To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Lemos on 15 September (HL2861), what the cost to the taxpayer of holding foreign national offenders in prisons was in (1) 2025, and (2) 2026 to date.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Lemos on 15 September (HL2861), what the cost to the taxpayer of holding foreign national offenders in prisons was in (1) 2025, and (2) 2026 to date.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Lemos on 27 July (HL2715), how many exemptions were granted under the previous Government to permit a transgender woman who retained male genitalia, or who had been charged with or convicted of a sexual or violent offence, to be...

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Lemos on 27 July (HL2715), how many exemptions were granted under the previous Government to permit a transgender woman who retained male genitalia, or who had been charged with or convicted of a sexual or violent offence, to be...

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk of individuals looking for reputable lawyers being directed by AI chatbots to solicitors' firms which have been sanctioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk of individuals looking for reputable lawyers being directed by AI chatbots to solicitors' firms which have been sanctioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of reforming the judicial review process for nationally significant infrastructure projects; and how much time they anticipate will be saved, on average, as a result of these measures.

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of reforming the judicial review process for nationally significant infrastructure projects; and how much time they anticipate will be saved, on average, as a result of these measures.

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...

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...

To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of prisoners in each ethnic group were subject to a disciplinary adjudication in the most recent year for which figures are available.

To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of prisoners in each ethnic group were subject to a disciplinary adjudication in the most recent year for which figures are available.

To ask His Majesty's Government what information they hold on whether prison adjudication procedures and penalties are used differentially for prisoners from different ethnic groups; and what assessment they have made of any disparities identified.

To ask His Majesty's Government what information they hold on whether prison adjudication procedures and penalties are used differentially for prisoners from different ethnic groups; and what assessment they have made of any disparities identified.

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect the Health and Safety Executive's Crown Censure proceedings concerning radon exposure at HMP Dartmoor to conclude; and what assessment they have made of those proceedings and any recommendations arising from them to date.

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect the Health and Safety Executive's Crown Censure proceedings concerning radon exposure at HMP Dartmoor to conclude; and what assessment they have made of those proceedings and any recommendations arising from them to date.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the health implications of historic radon exposure for former prisoners and staff at HMP Dartmoor; and whether they plan to publish that assessment.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the health implications of historic radon exposure for former prisoners and staff at HMP Dartmoor; and whether they plan to publish that assessment.

I am happy to ask the Home Office again; it is not my department, but I speak for the Government. However, my view remains, in relation to putting out data that is misleading or unreliable—I am sorry, but hollow laughter does not help to get to the truth—this is a difficult enough debate in the public square without misleading information.

I am happy to ask the Home Office again; it is not my department, but I speak for the Government. However, my view remains, in relation to putting out data that is misleading or unreliable—I am sorry, but hollow laughter does not help to get to the truth—this is a difficult enough debate in the public square without misleading information.

My Lords, within our first two years this Government increased returns of foreign national offenders by 41% compared to the last two years of the previous Government. Between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2026, more than 3,000 foreign offenders were removed directly from prison under the early removal scheme. Next year, new powers will enable some determinate-sentence foreign national offenders to be deported immediately after sentencing, and we have established a cross-government taskforce to maximise removals.

My Lords, within our first two years this Government increased returns of foreign national offenders by 41% compared to the last two years of the previous Government. Between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2026, more than 3,000 foreign offenders were removed directly from prison under the early removal scheme. Next year, new powers will enable some determinate-sentence foreign national offenders to be deported immediately after sentencing, and we have established a cross-government taskforce to maximise removals.

My Lords, the information that the noble Baroness refers to is held by the Home Office but is not in a reportable format for data extraction purposes. The UK is committed to its human rights obligations at home and abroad, including the European Convention on Human Rights. However, that commitment does not mean complacency. The Chiinău declaration, adopted in May, recognises that the ECHR must not unnecessarily constrain the ability of sovereign states to expel serious criminals, and the Government are also legislating in the Immigration and Asylum Bill currently before the other place.

My Lords, the information that the noble Baroness refers to is held by the Home Office but is not in a reportable format for data extraction purposes. The UK is committed to its human rights obligations at home and abroad, including the European Convention on Human Rights. However, that commitment does not mean complacency. The Chiinău declaration, adopted in May, recognises that the ECHR must not unnecessarily constrain the ability of sovereign states to expel serious criminals, and the Government are also legislating in the Immigration and Asylum Bill currently before the other place.

I thank the noble Baroness for that question. It is an excellent summary of the approach we are taking. HMPPS has a very substantial budget, and we have been working on advancing the deportation of foreign national offenders for many years. The fact is that it has not come down as a proportion. That is why the noble Baroness is right that we need to speed the process up, and that is why we are legislating. We shall of course seek to find the resources to do that.

I thank the noble Baroness for that question. It is an excellent summary of the approach we are taking. HMPPS has a very substantial budget, and we have been working on advancing the deportation of foreign national offenders for many years. The fact is that it has not come down as a proportion. That is why the noble Baroness is right that we need to speed the process up, and that is why we are legislating. We shall of course seek to find the resources to do that.

Our position on this is that we will use prisoner transfer agreements where they exist and with those countries where we can make such agreements. However, as the noble and learned Lord knows, they are not an easy or quick route. Our commitment is therefore that we will deport foreign national offenders as soon as they have been sentenced. We introduced that in the Sentencing Act and we will commence it in the New Year. We are very serious about this. Of course we will work with our bilateral partners internationally, but it is our commitment that where foreigners commit offences, except for very serious offences, they will be deported.

Our position on this is that we will use prisoner transfer agreements where they exist and with those countries where we can make such agreements. However, as the noble and learned Lord knows, they are not an easy or quick route. Our commitment is therefore that we will deport foreign national offenders as soon as they have been sentenced. We introduced that in the Sentencing Act and we will commence it in the New Year. We are very serious about this. Of course we will work with our bilateral partners internationally, but it is our commitment that where foreigners commit offences, except for very serious offences, they will be deported.

I have already said in response to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Garnier, that our policy is that we intend to deport people who are foreign national offenders. It is not a question of whether countries will accept them. Our intention is to deport them. I have already explained the difficulties with prisoner transfer agreements. By all means we can explore these other routes, but the policy will remain that, if foreign national offenders commit offences in this country then our intention is to deport them, except in the case of very serious offences.

I have already said in response to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Garnier, that our policy is that we intend to deport people who are foreign national offenders. It is not a question of whether countries will accept them. Our intention is to deport them. I have already explained the difficulties with prisoner transfer agreements. By all means we can explore these other routes, but the policy will remain that, if foreign national offenders commit offences in this country then our intention is to deport them, except in the case of very serious offences.

With respect, no, I do not agree with that comment from my noble friend. Of course people who commit offences in this country should be punished, and that is our intention, but, as I have said,

we intend to deport people. I do not regard that as a travesty of justice. Being deported from this country and not being allowed to return is a punishment in itself, and that is what we shall do.

With respect, no, I do not agree with that comment from my noble friend. Of course people who commit offences in this country should be punished, and that is our intention, but, as I have said,

we intend to deport people. I do not regard that as a travesty of justice. Being deported from this country and not being allowed to return is a punishment in itself, and that is what we shall do.

We will, of course, discuss with the Home Office and across government how we can make sure, in the interests of transparency and in the interest, if I may say so, of a well-informed public debate, that we get the information out there, but, as I have said, we are not going to put out information that is not in a reportable format. I will go back and ask again, but I doubt that the position is going to change.

On the ECHR, I realise now that if you aspire to power in the Tory party then you have to advertise your commitment to getting rid of that convention. That is not this Government’s policy. We are committed to the ECHR.

We will, of course, discuss with the Home Office and across government how we can make sure, in the interests of transparency and in the interest, if I may say so, of a well-informed public debate, that we get the information out there, but, as I have said, we are not going to put out information that is not in a reportable format. I will go back and ask again, but I doubt that the position is going to change.

On the ECHR, I realise now that if you aspire to power in the Tory party then you have to advertise your commitment to getting rid of that convention. That is not this Government’s policy. We are committed to the ECHR.

It is precisely with that in mind that my right honourable friend the Home Secretary is clarifying this in the Immigration and Asylum Bill, so that we can put in place a public interest test to ensure that we can make the right arrangements for these deportations, including respect for their rights under the ECHR.

It is precisely with that in mind that my right honourable friend the Home Secretary is clarifying this in the Immigration and Asylum Bill, so that we can put in place a public interest test to ensure that we can make the right arrangements for these deportations, including respect for their rights under the ECHR.

It is fair to say that the previous Government did not release this data either.

It is fair to say that the previous Government did not release this data either.

I am very happy to elaborate on that; I do believe it in my heart of hearts. I also believe in the political declaration from 46 member countries of the Council of Europe which recognised, in the political declaration from the Chiinău meeting—a good word, which I enjoy using from the Dispatch Box—that the ECHR must not unnecessarily constrain the ability of sovereign states to protect their borders or expel serious criminals, and that the threshold for Article 3 in relation to “inhuman or degrading treatment” must remain high and constant. This Government feel that they have done a lot to put that on the agenda of the Council of Europe, and we have received a lot of support for it. So, yes, I do feel optimistic about it.

I am very happy to elaborate on that; I do believe it in my heart of hearts. I also believe in the political declaration from 46 member countries of the Council of Europe which recognised, in the political declaration from the Chiinău meeting—a good word, which I enjoy using from the Dispatch Box—that the ECHR must not unnecessarily constrain the ability of sovereign states to protect their borders or expel serious criminals, and that the threshold for Article 3 in relation to “inhuman or degrading treatment” must remain high and constant. This Government feel that they have done a lot to put that on the agenda of the Council of Europe, and we have received a lot of support for it. So, yes, I do feel optimistic about it.