Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases have been referred to HM Prison and Probation Service's Restorative Practice Hub in each of the last five years; and how many of those have been approved for a restorative justice to proceed.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This Government supports the use of restorative justice. We know that restorative justice can improve victim satisfaction and reduce reoffending when delivered in the right circumstances. This not only benefits the victims and the offender but also their community.
The HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Restorative Practice Hub was established to help ensure that HMPPS facilitates restorative justice in complex and sensitive cases only where it is safe to do so. The team has four permanent full-time members of staff.
The work of the Restorative Practice Hub often requires input from a wide range of professionals, including prison and probation staff, victim liaison officers, psychologists, police officers, health practitioners and social workers. These individuals and their parent organisations contribute to cases as part of their wider operational responsibilities and are not dedicated solely to the work of the Restorative Practice Hub. Consequently, it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the total annual resource cost associated with the Restorative Practice Hub’s activities.
HMPPS does not hold the requested historical information on referrals, outcomes and decision-making timescales. The work of the Restorative Practice Hub has evolved over time and management information on referrals and outcomes has not previously been collected consistently in a way that would support robust year-on-year reporting.
However, HMPPS introduced a new case management system this year which records all referrals received by the Restorative Practice Hub. This will improve the ability to report on referral volumes, outcomes and decision-making timescales in future. As the system has only recently been implemented, there are not yet sufficient data available to provide robust information on outcomes or decision-making timescales.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average time elapsed is between a referral of a case to HM Prison and Probation Service's Restorative Practice Hub and a decision being advised to the referrer by that hub.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This Government supports the use of restorative justice. We know that restorative justice can improve victim satisfaction and reduce reoffending when delivered in the right circumstances. This not only benefits the victims and the offender but also their community.
The HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Restorative Practice Hub was established to help ensure that HMPPS facilitates restorative justice in complex and sensitive cases only where it is safe to do so. The team has four permanent full-time members of staff.
The work of the Restorative Practice Hub often requires input from a wide range of professionals, including prison and probation staff, victim liaison officers, psychologists, police officers, health practitioners and social workers. These individuals and their parent organisations contribute to cases as part of their wider operational responsibilities and are not dedicated solely to the work of the Restorative Practice Hub. Consequently, it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the total annual resource cost associated with the Restorative Practice Hub’s activities.
HMPPS does not hold the requested historical information on referrals, outcomes and decision-making timescales. The work of the Restorative Practice Hub has evolved over time and management information on referrals and outcomes has not previously been collected consistently in a way that would support robust year-on-year reporting.
However, HMPPS introduced a new case management system this year which records all referrals received by the Restorative Practice Hub. This will improve the ability to report on referral volumes, outcomes and decision-making timescales in future. As the system has only recently been implemented, there are not yet sufficient data available to provide robust information on outcomes or decision-making timescales.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the annual cost of HM Prison and Probation Service's Restorative Practice Hub.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This Government supports the use of restorative justice. We know that restorative justice can improve victim satisfaction and reduce reoffending when delivered in the right circumstances. This not only benefits the victims and the offender but also their community.
The HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Restorative Practice Hub was established to help ensure that HMPPS facilitates restorative justice in complex and sensitive cases only where it is safe to do so. The team has four permanent full-time members of staff.
The work of the Restorative Practice Hub often requires input from a wide range of professionals, including prison and probation staff, victim liaison officers, psychologists, police officers, health practitioners and social workers. These individuals and their parent organisations contribute to cases as part of their wider operational responsibilities and are not dedicated solely to the work of the Restorative Practice Hub. Consequently, it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the total annual resource cost associated with the Restorative Practice Hub’s activities.
HMPPS does not hold the requested historical information on referrals, outcomes and decision-making timescales. The work of the Restorative Practice Hub has evolved over time and management information on referrals and outcomes has not previously been collected consistently in a way that would support robust year-on-year reporting.
However, HMPPS introduced a new case management system this year which records all referrals received by the Restorative Practice Hub. This will improve the ability to report on referral volumes, outcomes and decision-making timescales in future. As the system has only recently been implemented, there are not yet sufficient data available to provide robust information on outcomes or decision-making timescales.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what staffing resource is assigned to HM Prison and Probation Service's Restorative Practice Hub.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This Government supports the use of restorative justice. We know that restorative justice can improve victim satisfaction and reduce reoffending when delivered in the right circumstances. This not only benefits the victims and the offender but also their community.
The HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Restorative Practice Hub was established to help ensure that HMPPS facilitates restorative justice in complex and sensitive cases only where it is safe to do so. The team has four permanent full-time members of staff.
The work of the Restorative Practice Hub often requires input from a wide range of professionals, including prison and probation staff, victim liaison officers, psychologists, police officers, health practitioners and social workers. These individuals and their parent organisations contribute to cases as part of their wider operational responsibilities and are not dedicated solely to the work of the Restorative Practice Hub. Consequently, it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the total annual resource cost associated with the Restorative Practice Hub’s activities.
HMPPS does not hold the requested historical information on referrals, outcomes and decision-making timescales. The work of the Restorative Practice Hub has evolved over time and management information on referrals and outcomes has not previously been collected consistently in a way that would support robust year-on-year reporting.
However, HMPPS introduced a new case management system this year which records all referrals received by the Restorative Practice Hub. This will improve the ability to report on referral volumes, outcomes and decision-making timescales in future. As the system has only recently been implemented, there are not yet sufficient data available to provide robust information on outcomes or decision-making timescales.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her department is taking to maximise the supply of affordable housing and homes for social rent.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Following the Autumn Budget 2026, the total budget for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme stands at £40.5 billion.
I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 1 September 2026 (HCWS299).
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government will provide additional powers and funding to councils to bring empty homes back into use.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 12 October 2026 (HCWS363).
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate her Department has made of the number of NHS maternity units at risk of suspension or closure due to insufficient staffing levels.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
National Health Service commissioning bodies are responsible for the delivery, implementation and funding decisions for local services. This ensures that decisions are made locally and tailored to local population needs.
However, as the Hon Member knows from the unacceptable situation in his own constituency, it is too often the case that short-term, unexpected fluctuations in staffing can affect the safety and viability of local maternity services, which would not necessarily be foreseen or planned for in advance. That is why the Secretary of State said in departmental oral questions on 20 October that we need proper recruitment and workforce plans in place for maternity services, especially in more rural and remote areas, and this will be a focus of the work she is leading through the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of the total funding available through the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (PCN DES) has been allocated to each funding component for the 2026/27 financial year, including (a) core PCN funding, (b) the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, (c) the Innovation Investment Fund and (d) any other funding streams.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In 2026/27, the total value of the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) was £2,606 million. The proportion of total funding available through the DES is as follows:
In 2026/27, approximately 0.2%, or £5 million, of Network Contract DES is linked to the requirement relating to cancer referral activity and cancer screening uptake. The Network Contract DES specifications are available on page 119, at the following link:
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion and monetary value of funding available through the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (PCN DES) in 2026/27 is linked to requirements relating to (a) cancer referral activity and (b) cancer screening uptake.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In 2026/27, the total value of the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) was £2,606 million. The proportion of total funding available through the DES is as follows:
In 2026/27, approximately 0.2%, or £5 million, of Network Contract DES is linked to the requirement relating to cancer referral activity and cancer screening uptake. The Network Contract DES specifications are available on page 119, at the following link:
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government what steps is the Government taking to introduce an independent statutory regulator for residential property management companies.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 12 October 2026 (HCWS363)