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453101

registered interest
date	19/02/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Cemeteries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with burial authorities and other stakeholders on the reuse of graves.
tabling member constituency	Denton and Reddish
tabling member printed	Andrew Gwynne
uin	27219
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/02/2016 answer text <p>The issue of burial space is regularly discussed at meetings of the Burial and Cremation Advisory Group, which is chaired by this department and comprises key stakeholders and representatives within government and the wider burial sector. In addition, the department regularly engages on the issue with individual stakeholders, as appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 29/02/2016 10:16:51 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	1506 label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne

453340

registered interest
date	19/02/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Care Proceedings: Eastern Europe
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will estimate the number of care proceedings involving children and families from countries in Eastern Europe in the latest period for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Derby South
tabling member printed	Margaret Beckett
uin	27386
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/02/2016 answer text <p>Information is not held centrally by the Ministry of Justice about the nationality (or ethnicity) of the children and families involved in family court proceedings in England and Wales.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 29/02/2016 11:19:30 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	328 label Biography information for Dame Margaret Beckett

453341

registered interest
date	19/02/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prison Officers: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the comparative effect of changes to civil service pensions on prison officers who joined that scheme under Classic but have been switched to the Alpha scheme and colleagues with the same length of service who have not been switched.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	27380
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/02/2016 answer text <p>Alpha is the new Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, which now applies to the vast majority of Civil Servants (including prison officers). Only those who are close to retirement have been able to remain in previous schemes or to defer entry to the Alpha scheme. This has always been made transparent and is considered fair as this group of staff are likely to have already started to make plans for their retirements which would be unduly impacted by a change in arrangements at this stage. There are therefore no plans to make such an assessment.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 29/02/2016 10:31:31 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

453343

registered interest
date	19/02/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Sentencing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that proposed revisions to the sentencing guideline for guilty plea reductions do not lead to a culture of plea bargaining.
tabling member constituency	Burnley
tabling member printed	Julie Cooper
uin	27375
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2016 answer text <p>On 11 February the independent Sentencing Council launched a consultation on a new proposed guideline for reductions in sentence for a guilty plea. This is a consultation, and no decisions have been made. Accepting a plea is a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service. All decisions by the prosecution are made in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.</p> answering member constituency Esher and Walton answering member printed Dominic Raab question first answered 25/02/2016 17:35:17 answering member 4007 label Biography information for Dominic Raab
tabling member	4405 label Biography information for Julie Cooper

453344

registered interest
date	19/02/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Closures
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has conducted of the potential effect of the closure of 86 courts and tribunals in England and Wales on access to justice by people in low-income households.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	27287
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/02/2016 answer text <p>Before making any decision to close a court or tribunal, we considered carefully the effect of closures on all court and tribunal users.</p><p> </p><p>The court estate is underused and needs to be updated. Last year, nearly half of our courtrooms were used for less than half of their ordinary sitting time. The Government is committed to modernising the way justice is accessed and delivered, putting users at the heart of the system.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure that access to justice is maintained, we are committed to providing alternative ways for users to access our services, including the use of other civic buildings for video links or hearings.</p><p> </p><p>The consultation response is available online at <a href="http://www.gov.uk/moj" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/moj</a>.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 29/02/2016 16:34:03 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

453345

registered interest
date	19/02/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Family Courts: Domestic Abuse
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress his Department has made on ensuring that all judges and family court sittings in private family proceedings cases where there is evidence of domestic abuse adhere to Practice Direction 12J: Child Arrangements and Contact Order: Domestic Violence and Harm.
tabling member constituency	Romsey and Southampton North
tabling member printed	Caroline Nokes
uin	27284
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/02/2016 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting victims of domestic violence and abuse.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice is undertaking research to explore how the family judiciary are currently managing cases where unrepresented alleged perpetrators of abuse can cross-examine vulnerable witnesses in the family court, and to establish what, if any, additional provisions could be considered to support them in doing so. A report will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The research did not aim to assess the psychological impact of any cross-examination on victims of domestic abuse. However, some of the findings relate to the considerations the judiciary make in managing such cases appropriately, and the report will outline options to further protect vulnerable witnesses in the family court. It was out of scope of this research to explore cases where an unrepresented litigant who is a victim of domestic abuse may have to cross-examine their alleged abuser.</p><p> </p><p>Family judges have a range of powers and training to manage difficult court room situations and to ensure they are handled sensitively for victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable witnesses. Judges can intervene to prevent inappropriate questions or have questions relayed. Practical protections, for example, protective screens, video links, separate waiting rooms and separate entrances are available where appropriate. It is for the judge involved, on the basis of the evidence, to determine how the framework will be applied in a particular case.</p><p> </p><p>The family courts take the issue of domestic violence extremely seriously. The Child Arrangement Programme and Practice Direction 12J set out a strong and clear framework where domestic violence is alleged and all judges receive specific training on this framework.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage grouped question UIN 27282 27283 27285 27286 question first answered 29/02/2016 10:38:40 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes

453346

registered interest
date	19/02/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Family Courts: Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many family courts have designated safe waiting rooms for vulnerable victims and witnesses.
tabling member constituency	Romsey and Southampton North
tabling member printed	Caroline Nokes
uin	27285
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/02/2016 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting victims of domestic violence and abuse.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice is undertaking research to explore how the family judiciary are currently managing cases where unrepresented alleged perpetrators of abuse can cross-examine vulnerable witnesses in the family court, and to establish what, if any, additional provisions could be considered to support them in doing so. A report will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The research did not aim to assess the psychological impact of any cross-examination on victims of domestic abuse. However, some of the findings relate to the considerations the judiciary make in managing such cases appropriately, and the report will outline options to further protect vulnerable witnesses in the family court. It was out of scope of this research to explore cases where an unrepresented litigant who is a victim of domestic abuse may have to cross-examine their alleged abuser.</p><p> </p><p>Family judges have a range of powers and training to manage difficult court room situations and to ensure they are handled sensitively for victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable witnesses. Judges can intervene to prevent inappropriate questions or have questions relayed. Practical protections, for example, protective screens, video links, separate waiting rooms and separate entrances are available where appropriate. It is for the judge involved, on the basis of the evidence, to determine how the framework will be applied in a particular case.</p><p> </p><p>The family courts take the issue of domestic violence extremely seriously. The Child Arrangement Programme and Practice Direction 12J set out a strong and clear framework where domestic violence is alleged and all judges receive specific training on this framework.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage grouped question UIN 27282 27283 27284 27286 question first answered 29/02/2016 10:38:40 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes

453347

registered interest
date	19/02/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Human Rights
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has for consultation with (a) civil society groups, (b) the devolved administrations and (c) Northern Ireland to inform its report for the third cycle of the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review.
tabling member constituency	South Down
tabling member printed	Ms Margaret Ritchie
uin	27335
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2016 answer text <p>We have not yet been informed of the date of the third Universal Periodic Review of the UK.</p> answering member constituency Esher and Walton answering member printed Dominic Raab question first answered 24/02/2016 17:19:46 answering member 4007 label Biography information for Dominic Raab
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

453348

registered interest
date	19/02/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Family Courts: Domestic Abuse
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all victims of domestic abuse attending the family courts have access to special measures similar to those available in the criminal courts.
tabling member constituency	Romsey and Southampton North
tabling member printed	Caroline Nokes
uin	27286
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/02/2016 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting victims of domestic violence and abuse.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice is undertaking research to explore how the family judiciary are currently managing cases where unrepresented alleged perpetrators of abuse can cross-examine vulnerable witnesses in the family court, and to establish what, if any, additional provisions could be considered to support them in doing so. A report will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The research did not aim to assess the psychological impact of any cross-examination on victims of domestic abuse. However, some of the findings relate to the considerations the judiciary make in managing such cases appropriately, and the report will outline options to further protect vulnerable witnesses in the family court. It was out of scope of this research to explore cases where an unrepresented litigant who is a victim of domestic abuse may have to cross-examine their alleged abuser.</p><p> </p><p>Family judges have a range of powers and training to manage difficult court room situations and to ensure they are handled sensitively for victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable witnesses. Judges can intervene to prevent inappropriate questions or have questions relayed. Practical protections, for example, protective screens, video links, separate waiting rooms and separate entrances are available where appropriate. It is for the judge involved, on the basis of the evidence, to determine how the framework will be applied in a particular case.</p><p> </p><p>The family courts take the issue of domestic violence extremely seriously. The Child Arrangement Programme and Practice Direction 12J set out a strong and clear framework where domestic violence is alleged and all judges receive specific training on this framework.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage grouped question UIN 27282 27283 27284 27285 question first answered 29/02/2016 10:38:40 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes

453349

registered interest
date	19/02/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Family Courts: Domestic Abuse
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential psychological effect on victims of domestic abuse who are representing themselves as litigants in person in the family court of being cross-examined by their alleged abuser.
tabling member constituency	Romsey and Southampton North
tabling member printed	Caroline Nokes
uin	27282
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/02/2016 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting victims of domestic violence and abuse.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice is undertaking research to explore how the family judiciary are currently managing cases where unrepresented alleged perpetrators of abuse can cross-examine vulnerable witnesses in the family court, and to establish what, if any, additional provisions could be considered to support them in doing so. A report will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The research did not aim to assess the psychological impact of any cross-examination on victims of domestic abuse. However, some of the findings relate to the considerations the judiciary make in managing such cases appropriately, and the report will outline options to further protect vulnerable witnesses in the family court. It was out of scope of this research to explore cases where an unrepresented litigant who is a victim of domestic abuse may have to cross-examine their alleged abuser.</p><p> </p><p>Family judges have a range of powers and training to manage difficult court room situations and to ensure they are handled sensitively for victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable witnesses. Judges can intervene to prevent inappropriate questions or have questions relayed. Practical protections, for example, protective screens, video links, separate waiting rooms and separate entrances are available where appropriate. It is for the judge involved, on the basis of the evidence, to determine how the framework will be applied in a particular case.</p><p> </p><p>The family courts take the issue of domestic violence extremely seriously. The Child Arrangement Programme and Practice Direction 12J set out a strong and clear framework where domestic violence is alleged and all judges receive specific training on this framework.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage grouped question UIN 27283 27284 27285 27286 question first answered 29/02/2016 10:38:40 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes