed for under a year reoffend within 12 months. Ministry of Justice matched cohort research shows offenders released from short prison sentences of less than 12 months reoffend at a higher rate (up to 4pp) than similar offenders given a community or suspended sentence.
Limiting the use of short sentences will not only help offenders to leave the merry-go-round of re-offending but reduce crime, leading to fewer victims and safer communities. |
Parliamentary Research |
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Sentencing Bill - CBP-10332
Sep. 12 2025 Found: Sentencing Bill |
Bills |
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Sentencing Bill 2024-26
Presented by Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham Ladywood) Government Bill (Ministry of Justice) A Bill to make provision about the sentencing, release and management after sentencing of offenders; to make provision about bail; to make provision about the removal from the United Kingdom of foreign criminals; and for connected purposes.
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Bill Documents |
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Oct. 17 2025
Sentencing Bill Sentencing Bill 2024-26 Briefing papers Found: Sentencing Bill |
Sep. 02 2025
Bill 299 EN 2024-25 - large print Sentencing Bill 2024-26 Explanatory Notes Found: Bill 299–EN 59/1 SENTENCING BILL EXPLANATORY NOTES What these notes do These Explanatory Notes |
Sep. 02 2025
Bill 299 EN 2024-25 Sentencing Bill 2024-26 Explanatory Notes Found: Bill 299–EN 59/1 SENTENCING BILL EXPLANATORY NOTES What these notes do These Explanatory Notes |
Sep. 02 2025
Bill 299 2024-25 - large print Sentencing Bill 2024-26 Bill Found: Sentencing Bill [As Introduced] This is an alternative rendering of the standard published version of |
Sep. 02 2025
Bill 299 2024-25 (as introduced) Sentencing Bill 2024-26 Bill Found: Sentencing Bill EXPLANATORY NOTES Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Ministry of Justice |
Sep. 02 2025
Impact Assessment from the Ministry of Justice Sentencing Bill 2024-26 Impact Assessments Found: 1 Title: Sentencing Bill Impact Assessment IA No: MoJ030/2025 RPC Reference No: N/A Lead department |
Sep. 02 2025
Delegated Powers Memorandum from the Ministry of Justice Sentencing Bill 2024-26 Delegated Powers Memorandum Found: 1 SENTENCING BILL 2025 DELEGATED POWERS MEMORANDUM INTRODUCTION 1. |
Sep. 02 2025
Human Rights Memorandum from the Ministry of Justice Sentencing Bill 2024-26 Human rights memorandum Found: THE SENTENCING BILL 2025 EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS MEMORANDUM SUMMARY OF THE BILL 1. |
Jul. 02 2025
HL Bill 19-I Marshalled list for Committee Imprisonment for Public Protection (Re-sentencing) Bill [HL] 2024-26 Amendment Paper Found: Imprisonment for Public Protection (Re-sentencing) Bill [HL] MARSHALLED LIST OF AMENDMENTS TO BE |
Jun. 25 2025
HL Bill 19 Running list of amendments – 25 June 2025 Imprisonment for Public Protection (Re-sentencing) Bill [HL] 2024-26 Amendment Paper Found: Imprisonment for Public Protection (Re-sentencing) Bill [HL] RUNNING LIST OF ALL AMENDMENTS IN COMMITTEE |
APPG Publications |
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Restorative Justice APPG Document: RJ APPG Inquiry Appendix Found: Can I just very quickly before you go on to other people say that we’ve got this police and sentencing bill |
Cats APPG Document: APGOCATS EGM 2020 – 10th September 2020 Found: • Ben Parker from Battersea added that the Animals Welfare (Sentencing) Bill which aims to introduce |
Cats APPG Document: APGOCATS Inaugural Meeting of the 2019 Parliament – 11th February 2020 Found: - Sentencing o Chris Loder MP is bringing back the Animal Welfare Sentencing Bill to Parliament |
Cats APPG Document: APGOCATS Summer Meeting – 3rd July 2019 Found: Policy update 2 o Five-year sentences for animal Cruelty – the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill |
Department Publications - News and Communications |
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Wednesday 1st October 2025
Ministry of Justice Source Page: Lord Chancellor swearing-in speech: Rt Hon David Lammy MP Document: Lord Chancellor swearing-in speech: Rt Hon David Lammy MP (webpage) Found: And I will carry on that transformative work, Through the Sentencing Bill… Delivering punishment that |
Thursday 18th September 2025
Ministry of Justice Source Page: More sex offenders given chemical suppressants Document: More sex offenders given chemical suppressants (webpage) Found: This comes as part of the second reading of the Sentencing Bill in the House of Commons. |
Wednesday 10th September 2025
Ministry of Justice Source Page: New remote face scanning tech to monitor offenders and cut crime Document: New remote face scanning tech to monitor offenders and cut crime (webpage) Found: This announcement follows the introduction of the Sentencing Bill which set out plans to reform sentencing |
Tuesday 2nd September 2025
Ministry of Justice Source Page: Tens of thousands more to be tagged under biggest ever expansion Document: Tens of thousands more to be tagged under biggest ever expansion (webpage) Found: Change £100m extra investment and new expectation all prisoners will be tagged when leaving jail Sentencing Bill |
Tuesday 2nd September 2025
Ministry of Justice Source Page: Justice Secretary introduces democratic lock over Sentencing Council Document: Justice Secretary introduces democratic lock over Sentencing Council (webpage) Found: As part of the Sentencing Bill, introduced in the House of Commons today, both the Justice Secretary |
Department Publications - Policy paper |
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Wednesday 3rd September 2025
Ministry of Justice Source Page: Sentencing Bill 2025 Document: (PDF) Found: Sentencing Bill 2025 |
Wednesday 3rd September 2025
Ministry of Justice Source Page: Sentencing Bill 2025 Document: (PDF) Found: Sentencing Bill 2025 |
Wednesday 3rd September 2025
Ministry of Justice Source Page: Sentencing Bill 2025 Document: Sentencing Bill 2025 (webpage) Found: Sentencing Bill 2025 |
Department Publications - Statistics |
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Tuesday 5th August 2025
Ministry of Justice Source Page: Independent Prison Capacity Review: final report Document: (PDF) Found: sentences of less than six months (which was included, and extended to 12 months, in the 2024 Sentencing Bill |
Non-Departmental Publications - News and Communications |
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Sep. 02 2025
Judicial Office Source Page: Justice Secretary introduces democratic lock over Sentencing Council Document: Justice Secretary introduces democratic lock over Sentencing Council (webpage) News and Communications Found: As part of the Sentencing Bill, introduced in the House of Commons today, both the Justice Secretary |
Non-Departmental Publications - Transparency |
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Jul. 23 2025
Parole Board Source Page: Parole Board Strategy 2025-28 Document: (PDF) Transparency Found: , as the Board adapts to incorporate the changes to the sentencing framework expected in the Sentencing Bill |
Scottish Parliamentary Debates |
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Prison Population
35 speeches (29,521 words) Thursday 2nd October 2025 - Main Chamber Mentions: 1: Mackay, Rona (SNP - Strathkelvin and Bearsden) Government expects to significantly reduce its high prison population through measures in its Sentencing Bill - Link to Speech |