Ben Goldsborough MP: written questions 2025
151 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Offenders: Prison AccommodationMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47486More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of offenders on the (a) secure estate and (b) young offenders institute estate were unlocked for (i) less than two hours, (ii) more than two hours and (iii) more than eight hours in each of the la
Answer: As we do not hold sufficient data to undertake the necessary calculations, it is not possible to provide the requested information.
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCustodial Treatment: StandardsMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47485More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has issued guidance for prison governors to ensure offenders receive first-night well-being checks upon arrival onto the secure estate.
Answer: All prisons in England and Wales are guided by Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 07/2015 – ‘Early Days in Custody – Reception in, First Night in Custody and Induction to Custody’. This policy sets out the mandatory requirements for prisons in relation to t...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordReoffendersMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47484More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the use of force by staff on the secure estate on reoffending rates.
Answer: Physical intervention to resolve incidents is only ever to be used as a last resort. Staff receive extensive training in de-escalation techniques and conflict resolution to reduce the need for physical intervention, and regular reviews and analyses of use...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCustodial Treatment: Unpaid WorkMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47483More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much money has been spent on unpaid work in the secure estate in each of the last 10 financial years.
Answer: While there is not anything specifically named ‘unpaid work’ in prisons, and we therefore cannot provide information on how much has been spent on it, convicted prisoners are expected to work and there are various jobs across prison workshops, kitchens, l...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCustodial Treatment: Unpaid WorkMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47482More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department has made an estimate of the value added by unpaid work projects on the secure estate.
Answer: While there is not anything specifically named ‘unpaid work’ in prisons, and we therefore cannot provide information on how much has been spent on it, convicted prisoners are expected to work and there are various jobs across prison workshops, kitchens, l...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCustodial Treatment: Unpaid WorkMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47481More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents of assault on unpaid work staff have been reported in each of the last 10 financial years.
Answer: Community Rehabilitation Companies previously held responsibility for unpaid work, until being unified back into the National Probation Service on 26 June 2021. HM Prisons and Probation Service does not hold incident reporting information prior to this da...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCustodial Treatment: Unpaid WorkMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47480More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many unpaid work (a) staff and (b) supervisors have been employed in each of the last 10 financial years.
Answer: The number of unpaid work (a) staff and (b) supervisors that have been employed in each of the last 10 financial years can be seen in the below table:Table 1 - Number of unpaid work staff in post on 31 March 2022 to 2024 and 31 December 2024 (Full Time Eq...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordOffenders: Education and Unpaid WorkMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47479More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of offenders on the secure estate undertook (a) unpaid work, (b) education and (c) vocational training in each of the last 10 financial years.
Answer: We set out management information relating to three relevant elements of purposeful activity below. However, this data was only developed as a measure from 2021/2022 so we are unable to provide it for the last 10 years. The percentages include prisoners w...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordOffenders: English Language and MathematicsMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47478More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders entering the secure estate had an (a) English and (b) mathematics functional skills level (a) below and (b) above entry-level 3 in each of the last 10 financial years.
Answer: The functional skills level of prisoners recorded from initial English and maths assessments are published as part of the annual Prison Education and Accredited Programmes Statistics at Prison Education and Accredited Programme Statistics - GOV.UK. The Mi...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordOffenders: EmploymentMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47477More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a target for the number of offenders on the secure estate who have employment roles.
Answer: We know that finding employment after release reduces the chance of reoffending significantly, by up to nine percentage points. Undertaking work in custody provides offenders with opportunity to develop key skills that will increase their chance of gainin...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordOffenders: Crimes against the PersonMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47476More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) offender-on-offender and (b) offender-on-staff assaults have taken place on the secure estate in each of the last 10 financial years.
Answer: The number of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and assaults on staff for the financial year are shown in the summary tables of the Safety in Custody publication to March 2024: Safety in custody: quarterly update to March 2024 - GOV.UK Specifically, table 4 i...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPrisoners' TransfersMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47475More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders on the secure estate were held in unsuitable conditions while awaiting transfer in each of the last 10 financial years.
Answer: His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service do not hold prisoners in unsuitable physical conditions. Maintenance issues are reported locally to facilities management providers, who prioritise them for action. Cells that are deemed unsuitable for safety or ...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPrisoners: Accident and Emergency DepartmentsMinistry of JusticeTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to reduce delays in prisoners accessing emergency hospital care.
Answer: Prison governors are responsible for ensuring that their establishments respond promptly and appropriately to medical emergencies, and that prison staff are aware of their own responsibilities and of the local procedures in place to support a streamlined ...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordYouth Custody: Self-harmMinistry of JusticeTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43672More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce incidence of self harm on the secure estate.
Answer: We recognise that rates of self-harm across the estate are high, and we are taking action to address this.We provide individualised support through our case management process for people assessed as at risk of self-harm. This approach places a strong emph...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSugar BeetDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure British Sugar agrees the (a) price and (b) terms of future sugar beet contracts with NFU Sugar.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of sugar beet farmers and their vital contribution to UK sugar production. Also, that sugar beet itself, used in crop rotations, is beneficial to soil and crop health and allows arable farms a season of “rest” from...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSugar BeetDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of confirming NFU Sugar as the UK sugar beet growers’ representative in contract negotiations with British Sugar.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of sugar beet farmers and their vital contribution to UK sugar production. Also, that sugar beet itself, used in crop rotations, is beneficial to soil and crop health and allows arable farms a season of “rest” from...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSugar BeetDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that the sole processor negotiates with the growers’ collective representative in the sugar beet sector.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of sugar beet farmers and their vital contribution to UK sugar production. Also, that sugar beet itself, used in crop rotations, is beneficial to soil and crop health and allows arable farms a season of “rest” from...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDangerous Driving: Rural AreasHome OfficeTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31393More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce speeding on rural lanes and highways.
Answer: Excess speed is still a major cause of death and serious injury on our roads. Anyone who breaks the speed limit should expect to face sanction.Enforcement of speeding offences in rural lanes and highways and the deployment of available resources and capab...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordShoplifting: Rural AreasHome OfficeTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31392More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce shoplifting in rural convenience stores.
Answer: In the last year of the previous government, shop theft soared to a twenty-year high, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers. We will not stand for this.No matter where you live, we are clear that when you report a crime...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCrime: Rural AreasHome OfficeTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31391More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce crime in rural villages.
Answer: Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities.That is why this Government is committed to reducing crime in rural areas.Under our Safer Streets Mission, rural communities will be safeguarded, with tougher measures to clamp down...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Oxford-cambridge ArcDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31390More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential economic impact of trains operating on the proposed Oxford to Cambridge rail line continuing their journey to Norwich via the Breckland line.
Answer: There are currently no plans to extend East-West Rail services beyond its core scope, but through services may be an option in the future – and doing so would not be precluded by any scope being delivered as part of East-West Rail.
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Norwich and CambridgeDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31388More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the frequency of rail services for commuters between Norwich and Cambridge.
Answer: Greater Anglia continuously reviews passenger numbers and service levels and in collaboration with Network Rail, adjusts timetables where there is the case to do so and where it is possible. In addition, Network Rail is currently carrying out a route stud...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTaxis: DisabilityDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31386More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that disabled travellers are not discriminated against when using taxi services.
Answer: Disabled people should be able to travel easily, confidently and with dignity, like anybody else and the Government understands the importance of taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) services in making this possible. Consistent with other service providers...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31385More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help improve highway safety on rural lanes.
Answer: We have awarded local authorities £185.8 million of funding between 2017 and 2024 through the Safer Roads Fund to improve the safety of England's most high risk 'A' roads. To date, it has funded 445.3 miles of rural roads which make up 62.4% of all funded...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31384More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to electric vehicle charging points in rural communities.
Answer: A widespread, easy-to-use and reliable network of public chargepoints is crucial to support the electric vehicle transition. In 2024, nearly 20,000 public charging devices were added to the network, making it a record year. There was particularly strong ...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
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