Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Sentencing Act 2026 on the healthcare treatment of offenders who commit minor crimes.

The Sentencing Act 2026 will reduce the use of short custodial sentences and expand the use of community-based disposals where appropriate. This creates opportunities to strengthen routes into treatment pathways, including diverting people with mental health, drug and alcohol needs away from the criminal justice system where appropriate.

The Ministry of Justice is working closely with NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), who are responsible for healthcare services in the community, to maximise the impact of the available treatment offer, targeting support where it can have the greatest impact.

Liaison and Diversion services play a vital role ensuring that when people first encounter the justice system, they can be referred into appropriate health or social care pathways to ensure they receive the right support from the first point of contact. In parallel, we are working closely with health partners to increase the use and effectiveness of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements, tackling the root causes of offending behaviour through structured treatment.

We are also launching an additional seven Intensive Supervision Courts (ISCs), which provide an alternative to short custodial sentences by keeping eligible offenders in the community with wraparound support, including drug and alcohol treatment, mental health support and judicial oversight.