Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, why the Attorney General's Office has stopped posting on the social media site X.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Attorney General

The Attorney General Office’s official account is no longer posting on X. The decision was taken by the Attorney General to focus on other communication platforms that he believes are more conducive to public debate, and don’t prioritise misinformation. The Attorney understands and respects colleagues who remain on the platform.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what features of current prison (a) expansion and (b) construction projects are intended to (i) improve and (ii) address diversity, equality and inclusion.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we are committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and aim to do so by 2031. The Prison Supply Programmes (PSP) consist of the construction of four new prisons, including HMP Millsike which opened in spring 2025, as well as the expansion and refurbishment of the existing estate and temporary accommodation.

Our new prisons and new houseblocks at existing prisons contain accessible cells including low mobility cells, wheelchair accessible cells, and medical cells that cater for a range of accessibility needs, including those common in older prisoners. Amenities have also been designed to ensure that there is equality of access for all prisoners by, for example, locating them on the ground floor, ensuring provision of lifts where appropriate, and building infrastructure that enables the use of hearing loops and other technology that supports access and care for prisoners.

Our new prisons are also designed with activity spaces that enable older prisoners to engage in age-appropriate activities. Decor follows known design principles that aid a person’s wayfinding, accounting for needs associated with dementia and other cognitive impairments.

Refurbished wings have widened walkways to allow greater accessibility, and some doors have also been widened to allow greater disabled access. The accessibility of emergency escape routes has also been improved.

Our Rapid Deployment Cells are modern, single-cell accommodation units that also include accessible accommodation for prisoners with disabilities.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total operational expenditure directly attributable to the Employment Tribunal was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which outturn figures are held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

HM Courts and Tribunals Services’ operational expenditure in each of the relevant tribunals over the last five financial years is as below:

Figures are in £m and reflect direct operational spend in each tribunal, including staff, judicial, and relevant other costs. They do not include estates or digital overheads.

The figures for the Employment Tribunal include expenditure relating to the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

Figures for 2025-26 are provisional pending the final publication of HMCTS’ Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year and may be subject to change.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total operational expenditure directly attributable to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which outturn figures are held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

HM Courts and Tribunals Services’ operational expenditure in each of the relevant tribunals over the last five financial years is as below:

Figures are in £m and reflect direct operational spend in each tribunal, including staff, judicial, and relevant other costs. They do not include estates or digital overheads.

The figures for the Employment Tribunal include expenditure relating to the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

Figures for 2025-26 are provisional pending the final publication of HMCTS’ Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year and may be subject to change.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total operational expenditure directly attributable to the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which outturn figures are held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

HM Courts and Tribunals Services’ operational expenditure in each of the relevant tribunals over the last five financial years is as below:

Figures are in £m and reflect direct operational spend in each tribunal, including staff, judicial, and relevant other costs. They do not include estates or digital overheads.

The figures for the Employment Tribunal include expenditure relating to the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

Figures for 2025-26 are provisional pending the final publication of HMCTS’ Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year and may be subject to change.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the operational expenditure attributable to the First-tier Tribunal (War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which outturn figures are held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

HM Courts and Tribunals Services’ operational expenditure in each of the relevant tribunals over the last five financial years is as below:

Figures are in £m and reflect direct operational spend in each tribunal, including staff, judicial, and relevant other costs. They do not include estates or digital overheads.

The figures for the Employment Tribunal include expenditure relating to the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

Figures for 2025-26 are provisional pending the final publication of HMCTS’ Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year and may be subject to change.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the operational expenditure attributable to the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which outturn figures are held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

HM Courts and Tribunals Services’ operational expenditure in each of the relevant tribunals over the last five financial years is as below:

Figures are in £m and reflect direct operational spend in each tribunal, including staff, judicial, and relevant other costs. They do not include estates or digital overheads.

The figures for the Employment Tribunal include expenditure relating to the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

Figures for 2025-26 are provisional pending the final publication of HMCTS’ Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year and may be subject to change.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether Lord Justice Green has ordered that official visits to courts by hon. Members be postponed and that judges be banned from speaking to hon. Members.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Courts are public buildings, open for anyone to attend and observe hearings.

The judiciary host visits by parliamentarians to courts and tribunals, to enhance understanding of how the system works and so that MPs can see first-hand the vital work that judges and court staff do every day. Those visits are always subject to agreeing a suitable time, and there are examples where the senior judiciary have requested that visits do not take place for periods of time, either related to operational issues or to preserve judicial independence and maintain public confidence in the judiciary’s neutrality.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, of adjournments in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) where the initiating party is recorded, what the breakdown is by (a) appellant or appellant's representative, (b) Secretary of State for the Home Department, (c) tribunal-directed and (d) not recorded, in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Published data on the number of adjournments within the previous case management system (ARIA) is available for the period 2021/2022 to 2024/2025 within the MOJ quarterly statistics.

Tribunals statistics quarterly: January to March 2025 - GOV.UK

Available data in relation to the number of cases adjourned on more than one occasion is set out in the table below. This data is based on cases recorded on ARIA, the legacy case management system. Since 2019 the Tribunal has been transitioning to a new case management system, CCD. Work is ongoing to amalgamate data from the legacy and new systems, but the data validation is not yet complete, so data covering all cases is not currently held centrally and available for reporting and analysis. Therefore, caution should be taken when making comparisons between years.

*ARIA data only

Available data in relation to the initiating party of an adjournment is set out in the table below. This data is based on cases recorded on ARIA, the legacy case management system. Since 2019 the Tribunal has been transitioning to a new case management system, CCD. Work is ongoing to amalgamate data from the legacy and new systems, but the data engineering and validation is not yet complete, so data covering all cases is not currently held centrally and available for reporting and analysis. The rollout of CCD means that a falling proportion of cases are now held on ARIA. During FY 2024/25 it is estimated to include only around 10% of these cases. Therefore, caution should be taken when making comparisons between years.

First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) - Adjournments by initiating party for the period 2021-2025¹

*Aria data only

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the number of individual cases adjourned on more than one occasion during the same appeal was in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Published data on the number of adjournments within the previous case management system (ARIA) is available for the period 2021/2022 to 2024/2025 within the MOJ quarterly statistics.

Tribunals statistics quarterly: January to March 2025 - GOV.UK

Available data in relation to the number of cases adjourned on more than one occasion is set out in the table below. This data is based on cases recorded on ARIA, the legacy case management system. Since 2019 the Tribunal has been transitioning to a new case management system, CCD. Work is ongoing to amalgamate data from the legacy and new systems, but the data validation is not yet complete, so data covering all cases is not currently held centrally and available for reporting and analysis. Therefore, caution should be taken when making comparisons between years.

*ARIA data only

Available data in relation to the initiating party of an adjournment is set out in the table below. This data is based on cases recorded on ARIA, the legacy case management system. Since 2019 the Tribunal has been transitioning to a new case management system, CCD. Work is ongoing to amalgamate data from the legacy and new systems, but the data engineering and validation is not yet complete, so data covering all cases is not currently held centrally and available for reporting and analysis. The rollout of CCD means that a falling proportion of cases are now held on ARIA. During FY 2024/25 it is estimated to include only around 10% of these cases. Therefore, caution should be taken when making comparisons between years.

First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) - Adjournments by initiating party for the period 2021-2025¹

*Aria data only

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total number of asylum and immigration appeal hearings in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) that were adjourned before completion was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Published data on the number of adjournments within the previous case management system (ARIA) is available for the period 2021/2022 to 2024/2025 within the MOJ quarterly statistics.

Tribunals statistics quarterly: January to March 2025 - GOV.UK

Available data in relation to the number of cases adjourned on more than one occasion is set out in the table below. This data is based on cases recorded on ARIA, the legacy case management system. Since 2019 the Tribunal has been transitioning to a new case management system, CCD. Work is ongoing to amalgamate data from the legacy and new systems, but the data validation is not yet complete, so data covering all cases is not currently held centrally and available for reporting and analysis. Therefore, caution should be taken when making comparisons between years.

*ARIA data only

Available data in relation to the initiating party of an adjournment is set out in the table below. This data is based on cases recorded on ARIA, the legacy case management system. Since 2019 the Tribunal has been transitioning to a new case management system, CCD. Work is ongoing to amalgamate data from the legacy and new systems, but the data engineering and validation is not yet complete, so data covering all cases is not currently held centrally and available for reporting and analysis. The rollout of CCD means that a falling proportion of cases are now held on ARIA. During FY 2024/25 it is estimated to include only around 10% of these cases. Therefore, caution should be taken when making comparisons between years.

First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) - Adjournments by initiating party for the period 2021-2025¹

*Aria data only

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total number of appeals disposed of in the First-tier Tribunal (War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held, broken down by: (a) allowed, (b) dismissed, (c) withdrawn and (d) otherwise disposed.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The number of disposals for the War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber are published by financial year in Tribunals Statistics Quarterly. The tables (table S_3, column AZ) can be found via the following link: Tribunals_Statistics_Quarterly_Main_Tables_Q4_2025_26.ods

The information requested breaking down this data by outcome and providing the longest wait time between lodgement to disposal is not held centrally.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the longest recorded waiting time from lodgement to disposal in the First-tier Tribunal (War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The number of disposals for the War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber are published by financial year in Tribunals Statistics Quarterly. The tables (table S_3, column AZ) can be found via the following link: Tribunals_Statistics_Quarterly_Main_Tables_Q4_2025_26.ods

The information requested breaking down this data by outcome and providing the longest wait time between lodgement to disposal is not held centrally.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in how many asylum and immigration appeal hearings in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) at which the Secretary of State for the Home Department did not appear and was not legally represented was the appeal was subsequently allowed, in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Available data in relation to the number of appeals listed in FtTIAC for financial years 2021/22 – 2024/25 is set out in the table below. This data is based on cases recorded on ARIA, the legacy case management system. Since 2019 the Tribunal has been transitioning to a new case management system, CCD. Work is ongoing to amalgamate data from the legacy and new systems, but the data engineering and validation is not yet complete, so data covering all cases is not currently held centrally and available for reporting and analysis. The rollout of CCD means that a falling proportion of cases are now held on ARIA. During FY 2024/25 it is estimated to include only around 10% of these cases. Therefore, caution should be taken when making comparisons between years.

*ARIA data

The information requested on hearings where the Home Department did not appear and was not legally represented is not held centrally.

The information requested on hearings where the Home Department did not appear and was not legally represented which was then subsequently allowed, is not held centrally.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, of asylum and immigration appeal hearings listed in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), what the number at which the Secretary of State for the Home Department did not appear and was not legally represented was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Available data in relation to the number of appeals listed in FtTIAC for financial years 2021/22 – 2024/25 is set out in the table below. This data is based on cases recorded on ARIA, the legacy case management system. Since 2019 the Tribunal has been transitioning to a new case management system, CCD. Work is ongoing to amalgamate data from the legacy and new systems, but the data engineering and validation is not yet complete, so data covering all cases is not currently held centrally and available for reporting and analysis. The rollout of CCD means that a falling proportion of cases are now held on ARIA. During FY 2024/25 it is estimated to include only around 10% of these cases. Therefore, caution should be taken when making comparisons between years.

*ARIA data

The information requested on hearings where the Home Department did not appear and was not legally represented is not held centrally.

The information requested on hearings where the Home Department did not appear and was not legally represented which was then subsequently allowed, is not held centrally.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total number of asylum and immigration appeal hearings listed in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Available data in relation to the number of appeals listed in FtTIAC for financial years 2021/22 – 2024/25 is set out in the table below. This data is based on cases recorded on ARIA, the legacy case management system. Since 2019 the Tribunal has been transitioning to a new case management system, CCD. Work is ongoing to amalgamate data from the legacy and new systems, but the data engineering and validation is not yet complete, so data covering all cases is not currently held centrally and available for reporting and analysis. The rollout of CCD means that a falling proportion of cases are now held on ARIA. During FY 2024/25 it is estimated to include only around 10% of these cases. Therefore, caution should be taken when making comparisons between years.

*ARIA data

The information requested on hearings where the Home Department did not appear and was not legally represented is not held centrally.

The information requested on hearings where the Home Department did not appear and was not legally represented which was then subsequently allowed, is not held centrally.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the longest recorded waiting time from lodgement to disposal for special educational needs and disability appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The outstanding Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) (HESC) include both appeals which have been listed and those which have not been listed and are awaiting a hearing.

The table below shows the total number of SEND appeals which were outstanding, broken down by those which have been listed and those which have not, and are therefore waiting a hearing in each month from July 2024 to March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available)

The data has been taken from the local management information system. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available.

The table below shows the total number of SEND appeals (a) registered and (b) disposed of in HESC in each financial year from 2021-22, broken down by (i) allowed, (ii) dismissed, (iii) withdrawn and (iv) conceded by local authority before hearing.

The data has been taken from the local management information system with financial year set as April to March. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available. For this reason, the appeals shown in the above table may not match published totals.

Data on the waiting time between appeal lodgement and first hearing and lodgement to final disposal for SEND appeals is not recorded by the Tribunal, which would mean data on the longest waiting time and average waiting time could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total number of special educational needs and disability appeals (a) registered and (b) disposed of in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held, broken down by (i) allowed, (ii) dismissed, (iii) withdrawn and (iv) conceded by local authority before hearing.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The outstanding Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) (HESC) include both appeals which have been listed and those which have not been listed and are awaiting a hearing.

The table below shows the total number of SEND appeals which were outstanding, broken down by those which have been listed and those which have not, and are therefore waiting a hearing in each month from July 2024 to March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available)

The data has been taken from the local management information system. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available.

The table below shows the total number of SEND appeals (a) registered and (b) disposed of in HESC in each financial year from 2021-22, broken down by (i) allowed, (ii) dismissed, (iii) withdrawn and (iv) conceded by local authority before hearing.

The data has been taken from the local management information system with financial year set as April to March. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available. For this reason, the appeals shown in the above table may not match published totals.

Data on the waiting time between appeal lodgement and first hearing and lodgement to final disposal for SEND appeals is not recorded by the Tribunal, which would mean data on the longest waiting time and average waiting time could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many special educational needs and disability appeals (a) outstanding and (b) awaiting a hearing in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) did not have a listing in each month from July 2024 to the most recent month for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The outstanding Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) (HESC) include both appeals which have been listed and those which have not been listed and are awaiting a hearing.

The table below shows the total number of SEND appeals which were outstanding, broken down by those which have been listed and those which have not, and are therefore waiting a hearing in each month from July 2024 to March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available)

The data has been taken from the local management information system. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available.

The table below shows the total number of SEND appeals (a) registered and (b) disposed of in HESC in each financial year from 2021-22, broken down by (i) allowed, (ii) dismissed, (iii) withdrawn and (iv) conceded by local authority before hearing.

The data has been taken from the local management information system with financial year set as April to March. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available. For this reason, the appeals shown in the above table may not match published totals.

Data on the waiting time between appeal lodgement and first hearing and lodgement to final disposal for SEND appeals is not recorded by the Tribunal, which would mean data on the longest waiting time and average waiting time could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average time between appeal lodgement and first listing for special educational needs and disability appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) was in each month from July 2024 to the most recent month for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The outstanding Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) (HESC) include both appeals which have been listed and those which have not been listed and are awaiting a hearing.

The table below shows the total number of SEND appeals which were outstanding, broken down by those which have been listed and those which have not, and are therefore waiting a hearing in each month from July 2024 to March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available)

The data has been taken from the local management information system. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available.

The table below shows the total number of SEND appeals (a) registered and (b) disposed of in HESC in each financial year from 2021-22, broken down by (i) allowed, (ii) dismissed, (iii) withdrawn and (iv) conceded by local authority before hearing.

The data has been taken from the local management information system with financial year set as April to March. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available. For this reason, the appeals shown in the above table may not match published totals.

Data on the waiting time between appeal lodgement and first hearing and lodgement to final disposal for SEND appeals is not recorded by the Tribunal, which would mean data on the longest waiting time and average waiting time could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average time between appeal lodgement and final disposal for special educational needs and disability appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) was in each month from July 2024 to the most recent month for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The outstanding Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) (HESC) include both appeals which have been listed and those which have not been listed and are awaiting a hearing.

The table below shows the total number of SEND appeals which were outstanding, broken down by those which have been listed and those which have not, and are therefore waiting a hearing in each month from July 2024 to March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available)

The data has been taken from the local management information system. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available.

The table below shows the total number of SEND appeals (a) registered and (b) disposed of in HESC in each financial year from 2021-22, broken down by (i) allowed, (ii) dismissed, (iii) withdrawn and (iv) conceded by local authority before hearing.

The data has been taken from the local management information system with financial year set as April to March. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available. For this reason, the appeals shown in the above table may not match published totals.

Data on the waiting time between appeal lodgement and first hearing and lodgement to final disposal for SEND appeals is not recorded by the Tribunal, which would mean data on the longest waiting time and average waiting time could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many special educational needs and disability appeals outstanding and awaiting a hearing in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) had a listing for a hearing in each month from July 2024 to the most recent month for which data is available.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The outstanding Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) (HESC) include both appeals which have been listed and those which have not been listed and are awaiting a hearing.

The table below shows the total number of SEND appeals which were outstanding, broken down by those which have been listed and those which have not, and are therefore waiting a hearing in each month from July 2024 to March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available)

The data has been taken from the local management information system. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available.

The table below shows the total number of SEND appeals (a) registered and (b) disposed of in HESC in each financial year from 2021-22, broken down by (i) allowed, (ii) dismissed, (iii) withdrawn and (iv) conceded by local authority before hearing.

The data has been taken from the local management information system with financial year set as April to March. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available. For this reason, the appeals shown in the above table may not match published totals.

Data on the waiting time between appeal lodgement and first hearing and lodgement to final disposal for SEND appeals is not recorded by the Tribunal, which would mean data on the longest waiting time and average waiting time could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many special educational needs and disability appeals were outstanding and awaiting a hearing in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) in each month from July 2024 to the most recent month for which data is available.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The outstanding Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) (HESC) include both appeals which have been listed and those which have not been listed and are awaiting a hearing.

The table below shows the total number of SEND appeals which were outstanding, broken down by those which have been listed and those which have not, and are therefore waiting a hearing in each month from July 2024 to March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available)

The data has been taken from the local management information system. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available.

The table below shows the total number of SEND appeals (a) registered and (b) disposed of in HESC in each financial year from 2021-22, broken down by (i) allowed, (ii) dismissed, (iii) withdrawn and (iv) conceded by local authority before hearing.

The data has been taken from the local management information system with financial year set as April to March. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available. For this reason, the appeals shown in the above table may not match published totals.

Data on the waiting time between appeal lodgement and first hearing and lodgement to final disposal for SEND appeals is not recorded by the Tribunal, which would mean data on the longest waiting time and average waiting time could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison rules were broken by prisoners in HMP Belmarsh in the last two years.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time between grant of permission to appeal and final disposal in the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The information requested is not held centrally.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the number of cases outstanding in the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) was at the end of each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The information requested is not held centrally.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, of appeals in which the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) found a material error of law, what the number (a) remitted to the First-tier Tribunal for rehearing and (b) re-decided by the Upper Tribunal itself was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The information requested is not held centrally.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, of appeals disposed of in the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), what the number in which the Upper Tribunal found a material error of law in the First-tier Tribunal decision was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The information requested is not held centrally.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total number of appeals disposed of in the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The information requested is not held centrally.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total number of appeals disposed of in the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The information requested is not held centrally.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total number of appeals disposed of in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held, broken down by benefit type including (i) Personal Independence Payment, (ii) Employment and Support Allowance and (iii) Universal Credit, and by outcome: (A) allowed, (B) dismissed, (C) withdrawn and (D) otherwise disposed.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Data are not held centrally for analysis and reporting purposes on how many appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) (SSCS) which are outstanding and awaiting a hearing had a listing for a hearing, and those which did not; and the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and first listing of appeals.

Data on the total number of PIP, ESA and UC appeals outstanding and awaiting a hearing in SSCS in each month between July 2024 and March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available are set out in the table below:

1 In January 2026, a data quality issue was identified affecting open caseload for SSCS, with caseload being potentially over-reported by ~5k cases. This is currently being investigated.

2 The open caseload counts for SSCS reflects what is held on the database at the time of extraction. This means that the open caseload is not a simple summation of the previous month’s open caseload figures with receipts and disposals.

3 Includes cases which are ready to be listed or listed for hearing.

4 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

5 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

Data on the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and final disposal for appeals in SSCS is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmcts-management-information

Data on the number of PIP, ESA and UC disposals, together with whether they were allowed or dismissed is published at Tribunals statistics - GOV.UK. Data on whether they were withdrawn or otherwise disposed of is set out in the table below:

1 Withdrawn:withdrawn at hearing and appeals withdrawn prior to hearing

2 Other disposals: disposals lapsed, struck-out and other disposals.

3 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

4 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

From April 2023, the SSCS Tribunal started to list cases using a new scheduling and listing solution. This, alongside HMCTS migrating to a new strategic data platform, has resulted in some cases heard and decided using this new listing solution not currently being included in the data above.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeals were disposed of in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) broken down by benefit type including (a) Personal Independence Payment, (b) Employment and Support Allowance and (c) Universal Credit, and by (i) allowed, (ii) dismissed, (iii) withdrawn and (iv) otherwise disposed in each financial year from 2021-22.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Data are not held centrally for analysis and reporting purposes on how many appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) (SSCS) which are outstanding and awaiting a hearing had a listing for a hearing, and those which did not; and the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and first listing of appeals.

Data on the total number of PIP, ESA and UC appeals outstanding and awaiting a hearing in SSCS in each month between July 2024 and March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available are set out in the table below:

1 In January 2026, a data quality issue was identified affecting open caseload for SSCS, with caseload being potentially over-reported by ~5k cases. This is currently being investigated.

2 The open caseload counts for SSCS reflects what is held on the database at the time of extraction. This means that the open caseload is not a simple summation of the previous month’s open caseload figures with receipts and disposals.

3 Includes cases which are ready to be listed or listed for hearing.

4 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

5 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

Data on the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and final disposal for appeals in SSCS is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmcts-management-information

Data on the number of PIP, ESA and UC disposals, together with whether they were allowed or dismissed is published at Tribunals statistics - GOV.UK. Data on whether they were withdrawn or otherwise disposed of is set out in the table below:

1 Withdrawn:withdrawn at hearing and appeals withdrawn prior to hearing

2 Other disposals: disposals lapsed, struck-out and other disposals.

3 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

4 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

From April 2023, the SSCS Tribunal started to list cases using a new scheduling and listing solution. This, alongside HMCTS migrating to a new strategic data platform, has resulted in some cases heard and decided using this new listing solution not currently being included in the data above.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the number of (a) matter starts and (b) certificates opened for appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The requested information is not centrally held.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total legal aid expenditure on appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which outturn figures are held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The requested information is not centrally held.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many additional court sitting days they plan to add as a result of the impact of the Renters Rights Act and the Employment Rights Act.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) confirmed in February 2026 the sitting day allocations and funding envelope for His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service for the period 2025-26 to 2028-29, including high allocations for the First-tier Tribunals Courts and Tribunals: Sitting Day Allocations - Hansard - UK Parliament. In the Employment Tribunal the allocation shows an expected increase of 1,420 sitting days in 2027-28 and 3,380 in 2028-29 over a baseline of 32,590 sitting days in 2026-27.

In the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal the MoJ continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure that the Chamber has the capacity to manage any additional demand following commencement of the Renters’ Rights Act on 1 May 2026. This includes provision of sufficient sitting days to deal with increased case volumes. We have also concluded that there is a case for the use of a non-judicial alternative body or mechanism to make initial rent determinations, subject to completing a full viability assessment of this. We are working with partners across government to develop this rent determination function as quickly as possible.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total legal aid expenditure on immigration and asylum appeals in (a) the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) and (b) the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) combined was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which outturn figures are held, broken down by (i) controlled legal representation and (ii) licensed work.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Total legal aid expenditure on immigration and aysulm appeals in the First-tier and Upper Tribunals is set out in the table below.

The number of certificates opened for immigration and asylum appeals is set out in the table below.

Due to the way in which data is recorded on Legal Aid Systems it is not possible to disaggregate number of Controlled Work matter starts for immigration and asylum appeals before the First-tier and Upper Tribunals from other Controlled Work matter starts in the immigration and asylum category.

Legal aid for immigration and asylum cases is primarily provided as Controlled Work. Controlled Work covers the provision of legal advice and representation before the First-tier Tribunal and certain work before the Upper Tribunal.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the number of (a) controlled work matter starts and (b) licensed work certificates opened for immigration and asylum appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) and the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) combined was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Total legal aid expenditure on immigration and aysulm appeals in the First-tier and Upper Tribunals is set out in the table below.

The number of certificates opened for immigration and asylum appeals is set out in the table below.

Due to the way in which data is recorded on Legal Aid Systems it is not possible to disaggregate number of Controlled Work matter starts for immigration and asylum appeals before the First-tier and Upper Tribunals from other Controlled Work matter starts in the immigration and asylum category.

Legal aid for immigration and asylum cases is primarily provided as Controlled Work. Controlled Work covers the provision of legal advice and representation before the First-tier Tribunal and certain work before the Upper Tribunal.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeals outstanding and awaiting a hearing in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) did not have a listing, in each month from July 2024 to the most recent month for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Data are not held centrally for analysis and reporting purposes on how many appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) (SSCS) which are outstanding and awaiting a hearing had a listing for a hearing, and those which did not; and the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and first listing of appeals.

Data on the total number of PIP, ESA and UC appeals outstanding and awaiting a hearing in SSCS in each month between July 2024 and March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available are set out in the table below:

1 In January 2026, a data quality issue was identified affecting open caseload for SSCS, with caseload being potentially over-reported by ~5k cases. This is currently being investigated.

2 The open caseload counts for SSCS reflects what is held on the database at the time of extraction. This means that the open caseload is not a simple summation of the previous month’s open caseload figures with receipts and disposals.

3 Includes cases which are ready to be listed or listed for hearing.

4 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

5 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

Data on the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and final disposal for appeals in SSCS is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmcts-management-information

Data on the number of PIP, ESA and UC disposals, together with whether they were allowed or dismissed is published at Tribunals statistics - GOV.UK. Data on whether they were withdrawn or otherwise disposed of is set out in the table below:

1 Withdrawn:withdrawn at hearing and appeals withdrawn prior to hearing

2 Other disposals: disposals lapsed, struck-out and other disposals.

3 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

4 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

From April 2023, the SSCS Tribunal started to list cases using a new scheduling and listing solution. This, alongside HMCTS migrating to a new strategic data platform, has resulted in some cases heard and decided using this new listing solution not currently being included in the data above.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeals outstanding and awaiting a hearing in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) had a listing for a hearing, in each month from July 2024 to the most recent month for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Data are not held centrally for analysis and reporting purposes on how many appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) (SSCS) which are outstanding and awaiting a hearing had a listing for a hearing, and those which did not; and the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and first listing of appeals.

Data on the total number of PIP, ESA and UC appeals outstanding and awaiting a hearing in SSCS in each month between July 2024 and March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available are set out in the table below:

1 In January 2026, a data quality issue was identified affecting open caseload for SSCS, with caseload being potentially over-reported by ~5k cases. This is currently being investigated.

2 The open caseload counts for SSCS reflects what is held on the database at the time of extraction. This means that the open caseload is not a simple summation of the previous month’s open caseload figures with receipts and disposals.

3 Includes cases which are ready to be listed or listed for hearing.

4 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

5 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

Data on the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and final disposal for appeals in SSCS is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmcts-management-information

Data on the number of PIP, ESA and UC disposals, together with whether they were allowed or dismissed is published at Tribunals statistics - GOV.UK. Data on whether they were withdrawn or otherwise disposed of is set out in the table below:

1 Withdrawn:withdrawn at hearing and appeals withdrawn prior to hearing

2 Other disposals: disposals lapsed, struck-out and other disposals.

3 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

4 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

From April 2023, the SSCS Tribunal started to list cases using a new scheduling and listing solution. This, alongside HMCTS migrating to a new strategic data platform, has resulted in some cases heard and decided using this new listing solution not currently being included in the data above.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and first listing for appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) was in each month from July 2024 to the most recent month for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Data are not held centrally for analysis and reporting purposes on how many appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) (SSCS) which are outstanding and awaiting a hearing had a listing for a hearing, and those which did not; and the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and first listing of appeals.

Data on the total number of PIP, ESA and UC appeals outstanding and awaiting a hearing in SSCS in each month between July 2024 and March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available are set out in the table below:

1 In January 2026, a data quality issue was identified affecting open caseload for SSCS, with caseload being potentially over-reported by ~5k cases. This is currently being investigated.

2 The open caseload counts for SSCS reflects what is held on the database at the time of extraction. This means that the open caseload is not a simple summation of the previous month’s open caseload figures with receipts and disposals.

3 Includes cases which are ready to be listed or listed for hearing.

4 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

5 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

Data on the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and final disposal for appeals in SSCS is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmcts-management-information

Data on the number of PIP, ESA and UC disposals, together with whether they were allowed or dismissed is published at Tribunals statistics - GOV.UK. Data on whether they were withdrawn or otherwise disposed of is set out in the table below:

1 Withdrawn:withdrawn at hearing and appeals withdrawn prior to hearing

2 Other disposals: disposals lapsed, struck-out and other disposals.

3 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

4 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

From April 2023, the SSCS Tribunal started to list cases using a new scheduling and listing solution. This, alongside HMCTS migrating to a new strategic data platform, has resulted in some cases heard and decided using this new listing solution not currently being included in the data above.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and final disposal for appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) was, in each month from July 2024 to the most recent month for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Data are not held centrally for analysis and reporting purposes on how many appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) (SSCS) which are outstanding and awaiting a hearing had a listing for a hearing, and those which did not; and the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and first listing of appeals.

Data on the total number of PIP, ESA and UC appeals outstanding and awaiting a hearing in SSCS in each month between July 2024 and March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available are set out in the table below:

1 In January 2026, a data quality issue was identified affecting open caseload for SSCS, with caseload being potentially over-reported by ~5k cases. This is currently being investigated.

2 The open caseload counts for SSCS reflects what is held on the database at the time of extraction. This means that the open caseload is not a simple summation of the previous month’s open caseload figures with receipts and disposals.

3 Includes cases which are ready to be listed or listed for hearing.

4 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

5 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

Data on the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and final disposal for appeals in SSCS is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmcts-management-information

Data on the number of PIP, ESA and UC disposals, together with whether they were allowed or dismissed is published at Tribunals statistics - GOV.UK. Data on whether they were withdrawn or otherwise disposed of is set out in the table below:

1 Withdrawn:withdrawn at hearing and appeals withdrawn prior to hearing

2 Other disposals: disposals lapsed, struck-out and other disposals.

3 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

4 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

From April 2023, the SSCS Tribunal started to list cases using a new scheduling and listing solution. This, alongside HMCTS migrating to a new strategic data platform, has resulted in some cases heard and decided using this new listing solution not currently being included in the data above.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total number of appeals outstanding and awaiting a hearing in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) was in each month from July 2024 to the most recent month for which data is held, broken down by benefit type including (a) Personal Independence Payment, (b) Employment and Support Allowance and (c) Universal Credit.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Data are not held centrally for analysis and reporting purposes on how many appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) (SSCS) which are outstanding and awaiting a hearing had a listing for a hearing, and those which did not; and the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and first listing of appeals.

Data on the total number of PIP, ESA and UC appeals outstanding and awaiting a hearing in SSCS in each month between July 2024 and March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available are set out in the table below:

1 In January 2026, a data quality issue was identified affecting open caseload for SSCS, with caseload being potentially over-reported by ~5k cases. This is currently being investigated.

2 The open caseload counts for SSCS reflects what is held on the database at the time of extraction. This means that the open caseload is not a simple summation of the previous month’s open caseload figures with receipts and disposals.

3 Includes cases which are ready to be listed or listed for hearing.

4 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

5 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

Data on the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and final disposal for appeals in SSCS is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmcts-management-information

Data on the number of PIP, ESA and UC disposals, together with whether they were allowed or dismissed is published at Tribunals statistics - GOV.UK. Data on whether they were withdrawn or otherwise disposed of is set out in the table below:

1 Withdrawn:withdrawn at hearing and appeals withdrawn prior to hearing

2 Other disposals: disposals lapsed, struck-out and other disposals.

3 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

4 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

From April 2023, the SSCS Tribunal started to list cases using a new scheduling and listing solution. This, alongside HMCTS migrating to a new strategic data platform, has resulted in some cases heard and decided using this new listing solution not currently being included in the data above.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total legal aid expenditure on special educational needs and disability appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which outturn figures are held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Legal aid expenditure on special educational needs and disability appeals is set out in the table below. Please note that in addition to appeals before First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) the table may also include legal aid for appeals before the Education Tribunal for Wales.

Information about the number of Licensed Work certificates granted in respect of special educational needs and disability appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) is not centrally held. Only advice and assistance under legal help is available for appeals which fall within the scope of civil legal aid, and this work is conducted under Controlled Work not Licensed Work. Licensed Work certificates for legal representation may be granted in respect of special educational needs and disability appeals funded under Exceptional Case Funding.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the number of licensed work certificates opened for special educational needs and disability appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Legal aid expenditure on special educational needs and disability appeals is set out in the table below. Please note that in addition to appeals before First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) the table may also include legal aid for appeals before the Education Tribunal for Wales.

Information about the number of Licensed Work certificates granted in respect of special educational needs and disability appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) is not centrally held. Only advice and assistance under legal help is available for appeals which fall within the scope of civil legal aid, and this work is conducted under Controlled Work not Licensed Work. Licensed Work certificates for legal representation may be granted in respect of special educational needs and disability appeals funded under Exceptional Case Funding.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the number of Exceptional Case Funding applications (a) made, (b) granted and (c) refused in respect of Employment Tribunal claims was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The requested information is not centrally held.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total Exceptional Case Funding expenditure on Employment Tribunal claims was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which outturn figures are held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The requested information is not centrally held.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, a) what impact the 2025 cyber-attack on the Legal Aid Agency has had on data collection and publication, and b) what his Department is doing in response.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

As a precaution following the identification of the criminal attack on the Legal Aid Agency’s (LAA) digital portal, some of the LAA’s digital services were taken offline. This constrained the LAA’s ability to centrally collect and report on data across all legal aid schemes. During the period where digital services were offline, data continued to be collected, where possible, using manual processes for data which would ordinarily be collected via digital systems.

Official Statistics for quarters one and two of 2025-2026 were delayed in publication due to insufficient data availabilty at that time. The quarterly publication of official statistics resumed on 26 March 2026, publishing available data up to December 2025. The most recent publication of Official Statistics covering data up to March 2026 can be accessed here https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2026.

There remain some gaps in the published data series due to replacement of digital systems, which are being addressed. Additional functionality is being implemented in new systems to enable publication of Legal Help and Mediation matter starts, and the LAA are exploring alternative sources for the data for High Cost Crime expenditure. Our aim is to add those series that are currently unavailable to future releases, including information for previous periods.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the longest recorded waiting time from lodgement to disposal in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) was in each financial year from 2021-22 to the most recent financial year for which data is held.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) comprises three separate tribunal jurisdictions: Social Security and Child Support (SSCS); Criminal Injuries Compensation (CIC); and Asylum Support (AST).

The data requested for CIC and AST are not held centrally for analysis and reporting purposes. The data requested for SSCS is set out below:

1.From April 2023 the SSCS Tribunal started to list cases using a new Scheduling and Listing solution. This, alongside HMCTS migrating to a new Strategic Data Platform, has resulted in some cases heard and decided using this new listing solution not currently being included in the data.

2.A small number of cases have been removed from the dataset used to calculate the longest cases as these dates have been found to have input errors, and the case did not take as long as has been recorded in the system.

The longest waiting times provided in this Answer are outliers and include cases which were stayed pending the outcome of a decision of the Supreme Court; and very complex cases which have been appealed (up to three times) to the Upper Tribunal, and then remitted to the First-tier for re-hearing. The mean waiting time in 2025/6 in SSCS was 35 weeks. As a result of this Government’s inheritance, there has been a focus over the last year on clearing older cases which will, in the short term, result in an increase in the average waiting time, as illustrated by the fact that in 2024/5, the mean waiting time was 32 weeks.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much has the Department spent on influencers in aggregate since 4 July 2024; and on which campaigns and programmes.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

Since 4 July 2024 to 4 July 2026, the Ministry of Justice has spent £176,140 on influencer activity.

This expenditure has supported business-critical and priority campaigns, including recruitment campaigns for essential frontline roles across His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the magistracy, as well as public information campaigns to help citizens understand their rights and community sentencing.

The Department uses influencer activity in line with Government Communication Service best practice to work with content creators who can help us achieve our communications objectives. Given their reach and the trusted relationships they have with their audiences, this can be a cost-effective and impactful communications channel for reaching target audiences in support of operational priorities.

None of this expenditure relates to content featuring Ministers or the Deputy Prime Minister, nor has the Department paid influencers to create content with Ministers / DPM or attend ministerial engagements or events.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has provided funding to sharia councils in the past 2 years.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Sharia councils do not form any part of the justice system in England and Wales. The Ministry of Justice has not provided any funding to sharia councils in the past two years.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date Sir Andy Cooke will publish his final report on the Inspection of police forces’ contributions to safety advisory groups.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is independent of Government.

The inspection of police inputs to Safety Advisory Groups is being undertaken independently by His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. A publication date for the final report has not yet been confirmed. We expect it to be published in summer 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, regarding the IOPC investigation into the banning of Maccabi fans, a) when the terms of reference will be published, and b) when the investigation will report.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is independent of Government.

The inspection of police inputs to Safety Advisory Groups is being undertaken independently by His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. A publication date for the final report has not yet been confirmed. We expect it to be published in summer 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the IOPC on its investigation into the banning of Maccabi fans.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is independent of Government.

The inspection of police inputs to Safety Advisory Groups is being undertaken independently by His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. A publication date for the final report has not yet been confirmed. We expect it to be published in summer 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to revise her plans to house asylum seekers at RAF Barnham close to Barnham Church of England VC Primary School.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Several former military sites are being used or are being considered as temporary accommodation for people who have claimed asylum.

Where new sites are being considered or changes to existing sites use are proposed, such as extending occupation or increasing capacity, no final decision will be taken until the necessary assessments, planning permissions and approvals have been completed and properly considered.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made representations to his counterpart in the US Government on the case of Sarah Steele and the use of a military trial at RAF Lakenheath for her case.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Halving violence against women and girls is a decade-long mission for this Government. This case is extremely concerning and our thoughts are with the victim, and with the other victims whose experiences have subsequently come to light. Given the cross-agency nature of this case, officials are working across Government to establish the full facts, and FCDO engagement with the US authorities will form part of that work. We are also reviewing what guidance is in place for the police on this type of incident. We will not hesitate to act where victims are being let down.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress has been made on establishing a dedicated helpline to provide a new route for victims to request information through the Victims and Courts Act 2026, and when the helpline will open.

Answered by Catherine Atkinson

The Government is committed to delivering a new route for victims to request information about their offender as soon as practicable, and we are working with operational partners to ensure that implementation of the helpline is trauma-informed and effective. Work is underway and we expect to confirm timelines soon.

Victims eligible and opted into the Victim Contact Scheme will be notified of an offender’s release, in line with existing practice. Supporting victims and ensuring they are informed remains a key priority.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's definition is of Islamic extremism.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

As set out in ‘Protecting What Matters’, we are embedding the 2024 definition of extremism, available at gov.uk, across Government to ensure a consistent understanding of extremism. Alongside this we will be publishing an annual ‘State of Extremism’ report which will arm frontline, public sector workers with the information they need to identify and confront extremism in the UK.

The counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, published in 2023 sets out the Government’s understanding of Islamist terrorism.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to proposals to house asylum seekers at RAF Barnham, what transport services will be provided for the asylum seekers who are housed there.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

No decision has been made in respect of the use of MoD Barnham for asylum accommodation. Suitability assessments are ongoing and will consider a range of factors including safety, security, operational deliverability, and planning requirements and the impact on local services and communities. If the site is taken forward, transport arrangements would be considered as part of operational planning and in discussion with relevant local partners.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to proposals to house asylum seekers at RAF Barnham, whether he plans to provide entertainment services for the asylum seekers housed there.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

No decision has been made in respect of the use of MoD Barnham for asylum accommodation. If taken forward as asylum accommodation, MoD Barnham will provide functional accommodation and would be designed to be as self-sufficient as possible including laundry facilities and communal spaces.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to proposals to house asylum seekers at RAF Barnham, whether the asylum seekers will have access to free medical care and free dentistry services.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

No decision has been made in respect of the use of MoD Barnham for asylum accommodation. If taken forward, extensive efforts will be made to minimise the impact on local health services and provision will be determined in discussion with health partners.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the proposals to house asylum seekers at RAF Barnham, a) what educational classes will be offered to the asylum seekers housed there, and b) whether any of these classes will take place at nearby schools.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

No decision has been made in respect of the use of MoD Barnham for asylum accommodation. If the site is taken forward, any education provision, including where it would be delivered, would be considered as part of the operating model and ongoing suitability assessments.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to proposals to house asylum seekers at RAF Barnham, what steps he plans to take to help ensure the safety of women and girls in the area.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The Government recognises Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) as a national priority and remains committed to reducing incidents through policing, prevention, and safeguarding measures. If the site is taken forward, the safety and security of local communities, staff and those accommodated on site would be of the utmost importance, with appropriate security arrangements developed in close engagement with local police and partners.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the proposals to house asylum seekers at RAF Barnham, whether any asylum seekers convicted or charged with sexual offences will be housed there.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Mandatory security checks are conducted on all people seeking asylum through linking their biometric data to immigration, security, and criminality databases. This includes criminality checks for, amongst other things, convictions, pending prosecutions, wanted or missing reports, as well as fingerprints and photographs. These checks are critical to the delivery of a safe and secure immigration system.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, to provide a list of books available to prisoners in the library at HMP Highpoint, HMP Belmarsh, HMP Manchester, and HMP Wormwood Scrubs.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

As the library services at HMP Belmarsh, HMP Manchester and HMP Wormwood Scrubs are contracted out to the local authority, the library catalogues for those prisons are not held by the Ministry of Justice.

The catalogue for HMP Highpoint is attached.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will provide a breakdown of the religion of the prison population by ethnicity.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The requested information is provided in the following table.

Question to the Ministry of Justice: