Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many criminal cases in England and Wales are listed for their next substantive hearing in a) 2027, b) 2028, c) 2029 and d) 2030 or later.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
As at 30 September 2026 (the latest available data), the number of criminal cases in England and Wales listed for trial in 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 are as follows:
Future Trial Date | Number of Trials |
2027 | 26,999 |
2028 | 7,997 |
2029 | 2,736 |
2030 | 702 |
HMCTS Management Information – extracted Crown Operational Dashboard 15 October 2026
The Lord Chancellor has made clear his commitment to reduce the Crown Court backlog and enable victims to have their day in court faster – this is why we are acting on all fronts. We are investing heavily in Crown Court capacity, court infrastructure, uncapped sitting days, technology and legal aid. We are also driving greater efficiency in the courts through measures such as responsible AI innovation, case coordinators for every Crown Court centre, and close collaboration with the judiciary on their reforms to listing practices and virtual hearings guidance. The Government has also brought forward structural reforms through the Courts and Tribunals Bill – based on Lord Leveson’s recommendations in his Independent Review of the Criminal Courts – to ease pressure on the Crown Court, ensure proportionate allocation of resource, and redress the balance between victims and defendants.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what is the latest date currently to a Crown Court trial as a result of court backlogs.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Government inherited a record and rising backlog. We know this means that thousands of victims, witnesses and defendants are waiting years for their day in court, and justice delayed is justice denied. As at 30 September 2026 (the latest available date), the furthest-listed Crown Court trial was scheduled for December 2030.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether UKHSA is planning to conduct further research and evidence review of the levels of PFAS near industrial sites in (a) England and (b) the UK.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Committee on Toxicity continues its work assessing the evidence to support the human health risk assessment of PFAS by Government departments and agencies in the context of existing and legacy exposure through food, drinking water, and the environment. Further details can be found at the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cot-subgroup-terms-of-references/pfas-terms-of-reference
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment UKHSA has made of the necessity to conduct further research and evidence review of the levels of PFAS near industrial sites in (a) England and (b) the UK.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Committee on Toxicity continues its work assessing the evidence to support the human health risk assessment of PFAS by Government departments and agencies in the context of existing and legacy exposure through food, drinking water, and the environment. Further details can be found at the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cot-subgroup-terms-of-references/pfas-terms-of-reference
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department takes to assess when a national Government response is needed during a climate emergency.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Amber Book, publicly available on gov.uk, is the UK Government’s national framework for crisis response. It establishes clear roles and responsibilities for emergencies, including defining expectations across the lifecycle of a crisis. It also defines arrangements for responding to acute emergencies, as well as enduring response arrangements for issues that continue to pose an enduring challenge over a longer timeframe.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether her Department has produced modelling on the timing of Government responses to a) wildfires and b) flooding.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office works with other government departments, including MHCLG (lead government department for wildfires) and Defra (lead government department for flooding) to closely monitor emerging risks to enable the government to respond rapidly and proportionately as required. The Cabinet Office will continue to liaise with the relevant departments throughout any response required.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how the funding for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will be divided between the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The exact funding split is currently being determined. Departmental teams are reviewing the relevant budgets to determine the specific resources for each transferring function. Final figures will be confirmed through standard Machinery of Government processes and set out in the Supplementary Estimates.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report by Transport and Environment entitled 'Overshoot: How expansion plans break European airports' carbon limits'.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government considers a range of evidence on aviation emissions, including relevant international and European analysis and external reports.
Aviation demand associated with an expanded Heathrow has been factored into successive carbon budget assessments, most recently the impact assessment for the Seventh Carbon Budget. The Government takes an economy-wide approach to meeting carbon budgets, considering the overall package of policies and proposals required across sectors. This supports delivery of net zero through the most practical and cost-effective pathway.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of UK aviation expansion on carbon emissions set in a a) global and b) European context.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government considers a range of evidence on aviation emissions, including relevant international and European analysis and external reports.
Aviation demand associated with an expanded Heathrow has been factored into successive carbon budget assessments, most recently the impact assessment for the Seventh Carbon Budget. The Government takes an economy-wide approach to meeting carbon budgets, considering the overall package of policies and proposals required across sectors. This supports delivery of net zero through the most practical and cost-effective pathway.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will set out which sectors will be required to make savings in carbon emissions in the context of proposals to expand Heathrow Airport.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government considers a range of evidence on aviation emissions, including relevant international and European analysis and external reports.
Aviation demand associated with an expanded Heathrow has been factored into successive carbon budget assessments, most recently the impact assessment for the Seventh Carbon Budget. The Government takes an economy-wide approach to meeting carbon budgets, considering the overall package of policies and proposals required across sectors. This supports delivery of net zero through the most practical and cost-effective pathway.