Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of delayed pay awards on staff morale, workload and retention in the Probation Service.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
We recognise that fair and competitive pay is a key part of supporting and retaining our valued probation workforce.
Staff retention and morale is vitally important to us, and we continuously monitor staff workload and retention. The first Recruitment and Retention Strategy was published in 2021. Since its launch, the Strategy has delivered a range of initiatives aimed at increasing recruitment and improving retention across the Probation Service. A full evaluation of the strategy was undertaken to measure progress and identify further areas for future improvement in the recruitment and retention space.
The latest retention data can be found in the HMPPS Official Workforce Statistics which were published on 19 November 2025: HM Prison & Probation Service workforce quarterly: September 2025 - GOV.UK. As these statistics show, the leaving rate for staff in the Probation Service has decreased.
We have taken steps to acknowledge the continued dedication of staff during this challenging period. As part of this, we secured agreement to pay the Competency-Based Framework progression payments, as an interim award, to eligible staff in June 2025. This recognises their vital contribution to delivering on our operational priorities.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when staff working in HMPPS Probation Services will receive their pay award for 2025–26; and for what reason it has not been implemented.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
We recognise that fair and competitive pay is a key part of supporting and retaining our valued probation workforce. We continue to work to deliver on the 2025-26 pay awards for Probation Staff who are members of the Civil Service. We could not start the process until the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance was published on 22 May 2025, and since then we have worked hard to develop options and are now seeking the necessary approvals to move to the next part of the process which is to start formal negotiations with the trade unions and work towards making a final offer.
In the meantime, we have taken steps to acknowledge the continued dedication of staff during this challenging period. As part of this, we secured agreement to pay the Competency-Based Framework (CBF) progression payments, as an interim award, to eligible staff in June 2025. This recognises their vital contribution to delivering on our operational priorities.
Once the pay award has been determined it will be back dated to April 2025 for eligible staff.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that increased workloads among HMPPS Probation staff are matched by appropriate pay and support.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
We have taken immediate steps to reduce probation workload where possible. “Probation Reset” was fully implemented on 1 July 2024, followed by the introduction of “Impact” on 28 April 2025. These initiatives are among several designed to alleviate workload pressures by refocusing resources to manage those on probation more efficiently.
Further to these immediate steps, the Our Future Probation Service Programme has been established which aims to ensure that workloads for probation staff are sustainable by deploying new technologies, reforming processes, and ensuring prioritisation of probation staff time. We are committed to supporting the wellbeing of staff by ensuring workloads are sustainable.
I recognise the ongoing workload pressures on the Probation Service and supporting staff wellbeing and safety is critical for us. To address this, a new wellbeing support model has been established across HMPPS, with staff support and well-being leads for both prison and probation.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an estimate of the number of mobile infrastructure litigation cases that have been processed via the Upper Tribunal Lands Chamber following changes to the Electronic Communications Code 2017; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact on caseloads of changes to be introduced via the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The information relating to the number of mobile infrastructure litigation cases that have been processed via the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) is not centrally recorded and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
We continue to monitor and review demand and work closely with the judiciary and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in respect of the impact of caseloads under the Product Security and telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.