Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what advice they are giving to prosecuting authorities, and via court sentencing guidelines, to minimise the number of women sentenced to imprisonment for any reason other than the protection of the public.

Charging decisions, and guidance are made by the Crown Prosecution Service, and sentencing is determined by independent courts. The Sentencing Council for England and Wales issues guidelines for sentencing that apply to all offenders and operates independently from Government.

It is right that we have a gender-neutral sentencing framework that recognises the specific circumstances of individual offenders.

Whilst there will always be women who do need to be in custody, we must ensure they are given the best chance possible to tackle the drivers of their offending and to contribute meaningfully to society.

This Government has delivered on a manifesto commitment by launching an Independent Review of Sentencing, chaired by former Lord Chancellor, David Gauke. The Review will assess whether the sentencing framework appropriately considers the specific needs or vulnerabilities of women. Additionally, we will establish a Women’s Justice Board with a clear ambition to reduce the number of women in prison and address their distinct needs within the Criminal Justice System.