Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the publication of the National Audit Office's report on electronic monitoring on 10 July, what steps they are taking to reduce the forecast shortfall of 1,500 full-time equivalent probation staff by September 2026; and what assessment they have made of the risk this shortfall poses to the safe delivery of the earned progression model from September 2026.

This financial year, we have committed ourselves to recruiting 1,300 additional probation officers, to add to over 2,300 we recruited in the last two years, to help monitor offenders and keep the public safe.

Under the progression model, prison leavers will face the toughest supervision ever available, with record levels of tagging, world-first restriction zones to confine offenders to specific areas, and bans on attending public events, public houses and clubs.

Progression model releases are happening in a controlled and orderly way to ensure public protection.