Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many criminal trials listed at Salisbury Crown Court were recorded as ineffective in (a) the last year (b) the last quarter for which data is available.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice routinely publishes the number of ineffective trials for individual Crown Courts as part of the trial effectiveness data tool available in the Criminal Courts Statistics Quarterly publication.
This is available at the publication landing page: Criminal court statistics quarterly
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of reports that discriminatory legal and administrative measures against members of the Baha’i community in Qatar risk the gradual elimination of that community from the country; and what representations he has made to the Government of Qatar on ending systemic discrimination against Baha’is and protecting their freedom of religion or belief.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is a strong advocate for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. We are aware of concerns regarding the treatment of members of the Baha'i community in Qatar. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) continues to engage with the Government of Qatar on a range of issues, including human rights, FoRB and the importance of due process. We also remain in contact with members of the Baha'i community in both the UK and Qatar to understand and monitor their concerns.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Prisoner Escort and Custody Services contractors’ performance in the South West of England.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Timely delivery of prisoners is essential to the effective operation of the courts. Serco Ltd, which provides prisoner escort and custody services in the South of England, is contractually required to deliver prisoners in time for their scheduled hearings, where movements have been properly notified and prisoners are ready and available for collection.
Serco's delivery of prisoners to court is monitored through contractual performance measures, supplier management information and Court Exception Reports, which are used by HM Courts and Tribunals Service to record delays affecting court proceedings. HMPPS regularly assesses supplier performance and, where performance falls below the required standard, oversees improvement plans and targeted assurance activity. Where delays are attributable to Serco, contractual remedies, including service credits, are applied in accordance with the contract.
In the year to 30 September 2026, 11 Court Exception Reports were recorded in relation to Salisbury Crown Court, of which two were attributable to Serco. These reports record instances where delays have affected court business but do not distinguish between different types of hearings. It is therefore not possible to determine how many relate specifically to trials.
HMPPS assesses Serco's performance against its contractual requirements across the contract as a whole. Monthly Regional Performance Boards provide oversight of operational performance in the South West, while monthly Contract Management Boards review supplier performance across the wider contract. Where underperformance is identified, this is addressed through contract management arrangements, including improvement plans and contractual remedies where appropriate. Not every late arrival or court delay is attributable to the escort supplier. Other factors can include prison readiness, journey distance, court listing changes and prisoner refusals. HMPPS works with HM Courts and Tribunals Service, prison establishments and other criminal justice partners to address wider operational factors that may affect the timely delivery of prisoners to court.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure Serco delivers prisoners on time at Salisbury Crown Court.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Timely delivery of prisoners is essential to the effective operation of the courts. Serco Ltd, which provides prisoner escort and custody services in the South of England, is contractually required to deliver prisoners in time for their scheduled hearings, where movements have been properly notified and prisoners are ready and available for collection.
Serco's delivery of prisoners to court is monitored through contractual performance measures, supplier management information and Court Exception Reports, which are used by HM Courts and Tribunals Service to record delays affecting court proceedings. HMPPS regularly assesses supplier performance and, where performance falls below the required standard, oversees improvement plans and targeted assurance activity. Where delays are attributable to Serco, contractual remedies, including service credits, are applied in accordance with the contract.
In the year to 30 September 2026, 11 Court Exception Reports were recorded in relation to Salisbury Crown Court, of which two were attributable to Serco. These reports record instances where delays have affected court business but do not distinguish between different types of hearings. It is therefore not possible to determine how many relate specifically to trials.
HMPPS assesses Serco's performance against its contractual requirements across the contract as a whole. Monthly Regional Performance Boards provide oversight of operational performance in the South West, while monthly Contract Management Boards review supplier performance across the wider contract. Where underperformance is identified, this is addressed through contract management arrangements, including improvement plans and contractual remedies where appropriate. Not every late arrival or court delay is attributable to the escort supplier. Other factors can include prison readiness, journey distance, court listing changes and prisoner refusals. HMPPS works with HM Courts and Tribunals Service, prison establishments and other criminal justice partners to address wider operational factors that may affect the timely delivery of prisoners to court.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many trials at Salisbury Crown Court are delayed due to late arrival of prisoners.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Timely delivery of prisoners is essential to the effective operation of the courts. Serco Ltd, which provides prisoner escort and custody services in the South of England, is contractually required to deliver prisoners in time for their scheduled hearings, where movements have been properly notified and prisoners are ready and available for collection.
Serco's delivery of prisoners to court is monitored through contractual performance measures, supplier management information and Court Exception Reports, which are used by HM Courts and Tribunals Service to record delays affecting court proceedings. HMPPS regularly assesses supplier performance and, where performance falls below the required standard, oversees improvement plans and targeted assurance activity. Where delays are attributable to Serco, contractual remedies, including service credits, are applied in accordance with the contract.
In the year to 30 September 2026, 11 Court Exception Reports were recorded in relation to Salisbury Crown Court, of which two were attributable to Serco. These reports record instances where delays have affected court business but do not distinguish between different types of hearings. It is therefore not possible to determine how many relate specifically to trials.
HMPPS assesses Serco's performance against its contractual requirements across the contract as a whole. Monthly Regional Performance Boards provide oversight of operational performance in the South West, while monthly Contract Management Boards review supplier performance across the wider contract. Where underperformance is identified, this is addressed through contract management arrangements, including improvement plans and contractual remedies where appropriate. Not every late arrival or court delay is attributable to the escort supplier. Other factors can include prison readiness, journey distance, court listing changes and prisoner refusals. HMPPS works with HM Courts and Tribunals Service, prison establishments and other criminal justice partners to address wider operational factors that may affect the timely delivery of prisoners to court.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans her Department has for the future role, remit and reporting structure of the National Specialty Lead for Rheumatology following the abolition of NHS England and the integration of its functions into her Department; and what steps she is taking to ensure that dedicated national clinical leadership is retained to guide policy, clinical standards and specialist care networks for the people with rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
On the future of clinical reference groups, I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer provided on 24 August in response to Question HL1992. Details regarding specific groups, or individuals in national specialty or clinical lead roles, will be set out in due course.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the future role, governance, and hosting of specialised commissioning Clinical Reference Groups following the planned abolition and restructuring of NHS England; and what steps she is taking to ensure that expert clinical guidance and patient voice representation for rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases are retained at a national level.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
On the future of clinical reference groups, I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer provided on 24 August in response to Question HL1992. Details regarding specific groups, or individuals in national specialty or clinical lead roles, will be set out in due course.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason the summary of responses to the call for evidence on park home sales commission has not yet been published; and when she expects to publish it.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.
The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.
On 5 March 2026, my Department published a 12-week call for evidence regarding the rationale for the payment of a commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.
We are currently analysing the feedback received and remain committed to publishing a detailed summary of responses ahead of announcing the government's final position by the end of the year.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Vietnamese counterpart following the sentencing in August 2026 of Montagnard Protestant pastor Y Nuen Ayun to seven years and six months' imprisonment; and what diplomatic démarches his Department has delivered on the protection of Montagnard Christians who worship independently of state-approved religious organisations.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK regularly raises freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) with the Vietnamese authorities, including through the UK Special Envoy for FoRB. Vietnam is a focus country under the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's FoRB Strategy, launched in July 2025. More broadly, we continue to highlight FoRB violations and abuses on the international stage, through our position at the UN and as an active member of the Article 18 Alliance, ensuring joint international action on FoRB. We will raise FoRB and wider human rights issues at the UK-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue, and during the FoRB envoy's visit to Vietnam, in November.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her department is taking to prevent the creation, viewing and distribution of child sexual abuse material on adult devices, where no child's device is ever involved.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
This Government is unequivocally committed to tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation, including the creation, viewing and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The Online Safety Act requires technology companies to prevent the presence of CSAM on their platforms and to put in place proportionate measures to ensure their platforms are not used for the facilitation of crime.
This is in addition to the Government also recognising the potential merits of wider operating-system level protections to prevent the creation, viewing and distribution of CSAM on children's devices, where on 8 September, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport reiterated the Government's commitment in a Statement to the House to prepare primary legislation requiring companies to build on-device operating system-level protections for children.
These device-level protections would operate by default and are intended to prevent children from taking, sharing or viewing nude imagery, which aims to reduce sexual extortion and grooming of children.