Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people will be released early from prison due to overcapacity in Kent in September 2024; and how many units of accommodation are available for those people.

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

As the allocation process is still in progress, the total number of individuals in Kent to be released from custody at 40% of their standard determinate sentence is not yet known. It is also therefore not possible to ascertain how many units of accommodation would be needed.

Certain offences have been excluded from the SDS change. This includes sex offences irrespective of sentence length; serious violent offences with a sentence of four years or more; specified offences linked to domestic abuse irrespective of sentence length (including stalking, coercive or controlling behaviour and non-fatal strangulation); as well as offences concerning national security. The change will also not apply to sentences subject to release at the discretion of the Parole Board, or to offences which currently attract automatic release from a standard determinate sentence at the two-thirds point (certain serious sexual and violent offences).

Once released, offenders will be subject to the same set of strict license conditions that would have applied had they been released at a 50% automatic release point. They will be liable to recall to prison if they do not comply with these conditions, or are judged to be a risk to public safety.

Any who are at risk of being homeless upon release can be referred to H M Prison & Probation Service’s Community Accommodation Service, which can provide up to 12 weeks’ temporary accommodation, and we are working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to mitigate any impact on local authorities, as well as taking practical steps to minimise the chances that individuals are released homeless.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to review the GP contract.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We hugely value the critical role that general practitioners (GPs) play. We want to work with doctors to get the National Health Service back on its feet, so it works for patients and staff. Our plan to restore GPs will require both investment and reform.

The GP contract is reviewed and amended annually following consultation with relevant stakeholders, and we will begin the process in the coming months. Further detail will be made available to relevant stakeholders in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken to rejuvenate town centres.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are committed to supporting the businesses and communities that make our high streets flourish.

We are funding new partnership models with High Street Accelerators, implementing High Street Rental Auctions, and introducing a strong new ‘right to buy’ for community assets, to empower local communities to rejuvenate our high streets and address the blight of vacant premises.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department has obtained to inform a potential future decision on whether to break Kent County Council into a small number of unitary authorities.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The department has not obtained such information.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will ensure that the upcoming Strategic Defence Review (a) begins with a statement of Britain's (i) interests, (ii) role in the world and (iii) military ambitions over the next 10 years and (b) matches available or planned military resources to that statement of interest, role and ambition.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Strategic Defence Review will determine the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the twenty-first century, deliverable and affordable within the resources available to Defence within the trajectory to 2.5%. The Review will ensure that Defence is central both to the security, and to the economic growth and prosperity, of the United Kingdom.

The Review will identify where reprioritisation of roles, capabilities, activities, and support may be made in the current Defence programme, to allow new investment, achieve better value for money, and secure greater economic gain for the UK, and will make recommendations.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether in light of recent government announcements about the risk of Israel forces being non-compliant with international law, UK intelligence is passed to Israel for the purposes of military targeting.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence only provides support to foreign militaries where it is satisfied that it is lawful under international law and domestic law.

On 2 December 2023, the UK commenced surveillance flights over Gaza solely tasked to support hostage rescue. Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authority responsible for hostage rescue. The surveillance aircraft are unarmed and do not have a combat role.

We are unable comment further on detailed intelligence matters for operational security reasons.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his policy is on the ownership of interests in UK oil and gas companies by sanctioned Russians.

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

If the UK sanctions an individual, their UK assets are frozen. Sanctioned individuals cannot access frozen funds or obtain any financial benefit (including from ownership of interests in UK companies) without HMT/OFSI granting a licence.

Additionally, the National Security and Investment Act allows HMG to intervene in transactions that threaten national security.

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Withdrawal of the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024