Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1171233

registered interest
date	16/01/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Cybercrime: Prosecutions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What recent progress the CPS has made on tackling online crime.
tabling member constituency	West Worcestershire
tabling member printed	Harriett Baldwin
uin	900231
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>The CPS is committed to robustly prosecuting online crime cases, including offline offences with online elements.</p><p> </p><p>In December, the CPS successfully prosecuted three men who, via fake accounts on an online dating platform, met victims to inflict horrendous violent and homophobic abuse. The defendants received significant custodial sentences of between 15 and 17 years.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis grouped question UIN 900232 question first answered 16/01/2020 16:03:31 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin

1171235

registered interest
date	16/01/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Asylum: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the legal implications of Clause 37 of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North West
tabling member printed	Carol Monaghan
uin	900234
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>I cannot comment on Cabinet discussions, or on whether or not I have given legal advice.</p><p> </p><p>What I can say is that the Government remains fully committed to the principle of family reunion and supporting the most vulnerable children. Clause 37 of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill does not represent a change of government policy in that regard. It simply removes the statutory requirement to negotiate.</p> answering member constituency Torridge and West Devon answering member printed Mr Geoffrey Cox question first answered 16/01/2020 15:47:34 answering member 1508 label Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Cox
tabling member	4443 label Biography information for Carol Monaghan

1171236

registered interest
date	16/01/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Immigration: EU Nationals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	If he will hold discussions with the Home Secretary on defining the term Reasonable Excuse for missing the deadline for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
uin	900237
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>I regularly meet ministerial colleagues to discuss important issues of common interest, including of course on matters relating to the UK’s exit from the EU. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the detail of those discussions.</p><p> </p><p>The question of the deadline for the EU Settlement Scheme is a matter for the Home Secretary, but I can assure the Member for Edinburgh North and Leith that the Home Office will publish guidance on what will constitue ‘reasonable grounds’ for missing the deadline for the EU Settlement Scheme.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Torridge and West Devon answering member printed Mr Geoffrey Cox question first answered 16/01/2020 15:46:25 answering member 1508 label Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Cox
tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1170855

registered interest
date	15/01/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Sentencing: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, if he will extend the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme to include additional offences.
tabling member constituency	Shipley
tabling member printed	Philip Davies
uin	900229
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>The Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme is an important avenue for victims, family members and the public to ensure justice is delivered in the most serious cases.</p><p> </p><p>This is why the Government has extended the scheme to cover further child sexual abuse offences, as well as some domestic abuse offences, including controlling and coercive behavior.</p><p> </p><p>The remit of the scheme remains under constant review. We work closely with stakeholders to ensure it appropriately reflects the needs of victims, family members and the public.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 16/01/2020 15:53:18 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

1170428

registered interest
date	13/01/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Sexual Offences: Convictions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps the Government is taking to improve conviction rates for rape and sexual offences.
tabling member constituency	Torfaen
tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
uin	2667
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>Rape is a devastating offence that can have a significant and profound impact on victims, and the CPS is committed to bringing perpetrators of these horrific crimes to justice. The CPS welcomes and accepts all recommendations made in HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate’s ‘Rape Inspection’ report, published in December 2019, and joint work with the police is already underway to make improvements. This work covers a range of areas, including case progression, digital capability and disclosure, expertise, supporting victims, and stakeholder engagement.</p><p> </p><p>The ongoing cross-Government review into this complex area will offer comprehensive findings across the whole criminal justice system, and I look forward to its completion.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 16/01/2020 15:51:01 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

1170429

registered interest
date	13/01/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Sexual Offences: Prosecutions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to increase the number of reported rape and sexual offences that are brought to trial.
tabling member constituency	Torfaen
tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
uin	2668
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>The reduction in suspects charged in rape and serious sexual offence cases is a cause of concern. Both Government and the CPS are committed to exploring what improvements can be made to the handling of these horrific cases and making progress in this area.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS welcomes and has accepted all recommendations made in HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate’s ‘Rape Inspection’ report, published in December 2019, and a joint action plan with the police is already underway to make improvements. The ongoing cross-Government review into this complex area will also offer comprehensive findings across the whole criminal justice system, and I look forward to its completion. The CPS will address any issues highlighted by the review openly and honestly.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 16/01/2020 15:49:23 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

1169772

registered interest
date	09/01/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Katelyn Dawson
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, if he will undertake a review of the decision by the CPS not to prosecute the driver responsible for the death of 15-year-old school girl Katelyn Dawson.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	1686
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2020 answer text <p>This is indeed a tragic case and I offer my sincere condolences to Katelyn Dawson’s family and friends. This case has been reviewed multiple times, culminating in an independent review by senior external Counsel which found that the case should not be prosecuted.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS determined not to bring proceedings against the driver of the vehicle as he had passed out at the wheel due to an unforeseeable medical condition. Under the Victim’s Right to Review (VRR), Katelyn’s family asked the CPS to reconsider the decision. The Chief Crown Prosecutor personally reviewed the original decision, as the first stage of the VRR process. The Chief Crown Prosecutor upheld the original decision. The Appeals and Review Unit then reviewed the case. A further independent review was then carried out by a Specialist Prosecutor. Senior Counsel external to the CPS was also instructed due to the highly sensitive nature of the case and the unusual circumstances. This second entirely independent review also concluded that the case should not be prosecuted.</p><p> </p><p>A clear and independent process is already in place to ensure victims’ rights are supported and protected and was fully operative in this case. It would therefore not be right for me to interfere with that independent process.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 14/01/2020 15:52:14 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1169427

registered interest
date	08/01/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Criminal Proceedings: Evidence
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what recent assessment he has made of how (a) material evidence brought forward by the prosecution and (b) unused material that fails to be disclosed to the defence is processed by the (i) police and (ii) Crown Prosecution Service.
tabling member constituency	Orpington
tabling member printed	Mr Gareth Bacon
uin	1453
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2020 answer text <p>There has been unprecedented joint commitment and focus from the police and the CPS to finding solutions to the problem of getting the provision of material evidence and disclosure right. Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Inspectorate (HMCPSI) recently published a report on disclosure in the Crown Court, which shows that CPS and the police have made improvements in almost all areas. However, as the report notes, these improvements are from a low baseline and it is therefore crucial that lasting improvements continue to be made. I am working to update my Guidelines on Disclosure in order to provide clear guidance to all practitioners, and embed the recommendations I made in my 2018 Review.</p> answering member constituency Torridge and West Devon answering member printed Mr Geoffrey Cox question first answered 14/01/2020 18:07:05 answering member 1508 label Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Cox
tabling member	4798 label Biography information for Gareth Bacon

1169225

registered interest
date	07/01/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Criminal Investigation: Evidence
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, if he will provide additional staff training resources for criminal cases involving large volumes of electronic evidence.
tabling member constituency	Orpington
tabling member printed	Mr Gareth Bacon
uin	1094
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2020 answer text <p>The government is committed to investing in tools and training that can help to mitigate the challenges posed by large volumes of electronic evidence. The CPS provides extensive disclosure training for all prosecutors to ensure they are properly equipped to handle these challenges. The College of Policing figures, published last August, show that over 100,000 police officers and staff across England and Wales have completed all modules of disclosure training, and further advanced training packages are being developed by the CPS.</p> answering member constituency Torridge and West Devon answering member printed Mr Geoffrey Cox question first answered 14/01/2020 18:02:35 answering member 1508 label Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Cox
tabling member	4798 label Biography information for Gareth Bacon

1168492

registered interest
date	19/12/2019
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	David Duckenfield
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the (a) first, (b) second and (c) third prosecution against Mr David Duckenfield on manslaughter in relation to the Hillsborough tragedy; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Christchurch
tabling member printed	Sir Christopher Chope
uin	31
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>This was a complex and harrowing case. Every effort was made to build a robust case for prosecution, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the case was handled by a team of experienced specialist prosecutors.</p><p> </p><p>As it involved the prosecution of more than one defendant, it is not possible to state definitively the total costs in relation to the prosecution of David Duckenfield alone. In June 2017, David Duckenfield, the police commander in charge of safety during the Hillsborough stadium disaster, was charged with gross negligence manslaughter. At trial in April 2019, the jury was unable to reach a verdict against David Duckenfield, while a second defendant, Graham Mackrell, was convicted of a health and safety offence. In November 2019, after a retrial at Preston Crown Court, the jury found David Duckenfield not guilty.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS estimates the cost of legal counsel fees and other prosecution costs for the prosecution of both David Duckenfield and Graham Mackrell to be approximately £1.97 million. CPS records do not capture the cost of the time spent by internal CPS staff on this case.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS cannot comment on costs incurred by the police, HM Courts and Tribunals, or any other partners in this case. Nor can the CPS comment on the private prosecution referred to in the question, which was brought against David Duckenfield by the Hillsborough Family Support Group in 2000.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 07/01/2020 13:09:39 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope