Prisoners' Release
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many IPP prisoners who had completed the Building Better Choices programme and were not charged with a further offence received a Parole Board direction for release.
Answered by Ministry of Justice
The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Building Choices is an accredited cognitive-behavioural programme informed by the latest evidence and thinking about what works to reduce reoffending. It is accredited for delivery to adult men and women in prison and community settings and is inclusive, open to those with learning disabilities and challenges (LDC). Building Choices provides a person-centred, needs-led approach which enables participants to explore both offence-specific and wider antisocial behaviours to target the versatility of their offending. Rollout has completed across custody and community, beginning with a small number of Design Test sites in December 2023 and full rollout ending in October 2025.
On 1 September, the Lord Chancellor announced that the Government will bring an end to the IPP sentence for those who continue to serve it and will bring forward legislation to do this by the end of this Parliament. These are complex cases, involving important public protection and victim considerations. Reform will take time to get right.
The Government also remains determined to support the rehabilitation of IPP prisoners, through the IPP Action Plan, which we published on 9 July 2026.
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