Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what is the longest wait time for a magistrate appointed in the 2025-26 recruitment round to start of their judicial training.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Magistrates' training is a matter for the independent judiciary. Data about the provision and completion of training is held by the Judicial College on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice.
New magistrates are appointed on a rolling basis and are invited to book their induction training by the Judicial College as soon as the College is notified of their appointment. Induction training comprises a number of elements completed over a period of weeks and training places are planned on the basis of anticipated appointments. Of those magistrates appointed between 1 April and 30 June 2026, 27% have fully completed their induction training, 49% have booked and 24% have yet to book.
The College does not hold analysis of data on the time between appointment and the start of training for magistrates appointed in 2025-26.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many newly appointed magistrates are awaiting the start of their judicial training.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Magistrates' training is a matter for the independent judiciary. Data about the provision and completion of training is held by the Judicial College on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice.
New magistrates are appointed on a rolling basis and are invited to book their induction training by the Judicial College as soon as the College is notified of their appointment. Induction training comprises a number of elements completed over a period of weeks and training places are planned on the basis of anticipated appointments. Of those magistrates appointed between 1 April and 30 June 2026, 27% have fully completed their induction training, 49% have booked and 24% have yet to book.
The College does not hold analysis of data on the time between appointment and the start of training for magistrates appointed in 2025-26.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her department has made of the potential impact of the requirement for A2 licence holders to retake both Module 1 and Module 2 practical tests in order to progress to a full category A licence on (a) test waiting times, (b) training costs for riders, and (c) the availability of training providers willing to offer partial training courses; and whether her department plans to introduce a progressive access route based on structured training and assessment.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The current motorcycle licensing regime requires riders seeking to progress from category A2 to category A through the licence upgrade route to successfully complete both Module 1 and Module 2 practical tests.
The Department has not identified evidence that this requirement is creating significant pressures on motorcycle test waiting times, nor evidence of a shortage of approved training providers willing to deliver the training required for riders progressing from A2 to A licences.
While riders will incur additional training and test fees when progressing to a full category A licence, the current arrangements are intended to ensure that riders demonstrate the higher level of skills and competencies required to ride larger and more powerful motorcycles.
The Government recently consulted on proposals for motorcycle licensing reform, including options for a progressive access route based on structured training and assessment. The consultation closed on 11 May 2026, and the responses are currently being analysed. Further information about the consultation is available on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to protect Surrey’s Steps to Change hub.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
In the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, we have committed to expanding access to tailored interventions for domestic abuse and stalking perpetrators across England and Wales.
The Home Office has launched a £74.5 million competition for the Domestic Abuse and Stalking Perpetrator Intervention Fund which will provide funding over two and a half years (until 31 March 2029).
The competition is open to all Police and Crime Commissioners, and includes interventions tailored to different domestic abuse and stalking perpetrator cohorts and for the first time, ringfenced funding for interventions for children who use harm.