Ministry of Justice

Salaried judges are expected to commit a number of days to judicial business rather than a required number of working hours. Consequently, fees are based on judicial business days, including half or quarter parts thereof, where appropriate.

In 2023, the Ministry of Justice consulted the judiciary on proposals to align judicial fees in the Tribunals. The Government’s response (published on the judicial intranet) set out that hourly payments would be more administratively burdensome but would also have implications for judicial independence given it is a judicial function to manage how time is used.

His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has robust measures in place to reduce the risk of radicalisation in its estate, including specialist staff training, monitoring of communications, targeted interventions and management through a specialist multi-agency process.

In June 2026, the Ministry of Justice announced an additional £35 million investment in physical security measures, to stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons and mobile telephones into prisons. It is also working with UK Research and Innovation, which has committed £6.5 million to accelerate counter-drone research and development.

HMPPS continues to work closely with police forces to protect the prison and probation service estates from terrorist and security threats.

The academic Peer Review process is already underway. Once reports have been finalised in the new year following peer review, publication will commence.

Alcohol Monitoring Abstinence Requirement was introduced in courts as part of a Community Sentence in Wales in October 2020 and England in March 2021. The Alcohol Monitoring on Licence scheme was fully introduced in Wales in November 2021 and England in June 2022.

The Alcohol Monitoring on Licence: Process and Interim Impact Evaluation was published on 30 October 2025. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-monitoring-on-licence-process-and-interim-impact-evaluation. A further impact evaluation will be published late 2027. This will consider the longer-term outcome measure ‘reoffending’, which considers behaviour change after the order has ended for some individuals.

Compliance is strong and our published statistics show that, in June 2026, 98.3% of days on alcohol monitoring were sober days: Electronic Monitoring Statistics Publication, England and Wales: June 2026 - GOV.UK

We remain committed to ensuring that the prison estate can meet future capacity requirements and are progressing work to identify and assess potential sites for future prison development.

Decisions on future investment in land acquisition, including the allocation of funding through to 2029/30, will be informed by the outcome of ongoing feasibility and due diligence.

The Adjudications Policy Framework must operate in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and seek to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

The information on the proportion of prisoners in each ethnic group who were subject to an adjudication is not centrally held. Providing a robust and meaningful assessment of the distribution of adjudications across ethnic groups among all prisoners held during this period would require development of new analysis across multiple datasets and the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

However, regular statistics are published on adjudication outcomes, broken down by ethnicity, in our quarterly Offender Management Statistics. These figures relate to the number of adjudication outcomes, rather than the number of individual prisoners who received an adjudication: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/offender-management-statistics-quarterly. Information on the representation of different ethnic groups within the prison population is also regularly published within this release, for context to these statistics.

The Adjudications Policy Framework must operate in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and seek to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

The information on the proportion of prisoners in each ethnic group who were subject to an adjudication is not centrally held. Providing a robust and meaningful assessment of the distribution of adjudications across ethnic groups among all prisoners held during this period would require development of new analysis across multiple datasets and the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

However, regular statistics are published on adjudication outcomes, broken down by ethnicity, in our quarterly Offender Management Statistics. These figures relate to the number of adjudication outcomes, rather than the number of individual prisoners who received an adjudication: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/offender-management-statistics-quarterly. Information on the representation of different ethnic groups within the prison population is also regularly published within this release, for context to these statistics.

The information requested could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

Jury service is an important civic duty, and the Government is committed to ensuring jurors feel supported throughout their service.

Jurors do not receive direct payment for jury service but may claim allowances towards financial loss – albeit there has been no recent assessment or current plans to align juror travel and subsistence allowances with current government rates or to revise loss-of-earnings allowances to reflect increases in the National Minimum Wage. All support to jurors is kept under review to ensure it remains appropriate and accessible.

However, courts may be able to arrange to pay expenses during the trial if a juror is facing financial hardship. Applications for a deferral or excusal based upon financial hardship can also be made when summoned.

The legal profession in England and Wales, together with its regulators, operates independently of Government. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is responsible for regulating the professional conduct of solicitors and most law firms in England and Wales, with oversight from the Legal Services Board (LSB). The SRA has powers to protect clients' interests when a regulated law firm ceases trading, including by intervening to secure client files and money and appointing an intervention agent.

The SRA intervened in PM Law Ltd and associated firms (including PM Property Lawyers) on 4 February 2026 and appointed Gordons LLP as intervention agent. Gordons has contacted affected clients, prioritised urgent requests and helped them access their files. The SRA has published guidance for affected clients (https://www.sra.org.uk/news/news/pm-law-intervention/) to help them find alternative representation and progress their cases. It has also taken steps to return client money, while eligible clients may apply to its discretionary Compensation Fund.

Following the closure of PM Law Ltd and associated firms, I met the Chief Executive of the SRA on 12 February to seek assurances on the steps being taken to protect affected clients, including the return of client money. My officials and I continue to engage with both the SRA and LSB on the action being taken in response, including on the lessons learnt and steps being taken to strengthen consumer protection and maintain public confidence in legal services regulation.

This Government is taking decisive action to revive our criminal court system to reduce delays and the impact they have on all victims, including those of child sexual abuse and sexual offences.

We are investing heavily in Crown Court capacity, court infrastructure, uncapped sitting days, technology and legal aid. And we are driving greater efficiency in the courts through measures such as responsible AI innovation, case coordinators for every Crown Court centre, and close collaboration with the judiciary on their reforms to listing practices and virtual hearings guidance.

We have also brought forward structural reforms via the Courts and Tribunals Bill which is currently before Parliament. Measures in the Bill are designed to reduce demand on the Crown Court, protect children and modernise our court system. These measures will mean that more serious cases, including child sexual abuse and other sexual offences, can be heard.

We are delivering a package of measures to ensure that victims of rape and sexual offences experience better, more tailored support and fewer delays. Backed by a £23 million investment, these measures will ensure every single Crown Court building in England and Wales has at least one specialist rape and serious sexual offence courtroom by 2028. Alongside this, we will establish a new Rape Justice Taskforce, chaired by the Lord Chancellor, bringing together leaders from across criminal justice system to directly tackle the rising rate of postponed rape trials and confront the rape myths that cause victims to withdraw from their own cases.

The judiciary has also published a new national listing framework, which makes explicit for the first time that rape and other sexual offence cases, including those involving children, should be prioritised.

We are also taking forward a range of measures to improve the experience of these victims through the criminal justice system. This includes introducing independent legal advisors for adult rape victims, rolling out trauma-informed training to all court staff, and delivering legislative reforms to protect victims, particularly victims of sexual offences, from unnecessary and intrusive cross-examination about their personal lives at court. The Ministry of Justice has also committed £550 million to victim support services over the next three years.

Alongside wider support measures, pre-recorded cross-examination (section 28) can help reduce the impact of delays by enabling victims to give evidence earlier. The Ministry of Justice’s 2025 section 28 impact evaluation found that, between January 2019 and September 2022, the measure reduced the time between an alleged offence and cross-examination by around five months.

Primary legislation is not required to enforce the offence exclusions, which have been implemented using secondary legislation.

A full list of exclusions can be found here: Sentencing Act 2026 offence exclusions - GOV.UK.

The Government recognises that women leaving prison can face distinct and interconnected barriers to securing accommodation, including experiences of domestic abuse and trauma, mental health or substance misuse needs, financial insecurity and caring responsibilities. These factors can make safe, appropriate and sustainable accommodation particularly important to women’s resettlement. Stable accommodation supports effective resettlement and reduces the risk of re-offending.

A minimum of 10% of places across the Community Accommodation Service are allocated to women, in women-only properties. Strategic Housing Specialists also work across the women’s estate with probation teams, Homelessness Prevention Teams and local authorities to identify needs early and improve access to appropriate accommodation before release.

Through the National Plan to End Homelessness, the Government has made a commitment to halving the proportion of prison leavers under probation supervision released with no fixed abode by the end of this Parliament. Regional and local data are published to support action to improve consistency and address geographical variation.

We will continue to invest in integrating digital community accommodation services, to make it easier to identify and match individuals to the right housing support and accommodation at the right time. We will also continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and other Government Departments, to develop a strong foundation from which we can work together to end homelessness.

The Government recognises that women leaving prison can face distinct and interconnected barriers to securing accommodation, including experiences of domestic abuse and trauma, mental health or substance misuse needs, financial insecurity and caring responsibilities. These factors can make safe, appropriate and sustainable accommodation particularly important to women’s resettlement. Stable accommodation supports effective resettlement and reduces the risk of re-offending.

A minimum of 10% of places across the Community Accommodation Service are allocated to women, in women-only properties. Strategic Housing Specialists also work across the women’s estate with probation teams, Homelessness Prevention Teams and local authorities to identify needs early and improve access to appropriate accommodation before release.

Through the National Plan to End Homelessness, the Government has made a commitment to halving the proportion of prison leavers under probation supervision released with no fixed abode by the end of this Parliament. Regional and local data are published to support action to improve consistency and address geographical variation.

We will continue to invest in integrating digital community accommodation services, to make it easier to identify and match individuals to the right housing support and accommodation at the right time. We will also continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and other Government Departments, to develop a strong foundation from which we can work together to end homelessness.

The Government recognises that women leaving prison can face distinct and interconnected barriers to securing accommodation, including experiences of domestic abuse and trauma, mental health or substance misuse needs, financial insecurity and caring responsibilities. These factors can make safe, appropriate and sustainable accommodation particularly important to women’s resettlement. Stable accommodation supports effective resettlement and reduces the risk of re-offending.

A minimum of 10% of places across the Community Accommodation Service are allocated to women, in women-only properties. Strategic Housing Specialists also work across the women’s estate with probation teams, Homelessness Prevention Teams and local authorities to identify needs early and improve access to appropriate accommodation before release.

Through the National Plan to End Homelessness, the Government has made a commitment to halving the proportion of prison leavers under probation supervision released with no fixed abode by the end of this Parliament. Regional and local data are published to support action to improve consistency and address geographical variation.

We will continue to invest in integrating digital community accommodation services, to make it easier to identify and match individuals to the right housing support and accommodation at the right time. We will also continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and other Government Departments, to develop a strong foundation from which we can work together to end homelessness.

Supervision orders are used in cases where compulsory hospitalisation are deemed unnecessary by the court, but some ongoing support and oversight are required in the community. The legislation provides for supervision by a social worker or probation offices.

Being subject to a Supervision Order does not in itself qualify an individual for management under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). Where an individual is subject to the relevant notification requirements, they may also qualify for MAPPA management independently of the Supervision Order.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold data on the number of Supervision Orders revoked or amended due to non-compliance.

As we discussed in our recent meeting, the Government recognises the law on unfitness to plead needs to be updated. We are considering how to implement reforms proposed by the Law Commission including those which will extend the range of disposals and provide more effective powers to protect victims and the public in these cases.

Supervision orders are used in cases where compulsory hospitalisation are deemed unnecessary by the court, but some ongoing support and oversight are required in the community. The legislation provides for supervision by a social worker or probation offices.

Being subject to a Supervision Order does not in itself qualify an individual for management under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). Where an individual is subject to the relevant notification requirements, they may also qualify for MAPPA management independently of the Supervision Order.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold data on the number of Supervision Orders revoked or amended due to non-compliance.

As we discussed in our recent meeting, the Government recognises the law on unfitness to plead needs to be updated. We are considering how to implement reforms proposed by the Law Commission including those which will extend the range of disposals and provide more effective powers to protect victims and the public in these cases.

Supervision orders are used in cases where compulsory hospitalisation are deemed unnecessary by the court, but some ongoing support and oversight are required in the community. The legislation provides for supervision by a social worker or probation offices.

Being subject to a Supervision Order does not in itself qualify an individual for management under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). Where an individual is subject to the relevant notification requirements, they may also qualify for MAPPA management independently of the Supervision Order.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold data on the number of Supervision Orders revoked or amended due to non-compliance.

As we discussed in our recent meeting, the Government recognises the law on unfitness to plead needs to be updated. We are considering how to implement reforms proposed by the Law Commission including those which will extend the range of disposals and provide more effective powers to protect victims and the public in these cases.

The information requested is not held.

Available records prior to 2010 are insufficient to provide a breakdown by prison of additional prison capacity created between 1997 and 2010, or the number of prison places closed during this period.

The information requested is not held.

Available records prior to 2010 are insufficient to provide a breakdown by prison of additional prison capacity created between 1997 and 2010, or the number of prison places closed during this period.

Operational capacity figures for individual prisons are published as part of the Ministry of Justice’s monthly prison population statistics, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prison-population-monthly-prison-figures-2026.

The health and safety of prisoners and staff is our first priority. Since 2022, extensive efforts have been made to assess occurrence of radon in the prison estate, and to implement any mitigation measures identified as necessary following investigations conducted under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017.

The Health & Safety Executive announced its intention to initiate Crown Censure proceedings in May this year. As those proceedings have yet to conclude, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.

The health and safety of prisoners and staff is our first priority. Since 2022, extensive efforts have been made to assess occurrence of radon in the prison estate, and to implement any mitigation measures identified as necessary following investigations conducted under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017.

The Health & Safety Executive announced its intention to initiate Crown Censure proceedings in May this year. As those proceedings have yet to conclude, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.

Information about the number of legal aid providers which submitted a tender for an inquest category of law contract specification is due to be published on 6 November 2026. Once published the information will be accessible here on GOV.UK here: news - News and communications - GOV.UK

The Progression model tranche dates and sentence length boundaries are available at: ‘The Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 6 and Revocation) Regulations 2026’.

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill will provide non-means tested legal aid for bereaved families at inquests where a public authority is an interested person. The cost of the legal aid expansion will be met by public authorities, or their central Government department, where they are an interested person at an inquest.

We intend for this to help foster proportionate participation and spending behaviours amongst interested public authorities, including in the use of their own legal representation, at inquests. We have been working closely with Departments to develop this model.

The Ministry of Justice regularly engages with the judiciary on a wide range of issues in relation to the Employment Tribunal. The Ministry of Justice and the Department of Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST) have set up the Dispute Resolution System Taskforce to support the Government in considering options to reform the employment dispute system, so it works better for both workers and businesses. This Taskforce consists of unions, businesses, legal representatives and third sector organisations. DBIST and my Department are currently considering the introduction of a range of measures to encourage early dispute resolution to alleviate pressures on the employment tribunal.

No fees are payable to bring a claim to the Employment Tribunal (ET).

The previous Deputy Prime Minister on 8 October 2025 stated that it will remain free to bring a case to the ET so that everyone, regardless of their means, can stand up for their rights at work.

The Government agrees that this area of the law needs to be updated. The Law Commission reviewed the law on unfitness to plead and the Government has accepted the majority of its recommendations including a modernised legal test, changes to the fact-finding process and wider disposals.

The Government is actively considering how best to take these forward, alongside the defence of insanity which is also being considered by the Law Commission. This is a complex area of law and it is important that any future reforms are considered carefully to ensure that the legislation is coherent, workable and provides protections for defendants, victims and the public.

Firstly, it was constructive to meet with you and your constituent Katherine Prior to discuss your concerns around the law on fitness to plead and the consequences which can flow from a finding that an individual is unfit to plead. As I indicated in the meeting together with my officials, we will revert to you in relation to the important issues which you raised.

Generally speaking, it is important to distinguish the two-year limit of a Supervision Order from other protection measures that may apply in these cases. The end of the two- year period does not by itself determine whether an individual is eligible for management through other public protection frameworks beyond this timeline. Consideration may be given to MAPPA management where the relevant risk criteria are satisfied and probation and Local Authorities are encouraged to work together to provide multi agency support through existing MAPPA arrangements where appropriate.

The Government recognises that the law relating to unfitness to plead needs updating. We are considering how to implement reforms proposed by the Law Commission including those which will extend the range of disposals available to courts and provide more effective powers to protect victims and the public in these cases.

The Ministry of Justice does not currently hold data on the number of Supervision Orders that reach their statutory two-year maximum.

Firstly, it was constructive to meet with you and your constituent Katherine Prior to discuss your concerns around the law on fitness to plead and the consequences which can flow from a finding that an individual is unfit to plead. As I indicated in the meeting together with my officials, we will revert to you in relation to the important issues which you raised.

Generally speaking, it is important to distinguish the two-year limit of a Supervision Order from other protection measures that may apply in these cases. The end of the two- year period does not by itself determine whether an individual is eligible for management through other public protection frameworks beyond this timeline. Consideration may be given to MAPPA management where the relevant risk criteria are satisfied and probation and Local Authorities are encouraged to work together to provide multi agency support through existing MAPPA arrangements where appropriate.

The Government recognises that the law relating to unfitness to plead needs updating. We are considering how to implement reforms proposed by the Law Commission including those which will extend the range of disposals available to courts and provide more effective powers to protect victims and the public in these cases.

The Ministry of Justice does not currently hold data on the number of Supervision Orders that reach their statutory two-year maximum.

Firstly, it was constructive to meet with you and your constituent Katherine Prior to discuss your concerns around the law on fitness to plead and the consequences which can flow from a finding that an individual is unfit to plead. As I indicated in the meeting together with my officials, we will revert to you in relation to the important issues which you raised.

Individuals subject to a Supervision Order can be considered for management under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) where the relevant eligibility and risk criteria are met, but being made subject to a Supervision Order itself does not automatically qualify for MAPPA management.

Accordingly, the expiry of a Supervision Order does not itself determine whether an individual remains subject to MAPPA. The period for which an individual remains under MAPPA depends on the basis on which they qualify for those arrangements, and relevant agencies assess and manage the risk posed through the MAPPA framework.

Firstly, it was constructive to meet with you and your constituent Katherine Prior to discuss your concerns around the law on fitness to plead and the consequences which can flow from a finding that an individual is unfit to plead. As I indicated in the meeting together with my officials, we will revert to you in relation to the important issues which you raised.

Individuals subject to a Supervision Order can be considered for management under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) where the relevant eligibility and risk criteria are met, but being made subject to a Supervision Order itself does not automatically qualify for MAPPA management.

Accordingly, the expiry of a Supervision Order does not itself determine whether an individual remains subject to MAPPA. The period for which an individual remains under MAPPA depends on the basis on which they qualify for those arrangements, and relevant agencies assess and manage the risk posed through the MAPPA framework.

Stable accommodation is key to reducing reoffending. Offenders without accommodation on release have a reoffending rate of almost double that of those in settled accommodation. Ending rough sleeping is a key priority of the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Justice is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to deliver the National Plan to End Homelessness, including a commitment to halve prison leaver homelessness and increase the number of prison leavers in settled accommodation by the end of this Parliament.

We are taking action through our Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 (CAS3), which provides up to 84 nights of temporary accommodation for prison leavers at risk of homelessness. Alongside this, 50 prison-based Strategic Housing Specialists work with probation and local authorities across England and Wales to secure accommodation before release and strengthen pre-release planning.

There are no plans to nationalise the provision of the Prisoner Escort and Custody Service.

We are guided by the evidence of what works to reduce reoffending and are working with partners across Government and at a local level to address the underlying drivers of offending behaviour and improve outcomes for people in custody and on release through better access to treatment and recovery services, prison education, employment support and stable accommodation.

To support recovery from drug and alcohol misuse, we are improving access to mutual aid in prisons. We have also funded Incentivised Substance Free Living units in 88 prisons, where prisoners agree to regular drug testing and can access enhanced opportunities, and will expand these units to a further 12 prisons, bringing the total to 100 across the estate. We have also invested in technology to enable virtual appointments with community treatment providers to support continuity of care on release.

We are also modernising prison education, creating a joined-up system that supports progression from basic literacy and numeracy into skills training and work placements, while widening access to higher education. Alongside this, key employment roles are in place across every resettlement prison to prepare prisoners for work on release, while Regional Employment Councils bring employers together with prisons, probation and DWP to support prison leavers into work.

Through the National Plan to End Homelessness, we are working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to halve the proportion of people released from prison homeless and increase the proportion in settled accommodation three months after release by the end of this Parliament.

Justice Transcribe is an AI tool that summarises conversations between probation officers and people on probation, reducing administrative burden and enabling practitioners to focus more on supervision.

Between 7 October 2025 and 14 September 2026, the tool summarised over 1.6 million meetings. The evidence from the pilot found that for 80% of officers surveyed the tool improved engagement with the people they supervise but the additional contact time has not been directly measured.

While we have not measured direct impact on caseloads, HMPPS forecasts that Justice Transcribe will release practitioner capacity and free up time equivalent to around 470 full-time staff and support per annum, enabling practitioners to devote more time to other work.

Practitioners report improved quality and completeness of case records. A post-implementation evaluation is assessing the impact of the national rollout across various metrics.

Before national rollout, a robust independent pilot evaluation included a review of case records to assess the quality and accuracy of outputs, comparative evaluation of AI models accuracy testing and independent security testing. This evaluation found records useful and relevant to case management, but Practitioners must review and edit outputs before saving official records. A further National evaluation is underway with further quality assurance being developed.

Justice Transcribe is expected to cost is £7.9 million between 2025-26 and 2028-29 for use in probation sentence management meetings, including staff, service-running costs and contingency.

Through the Sentencing Act and Future Probation Service reforms, probation practitioners have greater flexibility to tailor supervision to individual risks and needs. In the South West, people on probation can access commissioned support with accommodation, debt, substance misuse, emotional wellbeing and employment, alongside mental health treatment, the Offender Personality Disorder Service, a dedicated pathway for women, probation interventions, unpaid work and electronic monitoring where imposed. Work with prisons, health partners and specialist services also supports transition from custody into the community. In Torbay and the wider region, local provision includes the Ilfracombe Health Hub pilot, which brings health and probation support together to address unmet health needs and improve access to treatment.

The safety of prisoners and staff is our top priority, both at HMP Woodhill and across all our prisons, and we are grateful to the Woodhill Families Group for their commitment to prison safety and support of bereaved families. Many of the proposals in the Woodhill Commitments are reflected in national policy and operational guidance, while others align closely with ongoing work to strengthen prison safety processes and family engagement.

Every death in custody is a tragedy and we continue to learn from deaths in custody, the recommendations from coroners, the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody and those with lived experience, to identify opportunities for further improvement. The Department is compiling a formal response to the Woodhill Commitments in the coming weeks.

The Government is committed to protecting the public from serious offenders following their release from custody.

Prior to release, the Probation Service gathers information from other agencies, such as the Police and Children’s Services to assess an offender’s risk and develop plans for their safe management in the community. Where necessary, additional licence conditions can be imposed to manage identified risks associated with online activity, including the use of dating applications. Depending on the circumstances, these may restrict access to particular platforms, require disclosure of online identities, limit contact with others, or support monitoring of compliance.

For offenders convicted of serious violent, sexual and terrorist offences Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) provide a framework through which the Probation Service, police and other agencies can work together to share information to assess and manage risk. This can include consideration of risks associated with online activity and the measures necessary to protect the public.

Compliance with licence conditions is monitored by the Probation Service, including, where appropriate, requiring offenders to provide access to electronic devices for inspection. Offenders who fail to comply may be subject to enforcement action, including recall to custody.

The Ministry of Justice is committed to ensuring that defendants with learning difficulties, neurodivergent conditions and other communication needs are able to participate effectively in criminal proceedings.

We have carefully considered the recommendations made by the Law Commission in its 2016 report on unfitness to plead. In 2023, the Government's response noted that Recommendation 10.5 has been addressed through the introduction of the HMCTS Appointed Intermediary Service (HAIS) in April 2022.

HAIS provides intermediary support for defendants in criminal proceedings and all parties in civil, family and tribunal cases. Intermediaries are impartial communication specialists who assess an individual’s communication needs and make recommendations to the court on reasonable adjustments that may be required to support effective participation. The judiciary then determines what support is necessary based on the individual’s needs.

We recognise the important role that intermediary support measures can play in enabling fair trials. In 2024, the Ministry of Justice established a project to expand the current intermediary provision by developing a Justice-wide Intermediary Service to strengthen the consistency, quality and availability of intermediary services across the justice sector. This project is expected to launch a procurement exercise in spring 2027 with the intention of the new service being available by the end of 2028.

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 was implemented in April 2022. Published divorce statistics provide an indication of trends in divorce rates since the reforms were introduced.

In 2025, there were 105,002 divorces, with a divorce rate of 8.5 per 1000 of the married population. This is broadly consistent with the figures for 2024 and 2023, when there were 104,762 and 102,678 (and divorce rates of 8.5 and 8.4) respectively. Divorce rates have also remained broadly in line with those recorded before the implementation of reform. In 2021, there were 113,505 divorces, with a rate of 9.5. In 2020, there were 103,592 divorces, with a rate of 8.5. In 2019 there were 108,421 divorces, with a rate of 9. Current figures are lower than peak levels in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, when there were around 150,000 divorces per year.

Marriage is one of our most important social institutions, providing stability for families, strengthening communities and contributing to higher levels of satisfaction in life. The Government recognises the important role marriage can play in supporting stable family relationships, including for children. That is why the Government wants to support more couples to get married. In its consultation ‘Tying the Knot: Reforming weddings law in England and Wales’, which closed last month, the Government proposed a new system that will make it easier for couples to get married in way that is right for them.

The Department values the research and evidence provided by organisations such as the Marriage Foundation, including its work on family stability. The Department engages with the Marriage Foundation, and will continue to do so.

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 was implemented in April 2022. Published divorce statistics provide an indication of trends in divorce rates since the reforms were introduced.

In 2025, there were 105,002 divorces, with a divorce rate of 8.5 per 1000 of the married population. This is broadly consistent with the figures for 2024 and 2023, when there were 104,762 and 102,678 (and divorce rates of 8.5 and 8.4) respectively. Divorce rates have also remained broadly in line with those recorded before the implementation of reform. In 2021, there were 113,505 divorces, with a rate of 9.5. In 2020, there were 103,592 divorces, with a rate of 8.5. In 2019 there were 108,421 divorces, with a rate of 9. Current figures are lower than peak levels in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, when there were around 150,000 divorces per year.

Marriage is one of our most important social institutions, providing stability for families, strengthening communities and contributing to higher levels of satisfaction in life. The Government recognises the important role marriage can play in supporting stable family relationships, including for children. That is why the Government wants to support more couples to get married. In its consultation ‘Tying the Knot: Reforming weddings law in England and Wales’, which closed last month, the Government proposed a new system that will make it easier for couples to get married in way that is right for them.

The Department values the research and evidence provided by organisations such as the Marriage Foundation, including its work on family stability. The Department engages with the Marriage Foundation, and will continue to do so.

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is improving public awareness of its role and responsibilities by working with organisations that support its customers and can help extend the reach of its information. Through webinars, meetings and targeted engagement with legal, finance, charity, health and social care sectors, OPG provides timely information about its services, including Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), and helps stakeholders support the public's understanding more effectively.

In addition, OPG continues to raise awareness of LPAs through its Your Voice, Your Decision campaign, which is delivered in locations across England and Wales. OPG also uses its digital channels and GOV.UK content to provide information about its role and services, and how customers can access support and guidance.

OPG does not have current plans to introduce mandatory safeguarding training. There are several ways throughout the LPA process where OPG supports attorneys to manage a donor’s welfare, property or financial affairs once a donor loses capacity. Following registration, OPG outlines their legal responsibilities and signposts them to further guidance, including the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice and GOV.UK guidance on being an attorney, for example ‘Getting started as an attorney’ and ‘How to be an attorney’. OPG’s Contact Centre also provides support to attorneys when handling calls, signposting to online guidance or forwarding to a separate team to give specialised advice and signposting when there are potential safeguarding concerns. This guidance is currently being updated to ensure it continues to support attorneys in understanding and carrying out their responsibilities effectively.

OPG does not consider that mandating personal financial statements by all attorneys would be proportionate, as LPAs are private legal arrangements which allow a person to choose who they trust to make decisions on their behalf should they lose capacity. Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, a donor must have capacity when making an LPA and is entitled to make their own decisions about who they trust to act on their behalf. The LPA framework therefore reflects the importance of donor choice and autonomy. There are statutory eligibility requirements and safeguards which mean some people cannot be appointed as attorneys for property and financial affairs, including individuals who are bankrupt or subject to a Debt Relief Order.

OPG can investigate concerns raised about an attorney's conduct and, where appropriate, apply to the Court of Protection to remove attorneys who are not meeting their duties under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. OPG works closely with the financial services sector, including through its engagement with UK Finance, to ensure financial institutions understand when and how to report suspected fraud, financial abuse and other safeguarding concerns involving attorneys and deputies. Financial institutions can and do raise concerns with OPG through established reporting routes, enabling concerns about an attorney's conduct to be investigated.