Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to record data on different disability impairment types.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is committed to supporting all vulnerable people who come into contact with the criminal justice system. We recognise the importance of meeting the needs of this cohort, are therefore taking steps to improve data collection on disability.

This includes ongoing work by HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) to implement a new data categorisation list which aligns with that used by the World Health Organisation and the Government Statistical Service on the new Prison National Offender Management Information System (new-NOMIS). This will include a more complete list of conditions which will allow HMPPS to more accurately record impairments and support the individual needs of offenders.

Improvements have also been made in the breadth of data captured on NDelius, the probation case management system. Probation data collection covers the protected characteristics, and records specific conditions as narrative detail under broad headings such as Autism Spectrum Condition, Visual Impairment, Reduced Physical Capacity and others.

The MoJ is also committed to supporting staff with disabilities. The department is working to improve the robustness of employee disability data, and to record data with more accurate recognition of disability impairment types.