Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many delays there have been in fitting sobriety tags longer than (a) one, (b) seven, (c) 14 and (d) 28 days in each of the last 12 months.

Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The table below illustrates the proportional duration of fitting alcohol orders by month of order start date, from November 2023 to October 2024. This includes both AAMR tag and AML tag.

Up until May 2024, the electronic monitoring service was delivered by Capita. Serco took on the service on 1 May 2024. Provider performance was poor either side of the transfer and there has been a backlog of visits under Serco.

Ministers have been clear that Serco’s performance has been unacceptable and contractual penalties have been levied against them as a result.

Frequency Distribution of Durations of Tag Fit Time for Alcohol Tags by Month (November 2023 – October 2024)

Notes

1. These figures are drawn from administrative data systems provided by contractors. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent.

2. These figures exclude those who had not had a tag fitted at the point the underlying files were generated. An individual subject to an AM order may not have a tag fitted for a number of reasons, including being recalled.

3. The tag fit time has been derived by subtracting the first date the data appears as tagged on the caseload file, as compared to the order start date. Where AMS is notified late of an order, the difference between the order start date and the date the tag is fitted is not an accurate reflection of contractor performance.

4. Data provided for the period November 2023 to October 2024 as this represents the latest available data.

5. Monitored individuals are unique individuals with a live EM order and with an alcohol device (AAMR or AML) fitted.

6. Alcohol monitoring cannot be used for those under 18.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, whether she has had discussions with the Prime Minister through (a) WhatsApp messages, (b) text messages, (c) email, (d) written correspondence and (e) verbal exchanges on (i) the potential impact of repealing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 on compensation liabilities for individuals interned during the 1970s and (ii) negotiations with Mauritius on the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

Paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May states:

“By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 6 November 2024]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”

This is known as the Law Officers’ Convention, and it applies to your question.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the police national computer retains nominal records for non-resident people.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

Non-resident individuals may have nominal records created on the Police National Computer where information suggests that they may pose a risk to UK residents.

Changes to the residency status of a person are not routinely considered as a factor in the ongoing retention of their nominal record.