Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the application of data protection law to the collection and retention of personal data in connection with infant baptisms and other religious rites; and whether she plans to review the compatibility of such practices with principles of (a) consent and (b) children’s data rights.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Under the UK’s data protection legislation, religious organisations have obligations to process personal data lawfully, fairly and transparently. Personal data should also be kept secure, its accuracy should be maintained where appropriate, and it should not be processed for longer than is necessary.

The legislation is monitored and enforced independently of government by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which has published guidance for organisations on complying with the legislation in respect of children's data, including the circumstances where it would be appropriate to seek parental consent to the intended processing: Children and the UK GDPR | ICO.

The government has no plans to carry out an assessment of whether and how religious organisations collect and retain personal data relating to infant baptisms and other rites, but anyone who has concerns about the handling of their personal data can raise the matter with the ICO via https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases under the Early Removal Scheme where the removal may undermine confidence in the scheme or criminal justice system were referred to the Chief Executive of HMPPS for decision in each of the last five years; and what was the outcome in each case.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

We do not collate information on how many cases are referred to the Chief Executive of HMPPS under the Early Removal Scheme or the outcome of such referrals.

Guidance to Prison Governors, and all those involved in administering the scheme including the Chief Executive, is contained in the Prison Service Instruction: The Early Removal Scheme and Release of Foreign National Prisoners (PSI 04/2013) which was last updated on 23 September 2025 and is available at the following link: Early removal scheme and release of foreign national prisoners.

This gives information on the circumstances where removal might undermine the Scheme or public confidence in the criminal justice system.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance is provided to Prison Governors considering authorising the removal of foreign national offenders to assess the potential impact on public confidence in the Early Removal Scheme or the criminal justice system.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

We do not collate information on how many cases are referred to the Chief Executive of HMPPS under the Early Removal Scheme or the outcome of such referrals.

Guidance to Prison Governors, and all those involved in administering the scheme including the Chief Executive, is contained in the Prison Service Instruction: The Early Removal Scheme and Release of Foreign National Prisoners (PSI 04/2013) which was last updated on 23 September 2025 and is available at the following link: Early removal scheme and release of foreign national prisoners.

This gives information on the circumstances where removal might undermine the Scheme or public confidence in the criminal justice system.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance is provided to the Chief Executive of HMPPS regarding assessing the potential impact on public confidence in the Early Removal Scheme or the criminal justice system of a decision to authorise removal of a foreign national offender.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

We do not collate information on how many cases are referred to the Chief Executive of HMPPS under the Early Removal Scheme or the outcome of such referrals.

Guidance to Prison Governors, and all those involved in administering the scheme including the Chief Executive, is contained in the Prison Service Instruction: The Early Removal Scheme and Release of Foreign National Prisoners (PSI 04/2013) which was last updated on 23 September 2025 and is available at the following link: Early removal scheme and release of foreign national prisoners.

This gives information on the circumstances where removal might undermine the Scheme or public confidence in the criminal justice system.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many foreign national offenders in UK prisons have been sentenced for causing the death of one or more people.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

As of 30 June 2025, there were 989 Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) in prison in England and Wales serving a sentence for a principal offence involving ‘causing death’.

All FNOs who receive a prison sentence in the UK are referred for deportation at the earliest opportunity including via the Early Removal Scheme for eligible determinate sentenced prisoners, Tariff Expired Removal Scheme for those serving indeterminate sentences, or via Prisoner Transfer Agreement where one is in place and the offender meets the relevant requirements. In all cases they will be barred from ever returning to the UK.

Deportations of FNOs, including murderers and rapists, are up 32%, with more than 8,700 deported since this Government came into power.

Returns of FNOs in the year-ending December 2025 are higher than any levels of returns observed since 2018.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much ringfenced funding (a) Norfolk Constabulary, and (b) the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk received for Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence victim support services in 2025/26.

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

The Ministry of Justice is investing £550 million in victim support services over the next three years – the biggest investment in victim support services to date. We will be increasing funding for victim support services year on year, from 2026 to 2029, recognising the need to meet the rising cost pressures of delivery.

The Ministry of Justice provides all Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales with annual grant funding to commission local practical, emotional, and therapeutic support services for victims of all crime types. In 2025/26, the funding from MOJ to Norfolk PCC included £0.78 million in ring-fenced funding specifically to support victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse. For 2026/27, we have allocated £1.83 million in victims funding to the PCC for Norfolk, which includes £0.8 million of ring-fenced funding for sexual violence and domestic abuse services.

The budgets for individual PCC areas are routinely published on each area’s website.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what funding he plans to allocate from the Victims General Fund to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk in 2026/27, and when he plans to publish details of that funding.

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

The Ministry of Justice is investing £550 million in victim support services over the next three years – the biggest investment in victim support services to date. We will be increasing funding for victim support services year on year, from 2026 to 2029, recognising the need to meet the rising cost pressures of delivery.

The Ministry of Justice provides all Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales with annual grant funding to commission local practical, emotional, and therapeutic support services for victims of all crime types. In 2025/26, the funding from MOJ to Norfolk PCC included £0.78 million in ring-fenced funding specifically to support victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse. For 2026/27, we have allocated £1.83 million in victims funding to the PCC for Norfolk, which includes £0.8 million of ring-fenced funding for sexual violence and domestic abuse services.

The budgets for individual PCC areas are routinely published on each area’s website.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress has been made in determining future use of 36 Whitehall.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Government Property Agency has developed designs and is preparing an Outline Business Case in 2026 to refurbish 36 Whitehall as new government office accommodation.

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