Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the safety of artificial grass football pitches.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport is absolutely paramount. Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) provide durable, safe, year-round playing surfaces, helping more people to access the benefits of physical activity.

We remain committed to working with the sports sector to help ensure the safety of all participants in sport.

Both the Government and Sport England will continue to monitor the latest research relating to the safety of AGP pitches.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number of drivers using learner driver plates to work.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

No assessment has been made of the number of learner drivers driving for work, although learner drivers must be accompanied by an eligible supervising driver on public roads.

The safety of anyone driving on our roads is a priority, and that includes those who drive for work. We will pilot a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter for businesses that require people to drive or ride for them. The aim is to help employers to reduce work-related road risk and improve safety for all road users by promoting good practice and improved legal compliance.

We have also consulted on a Minimum Learning Period before learner drivers can take their practical driving test. This would allow learners more time to gain essential experience e.g. in different weather conditions, before driving independently.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an estimate of the number of offenders in the electronic monitoring cohort that were unmonitored in (a) May 2024-May 2025, and (b) May 2025-May 2026.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The number of individuals on the electronic monitoring (EM) caseload was most recently published in April 2026. The data from this publication is shown below for the post-release, court sentence and immigration cohorts combined, for the months June 2025 to March 2026. Data for the months provided is reflective of the caseload at month end:

The link to this latest statistics publication can be found here: Electronic Monitoring Statistics Publication, March 2026 - GOV.UK. Please note that a small number of individuals within the immigration cohort may be non-Foreign National Offenders who are given an EM requirement as part of a grant of immigration bail. Please refer to the notes and technical guidance within the publication for further information on definitions, scope and caveats.

The number of offenders in the electronic monitoring cohort since March 2026 forms a subset of electronic monitoring data which is scheduled for future publication. In accordance with the requirements of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, we may not give any early indication of the contents of these statistical reports. This also applies to the request for data on unmonitored offenders during this time period.

The Ministry of Justice is unable to provide data on the number of offenders in the electronic monitoring cohort in May 2024 to May 2025. This is due to data quality issues relating to missing data and duplication of individuals across datasets following data migration, when service delivery transferred from Capita to Serco in May 2024. This also applies to the request for data on unmonitored offenders during this time period.

Serco’s performance did not originally meet expectations, but we have driven rapid improvement. All cases have now migrated to the new system, and new digital tools are being rolled out to improve timeliness. Performance has strengthened significantly and is now meeting contractual expectations. We have robust governance, risk management and continuous-improvement arrangements in place, and probation staff will soon have direct access to EM data through a Ministry of Justice platform, supporting faster decision-making and stronger risk management.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an estimate of the number of offenders in the electronic monitoring cohort in (a) May 2024-May 2025, and (b) May 2025-May 2026.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The number of individuals on the electronic monitoring (EM) caseload was most recently published in April 2026. The data from this publication is shown below for the post-release, court sentence and immigration cohorts combined, for the months June 2025 to March 2026. Data for the months provided is reflective of the caseload at month end:

The link to this latest statistics publication can be found here: Electronic Monitoring Statistics Publication, March 2026 - GOV.UK. Please note that a small number of individuals within the immigration cohort may be non-Foreign National Offenders who are given an EM requirement as part of a grant of immigration bail. Please refer to the notes and technical guidance within the publication for further information on definitions, scope and caveats.

The number of offenders in the electronic monitoring cohort since March 2026 forms a subset of electronic monitoring data which is scheduled for future publication. In accordance with the requirements of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, we may not give any early indication of the contents of these statistical reports. This also applies to the request for data on unmonitored offenders during this time period.

The Ministry of Justice is unable to provide data on the number of offenders in the electronic monitoring cohort in May 2024 to May 2025. This is due to data quality issues relating to missing data and duplication of individuals across datasets following data migration, when service delivery transferred from Capita to Serco in May 2024. This also applies to the request for data on unmonitored offenders during this time period.

Serco’s performance did not originally meet expectations, but we have driven rapid improvement. All cases have now migrated to the new system, and new digital tools are being rolled out to improve timeliness. Performance has strengthened significantly and is now meeting contractual expectations. We have robust governance, risk management and continuous-improvement arrangements in place, and probation staff will soon have direct access to EM data through a Ministry of Justice platform, supporting faster decision-making and stronger risk management.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current system of electronic monitoring of offenders.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The number of individuals on the electronic monitoring (EM) caseload was most recently published in April 2026. The data from this publication is shown below for the post-release, court sentence and immigration cohorts combined, for the months June 2025 to March 2026. Data for the months provided is reflective of the caseload at month end:

The link to this latest statistics publication can be found here: Electronic Monitoring Statistics Publication, March 2026 - GOV.UK. Please note that a small number of individuals within the immigration cohort may be non-Foreign National Offenders who are given an EM requirement as part of a grant of immigration bail. Please refer to the notes and technical guidance within the publication for further information on definitions, scope and caveats.

The number of offenders in the electronic monitoring cohort since March 2026 forms a subset of electronic monitoring data which is scheduled for future publication. In accordance with the requirements of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, we may not give any early indication of the contents of these statistical reports. This also applies to the request for data on unmonitored offenders during this time period.

The Ministry of Justice is unable to provide data on the number of offenders in the electronic monitoring cohort in May 2024 to May 2025. This is due to data quality issues relating to missing data and duplication of individuals across datasets following data migration, when service delivery transferred from Capita to Serco in May 2024. This also applies to the request for data on unmonitored offenders during this time period.

Serco’s performance did not originally meet expectations, but we have driven rapid improvement. All cases have now migrated to the new system, and new digital tools are being rolled out to improve timeliness. Performance has strengthened significantly and is now meeting contractual expectations. We have robust governance, risk management and continuous-improvement arrangements in place, and probation staff will soon have direct access to EM data through a Ministry of Justice platform, supporting faster decision-making and stronger risk management.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was paid to to (a) foreign national offenders and (b) immediate family members of foreign national offenders removed from the UK under the Facilitated Return Scheme in the last 12 months.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Since this Government came to power almost 10,000 foreign national offenders (FNOs) have been returned, an increase of 36%, and we will continue to do everything we can to remove these vile criminals from our streets.

The information you have requested regarding the Facilitated Return Scheme (FRS) is not available from published statistics.

FRS offers all FNOs with a determinate prison sentence the opportunity to volunteer to return to their country of origin. The scheme also allows for immediate qualifying family members departing the UK with the eligible FNO a financial support package.

It is not an alternative to removal or deportation but facilitates the early removal of FNOs and helps them to re-settle and remain in their country of origin. Voluntary removals benefit the UK taxpayer as detention and appeals are significantly reduced.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) foreign national offenders and (b) immediate family members of foreign national offenders were removed from the UK under the Facilitated Return Scheme in the last 12 months.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Since this Government came to power almost 10,000 foreign national offenders (FNOs) have been returned, an increase of 36%, and we will continue to do everything we can to remove these vile criminals from our streets.

The information you have requested regarding the Facilitated Return Scheme (FRS) is not available from published statistics.

FRS offers all FNOs with a determinate prison sentence the opportunity to volunteer to return to their country of origin. The scheme also allows for immediate qualifying family members departing the UK with the eligible FNO a financial support package.

It is not an alternative to removal or deportation but facilitates the early removal of FNOs and helps them to re-settle and remain in their country of origin. Voluntary removals benefit the UK taxpayer as detention and appeals are significantly reduced.