Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of Crown Courts had specialist rape courts in place on 1 January 2026.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

We have a record and rising backlog, and as a result rape cases are waiting too long to be heard. We are therefore taking decisive action to address this backlog through bold court reforms, which we announced following Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of the Criminal Courts. These reforms will speed up justice for all victims, including those of rape.

Alongside these reforms we are committed to improving the experience of attending court for victims of rape across all Crown Courts. We will be introducing a package of legislative measures to improve victims’ experience of giving evidence and to end reliance on so-called rape myths in the courtroom; we are rolling-out trauma-informed training for all HMCTS criminal court staff; and we have also committed to ensuring that the Operation Soteria model, which focuses investigations on the suspect and away from the victim, is continued in the courtroom post-charge.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department will publish its expanded fraud strategy.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government’s Manifesto set a clear commitment to deliver a new Fraud Strategy. This commitment will be delivered in early 2026.

The Strategy has been developed in close collaboration with stakeholders from industry, law enforcement and non profit organisations. It will set out how we will disrupt fraud, safeguard individuals and businesses and respond to fraud with support and justice for victims.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when will the strategic governance review of the Probationary Service be published.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Government has committed to undertake a strategic review of the Probation Service in its manifesto. We remain committed to this and will review governance arrangements, looking at local partnerships across England and Wales.

This work will follow implementation of the Sentencing Bill reforms, which will significantly change how the Probation Service operates. Governance arrangements must be designed to enable and support the effective delivery of these reforms. Our priority is to ensure the Probation Service is on a stable footing and performance has improved before undertaking the review.

In the meantime, this Government will continue to strengthen joint working with local partners to reduce reoffending and better protect the public.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what percentage of women sentenced to custody in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025 received sentences of six months and fewer.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Latest Criminal Justice Statistics data published to the end of June 2025 shows that for female defendants aged 18 or over:

• In 2023, 3,268 women received a custodial sentence of six months or less, representing 68% of all female custodial sentences.

• In 2024, 4,078 women received a custodial sentence of six months or less, representing 71% of all female custodial sentences.

• Between January and June 2025, 2,199 women received a custodial sentence of six months or less, representing 71% of all female custodial sentences during this period.

*Please note: The most recent published sentencing data is available up to June 2025.