Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for employment tribunals.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

We recognise the significant pressure facing Employment Tribunals (ET) and are taking action to increase capacity, improve efficiency and reduce waiting times.

The ET was funded to sit for 32,590 days in 2026/27. The ET also operates a ‘Virtual Region’ allowing more cases to be heard remotely and matching available judicial resource to workload. The expectation is that this will reduce waiting times in geographical areas with particularly high waiting times (such as London and the South East). Alongside this, the ET has delegated more powers to Legal Officers to enable them to carry out functions of a judicial nature.

The Ministry of Justice and the Department of Business, Innovation, Science and Trade have set up the Dispute Resolution System Taskforce to support the Government in considering options to reform the employment dispute system so it works better for both workers and businesses. This Taskforce consists of unions, businesses, legal representatives and third sector organisations.

The introduction of the Fair Work Agency (FWA) is expected to take demand out of the ET. The FWA is responsible for enforcing domestic agency rules, the National Minimum Wage, licensing standards for gangmasters, and acting against serious labour exploitation. In time, it will also enforce additional rights, such as holiday pay and statutory sick pay.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of employment tribunal waiting times on workers pursuing claims relating to discrimination.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Department is currently conducting an Access to Justice assessment of the Employment Tribunal which will include exploration of whether there are disproportionate waiting times experienced by those with protected characteristics. We expect to publish this by the end of March 2027.

We recognise that prolonged waiting times can be challenging for all ET users and remain committed to ensuring the Employment Tribunal is fair, lawful, and accessible to all users. We are taking action to increase capacity, improve efficiency and reduce waiting times, including through maximising sitting days and recruiting more employment judges.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions her Department has had with NHS England and NHS Supply Chain on ensuring access to wigs suitable for Afro-textured hair and breast prostheses across a range of skin tones.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 11 November 2025 in response to Question 87401, and on 28 November 2025 in response to Question 92755.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support access to appropriate wigs and breast prostheses for people undergoing cancer treatment.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 11 November 2025 in response to Question 87401, and on 28 November 2025 in response to Question 92755.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure adequate access to wigs and breast prostheses across NHS trusts and integrated care boards.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 11 November 2025 in response to Question 87401, and on 28 November 2025 in response to Question 92755.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that forthcoming NHS procurement frameworks for wigs and breast prostheses meet the needs of Black and global majority cancer patients.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 11 November 2025 in response to Question 87401, and on 28 November 2025 in response to Question 92755.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, What assessment he has made of geographical variation in the use of Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and Mental Health Treatment Requirements by court area.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) as well as NHS England, to maximise the impact of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTRs), targeting support where it can have the greatest impact, particularly for offenders with multiple needs who we know have the greatest risk of reoffending. This includes improving pathways and addressing geographical variation where this is not due to differences in population and local need. Officials from the Ministry of Justice and DHSC come together with wider departments at the Treatment and Recovery Steering Group to oversee our cross-government approach, including delivery of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements.

The Sentencing Council produces sentencing guidelines for judges and magistrates, including the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline, which provides guidance on the use of CSTRs, including the circumstances in which they may be appropriate.

Appropriate referrals rely on screening, support from NHS Liaison and Diversion services and effective Pre-sentence Reports (PSRs). The Probation Service provides pre-sentence reports assessing an offender's risks and needs, alongside an independent recommendation on the sentence options available, including consideration of the suitability of community sentence requirements, to support the independent judiciary in deciding the appropriate sentence. A range of measures have been taken by the Department to improve the quality, timeliness and efficiency of PSRs and related advice to court including through the Prepare a Case for Sentence (PACFS) and Verification reports. Compliance with community sentences is overseen by probation, taking enforcement action where appropriate.

The attached Excel tables provide figures for Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements, and Mental Health Treatment Requirements commenced under community orders and suspended sentence orders in 2024 and 2025, broken down by individual magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales.

The Ministry of Justice has published an impact evaluation of being sentenced to a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending. The report can be found here: Impact of being sentenced with a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending - GOV.UK

The following information requested could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost:

• How many Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and Mental Health Treatment Requirements were imposed as part of community orders and suspended sentence orders in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales in each of the last five years (for years 2021-2023 only).
• The proportion of all community orders imposed in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court included an Alcohol Treatment Requirement, a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement, or a Mental Health Treatment Requirement in each of the last five years.
• The proportion of (a) Alcohol Treatment Requirements, (b) Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and (c) Mental Health Treatment Requirements were successfully completed in each probation region in the latest year for which data is available.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of all community orders imposed in each magistrates' court and Crown Court included an Alcohol Treatment Requirement, a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement, or a Mental Health Treatment Requirement in each of the last five years.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) as well as NHS England, to maximise the impact of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTRs), targeting support where it can have the greatest impact, particularly for offenders with multiple needs who we know have the greatest risk of reoffending. This includes improving pathways and addressing geographical variation where this is not due to differences in population and local need. Officials from the Ministry of Justice and DHSC come together with wider departments at the Treatment and Recovery Steering Group to oversee our cross-government approach, including delivery of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements.

The Sentencing Council produces sentencing guidelines for judges and magistrates, including the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline, which provides guidance on the use of CSTRs, including the circumstances in which they may be appropriate.

Appropriate referrals rely on screening, support from NHS Liaison and Diversion services and effective Pre-sentence Reports (PSRs). The Probation Service provides pre-sentence reports assessing an offender's risks and needs, alongside an independent recommendation on the sentence options available, including consideration of the suitability of community sentence requirements, to support the independent judiciary in deciding the appropriate sentence. A range of measures have been taken by the Department to improve the quality, timeliness and efficiency of PSRs and related advice to court including through the Prepare a Case for Sentence (PACFS) and Verification reports. Compliance with community sentences is overseen by probation, taking enforcement action where appropriate.

The attached Excel tables provide figures for Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements, and Mental Health Treatment Requirements commenced under community orders and suspended sentence orders in 2024 and 2025, broken down by individual magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales.

The Ministry of Justice has published an impact evaluation of being sentenced to a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending. The report can be found here: Impact of being sentenced with a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending - GOV.UK

The following information requested could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost:

• How many Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and Mental Health Treatment Requirements were imposed as part of community orders and suspended sentence orders in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales in each of the last five years (for years 2021-2023 only).
• The proportion of all community orders imposed in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court included an Alcohol Treatment Requirement, a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement, or a Mental Health Treatment Requirement in each of the last five years.
• The proportion of (a) Alcohol Treatment Requirements, (b) Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and (c) Mental Health Treatment Requirements were successfully completed in each probation region in the latest year for which data is available.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements, and Mental Health Treatment Requirements were imposed as part of community orders and suspended sentence orders in each magistrates' court and Crown Court in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) as well as NHS England, to maximise the impact of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTRs), targeting support where it can have the greatest impact, particularly for offenders with multiple needs who we know have the greatest risk of reoffending. This includes improving pathways and addressing geographical variation where this is not due to differences in population and local need. Officials from the Ministry of Justice and DHSC come together with wider departments at the Treatment and Recovery Steering Group to oversee our cross-government approach, including delivery of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements.

The Sentencing Council produces sentencing guidelines for judges and magistrates, including the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline, which provides guidance on the use of CSTRs, including the circumstances in which they may be appropriate.

Appropriate referrals rely on screening, support from NHS Liaison and Diversion services and effective Pre-sentence Reports (PSRs). The Probation Service provides pre-sentence reports assessing an offender's risks and needs, alongside an independent recommendation on the sentence options available, including consideration of the suitability of community sentence requirements, to support the independent judiciary in deciding the appropriate sentence. A range of measures have been taken by the Department to improve the quality, timeliness and efficiency of PSRs and related advice to court including through the Prepare a Case for Sentence (PACFS) and Verification reports. Compliance with community sentences is overseen by probation, taking enforcement action where appropriate.

The attached Excel tables provide figures for Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements, and Mental Health Treatment Requirements commenced under community orders and suspended sentence orders in 2024 and 2025, broken down by individual magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales.

The Ministry of Justice has published an impact evaluation of being sentenced to a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending. The report can be found here: Impact of being sentenced with a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending - GOV.UK

The following information requested could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost:

• How many Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and Mental Health Treatment Requirements were imposed as part of community orders and suspended sentence orders in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales in each of the last five years (for years 2021-2023 only).
• The proportion of all community orders imposed in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court included an Alcohol Treatment Requirement, a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement, or a Mental Health Treatment Requirement in each of the last five years.
• The proportion of (a) Alcohol Treatment Requirements, (b) Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and (c) Mental Health Treatment Requirements were successfully completed in each probation region in the latest year for which data is available.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the role of Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and Mental Health Treatment Requirements in reducing repeat contact with the criminal justice system among people with multiple and unmet needs.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) as well as NHS England, to maximise the impact of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTRs), targeting support where it can have the greatest impact, particularly for offenders with multiple needs who we know have the greatest risk of reoffending. This includes improving pathways and addressing geographical variation where this is not due to differences in population and local need. Officials from the Ministry of Justice and DHSC come together with wider departments at the Treatment and Recovery Steering Group to oversee our cross-government approach, including delivery of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements.

The Sentencing Council produces sentencing guidelines for judges and magistrates, including the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline, which provides guidance on the use of CSTRs, including the circumstances in which they may be appropriate.

Appropriate referrals rely on screening, support from NHS Liaison and Diversion services and effective Pre-sentence Reports (PSRs). The Probation Service provides pre-sentence reports assessing an offender's risks and needs, alongside an independent recommendation on the sentence options available, including consideration of the suitability of community sentence requirements, to support the independent judiciary in deciding the appropriate sentence. A range of measures have been taken by the Department to improve the quality, timeliness and efficiency of PSRs and related advice to court including through the Prepare a Case for Sentence (PACFS) and Verification reports. Compliance with community sentences is overseen by probation, taking enforcement action where appropriate.

The attached Excel tables provide figures for Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements, and Mental Health Treatment Requirements commenced under community orders and suspended sentence orders in 2024 and 2025, broken down by individual magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales.

The Ministry of Justice has published an impact evaluation of being sentenced to a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending. The report can be found here: Impact of being sentenced with a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending - GOV.UK

The following information requested could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost:

• How many Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and Mental Health Treatment Requirements were imposed as part of community orders and suspended sentence orders in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales in each of the last five years (for years 2021-2023 only).
• The proportion of all community orders imposed in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court included an Alcohol Treatment Requirement, a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement, or a Mental Health Treatment Requirement in each of the last five years.
• The proportion of (a) Alcohol Treatment Requirements, (b) Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and (c) Mental Health Treatment Requirements were successfully completed in each probation region in the latest year for which data is available.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what data his Department holds on reoffending rates for people subject to (a) Alcohol Treatment Requirements, (b) Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and (c) Mental Health Treatment Requirements, compared with recipients of short custodial sentences.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) as well as NHS England, to maximise the impact of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTRs), targeting support where it can have the greatest impact, particularly for offenders with multiple needs who we know have the greatest risk of reoffending. This includes improving pathways and addressing geographical variation where this is not due to differences in population and local need. Officials from the Ministry of Justice and DHSC come together with wider departments at the Treatment and Recovery Steering Group to oversee our cross-government approach, including delivery of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements.

The Sentencing Council produces sentencing guidelines for judges and magistrates, including the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline, which provides guidance on the use of CSTRs, including the circumstances in which they may be appropriate.

Appropriate referrals rely on screening, support from NHS Liaison and Diversion services and effective Pre-sentence Reports (PSRs). The Probation Service provides pre-sentence reports assessing an offender's risks and needs, alongside an independent recommendation on the sentence options available, including consideration of the suitability of community sentence requirements, to support the independent judiciary in deciding the appropriate sentence. A range of measures have been taken by the Department to improve the quality, timeliness and efficiency of PSRs and related advice to court including through the Prepare a Case for Sentence (PACFS) and Verification reports. Compliance with community sentences is overseen by probation, taking enforcement action where appropriate.

The attached Excel tables provide figures for Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements, and Mental Health Treatment Requirements commenced under community orders and suspended sentence orders in 2024 and 2025, broken down by individual magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales.

The Ministry of Justice has published an impact evaluation of being sentenced to a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending. The report can be found here: Impact of being sentenced with a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending - GOV.UK

The following information requested could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost:

• How many Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and Mental Health Treatment Requirements were imposed as part of community orders and suspended sentence orders in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales in each of the last five years (for years 2021-2023 only).
• The proportion of all community orders imposed in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court included an Alcohol Treatment Requirement, a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement, or a Mental Health Treatment Requirement in each of the last five years.
• The proportion of (a) Alcohol Treatment Requirements, (b) Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and (c) Mental Health Treatment Requirements were successfully completed in each probation region in the latest year for which data is available.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, What recent discussions he has had with the Department of Health and Social Care on increasing treatment provision to support greater use of community sentence treatment requirements.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) as well as NHS England, to maximise the impact of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTRs), targeting support where it can have the greatest impact, particularly for offenders with multiple needs who we know have the greatest risk of reoffending. This includes improving pathways and addressing geographical variation where this is not due to differences in population and local need. Officials from the Ministry of Justice and DHSC come together with wider departments at the Treatment and Recovery Steering Group to oversee our cross-government approach, including delivery of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements.

The Sentencing Council produces sentencing guidelines for judges and magistrates, including the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline, which provides guidance on the use of CSTRs, including the circumstances in which they may be appropriate.

Appropriate referrals rely on screening, support from NHS Liaison and Diversion services and effective Pre-sentence Reports (PSRs). The Probation Service provides pre-sentence reports assessing an offender's risks and needs, alongside an independent recommendation on the sentence options available, including consideration of the suitability of community sentence requirements, to support the independent judiciary in deciding the appropriate sentence. A range of measures have been taken by the Department to improve the quality, timeliness and efficiency of PSRs and related advice to court including through the Prepare a Case for Sentence (PACFS) and Verification reports. Compliance with community sentences is overseen by probation, taking enforcement action where appropriate.

The attached Excel tables provide figures for Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements, and Mental Health Treatment Requirements commenced under community orders and suspended sentence orders in 2024 and 2025, broken down by individual magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales.

The Ministry of Justice has published an impact evaluation of being sentenced to a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending. The report can be found here: Impact of being sentenced with a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending - GOV.UK

The following information requested could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost:

• How many Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and Mental Health Treatment Requirements were imposed as part of community orders and suspended sentence orders in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales in each of the last five years (for years 2021-2023 only).
• The proportion of all community orders imposed in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court included an Alcohol Treatment Requirement, a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement, or a Mental Health Treatment Requirement in each of the last five years.
• The proportion of (a) Alcohol Treatment Requirements, (b) Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and (c) Mental Health Treatment Requirements were successfully completed in each probation region in the latest year for which data is available.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance is provided to magistrates and judges on the use of Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and Mental Health Treatment Requirements as alternatives to short custodial sentences.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) as well as NHS England, to maximise the impact of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTRs), targeting support where it can have the greatest impact, particularly for offenders with multiple needs who we know have the greatest risk of reoffending. This includes improving pathways and addressing geographical variation where this is not due to differences in population and local need. Officials from the Ministry of Justice and DHSC come together with wider departments at the Treatment and Recovery Steering Group to oversee our cross-government approach, including delivery of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements.

The Sentencing Council produces sentencing guidelines for judges and magistrates, including the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline, which provides guidance on the use of CSTRs, including the circumstances in which they may be appropriate.

Appropriate referrals rely on screening, support from NHS Liaison and Diversion services and effective Pre-sentence Reports (PSRs). The Probation Service provides pre-sentence reports assessing an offender's risks and needs, alongside an independent recommendation on the sentence options available, including consideration of the suitability of community sentence requirements, to support the independent judiciary in deciding the appropriate sentence. A range of measures have been taken by the Department to improve the quality, timeliness and efficiency of PSRs and related advice to court including through the Prepare a Case for Sentence (PACFS) and Verification reports. Compliance with community sentences is overseen by probation, taking enforcement action where appropriate.

The attached Excel tables provide figures for Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements, and Mental Health Treatment Requirements commenced under community orders and suspended sentence orders in 2024 and 2025, broken down by individual magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales.

The Ministry of Justice has published an impact evaluation of being sentenced to a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending. The report can be found here: Impact of being sentenced with a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending - GOV.UK

The following information requested could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost:

• How many Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and Mental Health Treatment Requirements were imposed as part of community orders and suspended sentence orders in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales in each of the last five years (for years 2021-2023 only).
• The proportion of all community orders imposed in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court included an Alcohol Treatment Requirement, a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement, or a Mental Health Treatment Requirement in each of the last five years.
• The proportion of (a) Alcohol Treatment Requirements, (b) Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and (c) Mental Health Treatment Requirements were successfully completed in each probation region in the latest year for which data is available.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, What assessment he has made of barriers to the greater use of Mental Health Treatment Requirements by sentencers.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) as well as NHS England, to maximise the impact of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTRs), targeting support where it can have the greatest impact, particularly for offenders with multiple needs who we know have the greatest risk of reoffending. This includes improving pathways and addressing geographical variation where this is not due to differences in population and local need. Officials from the Ministry of Justice and DHSC come together with wider departments at the Treatment and Recovery Steering Group to oversee our cross-government approach, including delivery of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements.

The Sentencing Council produces sentencing guidelines for judges and magistrates, including the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline, which provides guidance on the use of CSTRs, including the circumstances in which they may be appropriate.

Appropriate referrals rely on screening, support from NHS Liaison and Diversion services and effective Pre-sentence Reports (PSRs). The Probation Service provides pre-sentence reports assessing an offender's risks and needs, alongside an independent recommendation on the sentence options available, including consideration of the suitability of community sentence requirements, to support the independent judiciary in deciding the appropriate sentence. A range of measures have been taken by the Department to improve the quality, timeliness and efficiency of PSRs and related advice to court including through the Prepare a Case for Sentence (PACFS) and Verification reports. Compliance with community sentences is overseen by probation, taking enforcement action where appropriate.

The attached Excel tables provide figures for Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements, and Mental Health Treatment Requirements commenced under community orders and suspended sentence orders in 2024 and 2025, broken down by individual magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales.

The Ministry of Justice has published an impact evaluation of being sentenced to a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending. The report can be found here: Impact of being sentenced with a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending - GOV.UK

The following information requested could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost:

• How many Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and Mental Health Treatment Requirements were imposed as part of community orders and suspended sentence orders in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales in each of the last five years (for years 2021-2023 only).
• The proportion of all community orders imposed in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court included an Alcohol Treatment Requirement, a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement, or a Mental Health Treatment Requirement in each of the last five years.
• The proportion of (a) Alcohol Treatment Requirements, (b) Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and (c) Mental Health Treatment Requirements were successfully completed in each probation region in the latest year for which data is available.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of (a) Alcohol Treatment Requirements, (b) Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and (c) Mental Health Treatment Requirements were successfully completed in each probation region in the latest year for which data is available.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) as well as NHS England, to maximise the impact of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTRs), targeting support where it can have the greatest impact, particularly for offenders with multiple needs who we know have the greatest risk of reoffending. This includes improving pathways and addressing geographical variation where this is not due to differences in population and local need. Officials from the Ministry of Justice and DHSC come together with wider departments at the Treatment and Recovery Steering Group to oversee our cross-government approach, including delivery of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements.

The Sentencing Council produces sentencing guidelines for judges and magistrates, including the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline, which provides guidance on the use of CSTRs, including the circumstances in which they may be appropriate.

Appropriate referrals rely on screening, support from NHS Liaison and Diversion services and effective Pre-sentence Reports (PSRs). The Probation Service provides pre-sentence reports assessing an offender's risks and needs, alongside an independent recommendation on the sentence options available, including consideration of the suitability of community sentence requirements, to support the independent judiciary in deciding the appropriate sentence. A range of measures have been taken by the Department to improve the quality, timeliness and efficiency of PSRs and related advice to court including through the Prepare a Case for Sentence (PACFS) and Verification reports. Compliance with community sentences is overseen by probation, taking enforcement action where appropriate.

The attached Excel tables provide figures for Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements, and Mental Health Treatment Requirements commenced under community orders and suspended sentence orders in 2024 and 2025, broken down by individual magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales.

The Ministry of Justice has published an impact evaluation of being sentenced to a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending. The report can be found here: Impact of being sentenced with a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR) on proven reoffending - GOV.UK

The following information requested could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost:

• How many Alcohol Treatment Requirements, Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and Mental Health Treatment Requirements were imposed as part of community orders and suspended sentence orders in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court in England and Wales in each of the last five years (for years 2021-2023 only).
• The proportion of all community orders imposed in each magistrates’ court and Crown Court included an Alcohol Treatment Requirement, a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement, or a Mental Health Treatment Requirement in each of the last five years.
• The proportion of (a) Alcohol Treatment Requirements, (b) Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and (c) Mental Health Treatment Requirements were successfully completed in each probation region in the latest year for which data is available.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Bezalel Smotrich’s comments on 6 October 2026 on the annexation of southern Lebanon on Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; and what diplomatic, legal and practical measures he is taking to protect civilians, prevent annexation and secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces in the context of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I spoke to the Lebanese FM and Ambassador recently to reiterate our support for the government of Lebanon and the sovereignty and security territorial integrity of Lebanon.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the economic impact of international students on the UK economy when developing fiscal policy in relation to the higher education sector.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The International Education Strategy confirms our commitment to welcoming international students who meet the requirements for UK study, recognising their contribution to the sector, society and the UK's global reputation.

The latest estimates from the department show that UK education-related exports and transnational education activity generated £36.7 billion in revenue in 2024. Higher education was the largest component, accounting for £26.6 billion (72.4%) of total education export revenue. Of this, £23.9 billion (89.9%) was attributable to the tuition fees and living expenditure of international students, with an average contribution of around £33,400 per student. International students supported economic activity across all parts of the UK, generating an estimated £20.3 billion in England, £2.5 billion in Scotland, £0.7 billion in Wales and £0.4 billion in Northern Ireland.

Further information about UK revenues from education can be found at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/uk-revenue-from-education-related-exports-and-transnational-education-activity/2024.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the estimate of the funding gap for English councils in the financial year 2027/28 in UNISON's publication entitled Bridging the Gap, published on 14 September 2026.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department will continue to work closely with local government and other government departments to understand specific pressures facing local government ahead of the Budget and other fiscal events.

The Government is committed to returning the local government sector to a sustainable position. We are delivering fairer funding, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. By the end of the multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement, the government will have made available a 24.3% increase in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England, worth £16.6 billion, since coming into power in 2024-25.

The government is investing in service areas with escalating costs. We have made over £4.6 billion of additional funding available to adult social care in 2028-29 compared to 2025-26, and invested investing £2.4 billion in children’s social care prevention and de-escalation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of increasing the level of resources and funding for councils ahead of the Budget.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

It would not be appropriate to comment on individual measures ahead of the Budget. The Chancellor will take decisions through the usual Budget process and set out the Government’s fiscal plans at the Budget.

The Department will continue to work closely with local government and other government departments to understand specific pressures facing local government ahead of the Budget and other fiscal events.

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 help ensure that every local authority has access to adequate methods for identifying women experiencing rough sleeping.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On his first day in office, the Prime Minister launched an urgent national drive to end rough sleeping. We have announced £442 million new funding to support this ambition, taking total investment in homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next three years to over £4 billion.

The Government recognises that women experiencing rough sleeping are often less visible and may be at greater risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. Local areas are encouraged to work proactively with specialist women’s services, domestic abuse and violence against women and girls services, health partners and community organisations to identify and support women who may be sleeping rough or at risk of doing so. Further guidance on how local authorities are expected to support women through the Rough Sleeping Programme can be found here: Rough Sleeping Programme Guidance - GOV.UK

You can find data about the number of women sleeping rough in England on gov.uk here. Since June 2025 we have included a question on the number of women sleeping rough in our monthly rough sleeping survey. The annual rough sleeping snapshot also includes data on the number of women estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in England. In addition to our official rough sleeping statistics, we continue to gather information from a variety of sources to understand women’s rough sleeping, including the Women’s Census.

Through the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, we are providing £37 million over three years to support specialist organisations that work with women facing some of the greatest barriers to accessing support.

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 (a) stabilise local government finances and (b) increase the level of funding in order to allow previously closed services to resume and closed buildings to re-open.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to fixing the foundations of local government, redirecting funding towards the services and places that need it most. The final 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement makes available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England in 2026-27, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26. In parallel, we delivered the fair funding review reforms through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. As a result, nine in ten councils will now receive funding that broadly matches their assessed relative need by the end of the multi-year Settlement, up from around a third before our reforms.

Last month, the Government announced £91 million in additional funding to accelerate local councils’ transformation plans in areas such as homelessness, adult social care, children’s services and SEND. This investment reflects a turning point in how the Government intends to support councils to manage their financial position, with an emphasis on long-term prevention over short-term fixes.

The Government’s Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £5.8 billion over 10 years to support 284 neighbourhoods experiencing the highest levels of deprivation. In each place, the local Neighbourhood Board will work with the community to decide how this funding is spent, ensuring investment reflects local priorities.

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 improve local government finances and fund public buildings and services, in the context of budgetary cuts under the previous Government.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to fixing the foundations of local government, redirecting funding towards the services and places that need it most. The final 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement makes available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England in 2026-27, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26. In parallel, we delivered the fair funding review reforms through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. As a result, nine in ten councils will now receive funding that broadly matches their assessed relative need by the end of the multi-year Settlement, up from around a third before our reforms.

Last month, the Government announced £91 million in additional funding to accelerate local councils’ transformation plans in areas such as homelessness, adult social care, children’s services and SEND. This investment reflects a turning point in how the Government intends to support councils to manage their financial position, with an emphasis on long-term prevention over short-term fixes.

The Government’s Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £5.8 billion over 10 years to support 284 neighbourhoods experiencing the highest levels of deprivation. In each place, the local Neighbourhood Board will work with the community to decide how this funding is spent, ensuring investment reflects local priorities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to his oral contribution of 8th September 2026, Official Report, Column 911, whether his Department will undertake a specific review process to consider whether a) extant and b) new applications for arms exports licences might materially contribute to the occupation.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We have conducted a full review of extant export licences going to Israel to assess whether they might make a material contribution to Israel's unlawful occupation. We have not suspended additional extant licences, at this stage because licences for items that might materially contribute to the occupation have already been suspended because of Israel's conduct in the Gaza conflict. However, we now have in effect an 'additional lock' on relevant licences. We will not now approve licences for items that might be used in Gaza or that would make a material contribution to the occupation.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Plan 2 interest accumulation on funded doctoral researchers.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Post-study, the interest on Plan 2 loans ranges from Retail Price Index (RPI) to RPI plus 3% depending on a borrower’s earnings. For borrowers who are successful in gaining a funded doctoral research position it is likely that their funding will be below the lower interest threshold, meaning that the applicable interest rate is RPI only.

It is also likely that such borrowers will be earning under the repayment threshold, meaning that they are not required to make any repayments to their Plan 2 loan while undertaking their doctoral research.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of reducing Plan 2 interest during PhD funded research.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Post-study, the interest on Plan 2 loans ranges from RPI to RPI+3% depending on a borrower’s earnings. For borrowers who are successful in gaining a funded doctoral research position it is likely that their funding will be below the lower interest threshold, meaning that the applicable interest rate is RPI only.

No estimate has been made relating to the cost to the public purse of reducing interest on Plan 2 loans during PhD funded research.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department provides to social housing providers to encourage the adoption of Electric Vehicle charging points in communal parking areas.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We will publish best practice guidance in due course to support social housing providers to adopt electric vehicle charging points.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department provides to social housing providers to encourage the delivery of green infrastructure.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to policies N1(1)(d) and N2(1)(c-e) of the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 17 August.

The government does not publish specific guidance for social housing providers on green infrastructure.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will provide the number and rate of suspensions and permanent exclusions, disaggregated by school type (state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and state-funded special) for (a) 'Gypsy/Roma' pupils, (b) 'Traveller of Irish heritage' pupils and (c) all pupils in (i) the 2023/24 academic year and (ii) the 2024/25 academic year.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Statistics on suspensions and permanent exclusions by school type and ethnicity can be found in the following publication, published on 9 July: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/suspensions-and-permanent-exclusions-in-england/2024-25.

The publication has a “Create table” function. The table at this link has been produced using this function, showing the number and rates of suspensions and permanent exclusions by school type for pupils of Gypsy/Roma, Traveller of Irish heritage and all pupils, broken down by phase, for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years. This information can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/219fd1f5-a660-4517-8caa-08df25240285

Caution is recommended when interpreting the data for Gypsy/Roma and Traveller of Irish Heritage children due to small population sizes.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the International Student Levy.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government announced in September 2025 that it would reintroduce targeted, means-tested maintenance grants for students studying courses aligned with the industrial strategy. These granted will be funded through an international student levy and will help students from the lowest income families enter and succeed in higher education (HE).

The funding raised through the levy on providers will be fully reinvested in England’s higher education and skills system. It will fund maintenance grants to students, support progression through the post-16 system and contribute to wider skills provision.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on the level of uptake amongst (a) shipowners and (b) maritime training providers of Support for Maritime Training funding to train apprentice (i) deck and (ii) engineering ratings in the special circumstances set out in the MCA's document entitled MIN 707 (M): UK STCW Merchant Rating Training, Skills, Progression and Funding Availability, published on 11 April 2025.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We have regular discussions with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on a range of issues.

The Department monitors progress on the level of uptake amongst shipowners or maritime training providers of Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) funding for the training of apprentice deck and engineering ratings through the Ratings Review Group, which is chaired by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Cleaners on Merseyrail

Redundancies at news publisher Reach plc

Congratulations to Fleetwood Town Football Club for beating Arsenal in the League Cup

Arrests of Friends of Standing Together and British nationals in the West Bank

Needle and syringe programmes

Celebrating Black History Month

Publication of the final report of the Right to Food UK Commission

Student finance

Wishes for a full and speedy recovery for Pope Leo XIV

UK Disability History Month

Arrest of Leicester journalists

Support for outsourced gatesolutions catering workers at LNER

150th anniversary of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876

Food Club Survey report

Human rights in Bahrain

Cable Street 90th anniversary

Seafarers and the Employment Rights Act 2025