Oral QuestionForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office

“What steps he is taking to help ensure that the Israeli Government upholds its obligations under international law.”

Tabled: 21 October 2026Answered: 27 October 2026

Asked by

Richard Quigley

Labour — Isle of Wight West

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

Answer from Hansard

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Shabana Mahmood)

SDS40—the standard determinate sentences early release scheme—was an emergency measure that we had to take to avert the complete collapse of the criminal justice system following the shocking inheritance left to us by the previous Government. The emergency measure is not, of course, the solution to the crisis that we inherited. That is why we will build the 14,000 prison places that we need, and have launched the independent review of sentencing.