Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) received 12,651 acceptances for payments of criminal injuries compensation.

2,280 were paid more than 20 working days after the acceptance was received.

The average number of days to pay an acceptance from those received between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026 was 14 working days*.

*These figures are based on the date when the acceptance form was added to CICA’s case management system.

Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) received 12,651 acceptances for payments of criminal injuries compensation.

2,280 were paid more than 20 working days after the acceptance was received.

The average number of days to pay an acceptance from those received between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026 was 14 working days*.

*These figures are based on the date when the acceptance form was added to CICA’s case management system.

This Government inherited a prisons system days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. Our landmark Sentencing Act 2026 will now deliver a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis we inherited, including through the progression model which will help ensure there are always enough places for the courts to be able to send people to custody in order to keep the public safe.

The progression model amends release points for offenders serving standard determinate sentences.

That is why we have taken tough decisions to stop prisons running out of space while keeping the public safe. But we have also listened to victims and acted on their concerns. Any unlawful killing offence such as manslaughter, death by dangerous driving, as well as further historic child sex offences, will now be excluded, on top of rape and serious child sex offences.

A full list of exclusions can be found here: Sentencing Act 2026 offence exclusions - GOV.UK

These exclusions are in addition to the existing exclusion of over 18,000 offenders serving the most more serious sentences.

The date from which the progression model will apply, and the date of the first tranche of releases, has changed. The first tranche of releases will no longer take place on 2 September 2026 as previously planned, but on 1 October 2026.

Whilst is not possible to know precise future release data in advance, we have published the best available modelled estimates of the volumes of offenders estimated to be released on the first day of each tranche. This information is now available at: Sentencing Act 2026 offence exclusions - GOV.UK

The Ministry of Justice also routinely publishes Accredited Official Statistics on prisoner releases as part of the Offender Management Statistics Quarterly (OMSQ) publication.

Asylum support is for essential living needs and nothing more.

There is a strict no alcohol policy within accommodation sites where residents are required to comply with site rules.

Upon arrival asylum seekers are given an induction setting out acceptable and unacceptable behaviours, as well as their responsibilities as individuals.

This Government inherited a prisons system days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. Our landmark Sentencing Act 2026 will now deliver a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis we inherited, including through the progression model which will help ensure there are always enough places for the courts to be able to send people to custody in order to keep the public safe.

The progression model amends release points for offenders on standard determinate sentences. As a result of the new release points, some offenders currently in prison will be eligible for earlier release. To ensure the release of these prisoners is done as safely as possible, prisoners will be released in ten monthly tranches, running from 2 September 2026 to June 2027.

It is not possible to know future release data precisely so far in advance, including because eligible offenders might be sentenced to prison between now and the commencement date for tranche 1 on 2 September 2026. There will also be current prisoners who have not yet had ongoing, additional criminal proceedings against them completed. Nor do we know any added days for bad behaviour committed between now and the final tranche in June 2027.

The Ministry of Justice routinely publishes Accredited Official Statistics on prisoner releases as part of the Offender Management Statistics Quarterly (OMSQ) publication.

This Government inherited a prison system on the brink of collapse, and we are fixing this crisis. Through the introduction of the landmark Sentencing Act, we are ensuring that courts retain the ability to impose custodial sentences on serious and dangerous offenders. Without these measures, the prison estate would have faced the risk of exhausting available capacity.

The progression model introduced by the Sentencing Act will come into force on 2 September 2026. The revised release arrangements apply to sentence types rather than to specific offences or individual cases. More than 18,000 of the most serious and dangerous offenders are excluded from these changes and will continue to serve custodial terms in line with existing arrangements.

Eligible victims who have opted into the Probation Service Victim Contact Scheme, where the offender is serving a standard determinate sentence, are being informed of the commencement of the legislation. Victim Liaison Officers will write to victims again to confirm whether the offender’s release date has changed as a result of the new arrangements.

As of 23 June 2026, 7,308 victims had been contacted and informed of the legislative changes. This figure should not be interpreted as the number of offenders affected, as not all offenders will necessarily receive an earlier release date. Additionally, not all victims choose to participate in the Victim Contact Scheme, and some offenders have multiple victims.

All large sites used for asylum accommodation are part of the Asylum Accommodation Programme which is part of the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) and, as such, are required to publish Accounting Officer Advice summaries on GOV.UK, with the most recent having been published in November 2025.

We have improved our understanding of project costings by referencing actuals from previous sites such as Wethersfield, enabling more accurate budgeting and financial planning.

We are confident that the level of due diligence carried out on sites has improved and that value for money assessments take place at the appropriate stage.

There has been a sustained and unprecedented rise in applications to register children’s homes, particularly in certain areas of the country such as the North West.

In September 2025, in response to this rise Ofsted published their revised policy for prioritising children’s homes applications.

The criteria prioritise applications where a child subject to a deprivation of liberty order is being accommodated in a children’s home that is currently unregistered, the provision is being opened exclusively to look after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children transferred under the national transfer scheme, the provision is needed in exceptional circumstances in response to an emergency situation or where the provision is funded by the department.

Ofsted advise priority applications should receive a decision within 3 to 6 months; non-priority applications within 6 to 18 months.

Ofsted liaised closely with the department during the development of these criteria which align with our wider action to reshape the placements market which includes children’s homes. We are introducing a package of measures, including through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act which will help ensure we have the right homes in the right places for our most vulnerable children.

There has been a sustained and unprecedented rise in applications to register children’s homes, particularly in certain areas of the country such as the North West.

In September 2025, in response to this rise Ofsted published their revised policy for prioritising children’s homes applications.

The criteria prioritise applications where a child subject to a deprivation of liberty order is being accommodated in a children’s home that is currently unregistered, the provision is being opened exclusively to look after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children transferred under the national transfer scheme, the provision is needed in exceptional circumstances in response to an emergency situation or where the provision is funded by the department.

Ofsted advise priority applications should receive a decision within 3 to 6 months; non-priority applications within 6 to 18 months.

Ofsted liaised closely with the department during the development of these criteria which align with our wider action to reshape the placements market which includes children’s homes. We are introducing a package of measures, including through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act which will help ensure we have the right homes in the right places for our most vulnerable children.

We know that some patients prefer not to use online services. Online tools complement rather than replace existing routes, such as telephone or walk-in access. The GP contract requires online access to be available during core hours, which eases pressure on phone lines and reception staff as non-digital routes to access care. Under this Government, patient satisfaction with GP access has risen from 61% to 75%.

The Government recognises the important role that Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) play in supporting grassroots sport and promoting participation across the UK.

CASC rules, including the threshold for annual membership fees, are designed to ensure clubs that benefit from the scheme are accessible and affordable for people across all communities in the UK.

The current rules require that clubs membership fees must be set at a level that does not represent a significant barrier to participation.

The Government keeps the monetary thresholds for the CASC scheme under review. Any case for change must be weighed carefully against wider tax and spending priorities and support the scheme’s objectives to remain fair and inclusive. Currently, there are no plans to change thresholds in this area.

The evidence available on the harms and benefits of screen use in under-five year olds is emerging and mixed. We welcome the research commissioned by the 1,001 Critical Days Foundation and its contribution to the evidence base.

The early years are a critical period for children’s development. Screens can play a role, but healthy development depends on sufficient sleep, play, real-world interaction, and responsive adult engagement. On 27 March, the Government published advice on screen use for children aged zero to five years old on the Best Start in Life website. Informed by a panel of experts, it offers practical, non-judgemental support to help families balance screen use with other activities. We will keep this under review as the area develops and will determine whether our current advice to parents should change.

I pay tribute to the hon. Member for championing deep geothermal. This Government recognise the potential that deep geothermal represents, particularly as a source for heat networks. Our priority is building out heat network infrastructure, which can then connect to any heat source. The green heat network fund and contracts for difference offer opportunities for geothermal projects to demonstrate the potential to de-risk both heat and power.

The CPS does not have any internal guidance relating to public commentary on public policy matters.

The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England – which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions.

The Government is also investing £85 million into grassroots sport facilities through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities (MSGF) Programme in 2026/27. Projects funded through the programme include new and upgraded artificial grass pitches (AGPs), multi-sport hubs and changing pavilions. At least 40% of funded projects will have a multi-sport offer, allowing more people to access a wider variety of sports including rugby, cricket and basketball.

The MSGF Programme aims to promote health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, people with disabilities, and ethnic minority communities.

Our delivery partner for the programme in England, the Football Foundation, are happy to discuss any queries relating to the funding application process. The Foundation also provide detailed guidance to applicants applying for both small and large projects, which can be found on the ‘What We Fund’ page on their website (https://footballfoundation.org.uk).

We are working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what grassroots sports facilities each community needs to inform future investment.

Data on prisoners serving determinate and indeterminate sentences are published regularly in the Offender Management Statistics Quarterly, which includes information on offenders by main custody type and offence group: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/offender-management-statistics-quarterly.

The data used to produce the accredited official statistics does not allow us to easily identify standard determinate sentences from all determinate sentences in a robust way and therefore the information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The Government are committed to reforming the Child Maintenance Service to get more money to children by removing direct pay to combat hidden non-compliance, streamlining enforcement by introducing administrative liability orders and improving our most serious enforcement measures. That said, there are currently no plans to introduce curfew measures; doing so would require amendments to primary legislation and raise significant safeguarding concerns for paying parents and those who live with them.

The Government recognises the importance of safe and timely shearing to protect animal welfare. The sheep shearing concession has been operating for 15 years and it is reasonable to expect that over this period a long-term sustainable solution had been found to identify this workforce gap. Therefore, having considered the potential merits, and in line with the plans set out in the White Paper “Restoring Control over the Immigration System,” published in May 2025, the Government does not consider a long-term route is required.

The Government expects the sector to meet these needs through the domestic workforce and individuals with existing general work rights, including dependants or Youth Mobility Scheme visa holders, who are free to take up work as a sheep shearer subject to the relevant visa restrictions.

In homes and buildings, a heat network is required to make use of deep geothermal heat. The Warm Homes Plan set out our support for low-carbon heat networks, including Heat Network Zoning and £1bn in investment over the course of this Parliament. It is for heat network developers to select the best heat sources for their network, and this may include deep geothermal where it can provide affordable low-carbon heat for consumers.

In 2023, the Department co-funded a study with the Northeast Local Enterprise Partnership on the UK’s deep geothermal potential. This outlines the opportunities and benefits of deep Geothermal energy in the UK, including how it can aid with the North Sea transition and levelling up on the North-East coast.