Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department has put in place a policy on (a) disclosure and (b) transparency between the Independent Sentencing Review 2024 to 2025 and (i) Ministers and (ii) other members of her Department.

The Review will be guided by the Terms of Reference published on 21 October 2024. In developing their recommendations, the independent Chair and panel will consider how to collect evidence and launched a call for evidence on 14 November.

The Department has not provided formal guidance, and it will be up to the independent review, with the expectation that views of a diverse range of stakeholders will be important, including the public and hon. Members.

A memorandum of understanding has been developed to establish and govern the relationship between the Independent Sentencing Review, and the wider Department and Ministers.