Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Reed and Alex Norris

Tuesday 10th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[David Reed (Exmouth and Exeter East) (Con)]

20. How many prisoners released under the early release scheme have since been recalled to prison.

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Norris)]

It is too early to draw conclusions about recall patterns associated with the progression model. However, we are closely monitoring recall trends and outcomes as further data becomes available, and we regularly publish data on releases and recalls in “Offender management statistics quarterly”, an accredited official statistics publication, on gov.uk.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alex Norris]

The right hon. Gentleman will know that, through the National Police Chiefs’ Council, we work closely with police forces to make sure that we share the right information, and have a two-way flow of information on who is leaving and what is happening when the police seek to enforce a recall. The statistics are available in the quarterly release, and they will be published in the usual cycle, when the data comes in.

[David Reed]

Devon and Cornwall police cover one of the largest force areas anywhere in the country. When someone released early breaks their licence in a rural part of my region, officers have to go and find them and bring them back. I am sure that the Secretary of State can understand the constraints, given the large geographical area and their limited resources. What assessment has he made of the cost to local policing of recalls under the early release scheme?

[Alex Norris]

First, I pay tribute to the work that Devon and Cornwall police do to keep the hon. Member’s constituents and everyone across Devon and Cornwall safe. We work very closely with chief constables on the support that they need, in the light of their experiences. He will know about, and I am sure will have welcomed, the support given by the Home Office during the preparation for the progression model. With that record investment for our policing, we will make sure that officers—rather than being behind desks, as they used to be during the previous Parliament—are out in the community, keeping his constituents safe.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Reed and Alex Norris

Monday 13th July 2026 Commons Chamber

[David Reed (Exmouth and Exeter East) (Con)]

As the House will know, the Home Office does not routinely publish figures on the number of small boat arrivals who abscond or whose whereabouts subsequently becomes unknown. Given that the Department holds case records that would allow that to be calculated, will the Home Secretary commit to publishing that information periodically so that the House can properly scrutinise the scale of the problem?

[Alex Norris]

The hon. Gentleman will know that 70,000 people have been removed by this Government—41% up on the figure under our predecessors. He makes a good point about data, which has been the subject of our response to a recent report by the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration. We are looking at the issue closely because we want colleagues in this House and the public at large to have the best possible data to work from, so that we can have the most informed conversation possible.