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1695809

registered interest
date	13/03/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Civil Proceedings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time for a first hearing of a civil justice case was in the latest period for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	18431
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>I refer the honourable Member for Stockton North to the answer I gave on 19 February 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-02-06/13277" target="_blank">13277</a> and the answer I gave on the 23 January 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-01-15/9675" target="_blank">9675</a> in relation to the steps being taken to improve timeliness in civil courts.</p><p>Due to the nature of Civil claims, data relating to the number of people awaiting hearing is not held centrally. The time to hearing in relation to the small proportion of civil claims which are defended and proceed to trial is published quarterly: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-justice-statistics-quarterly" target="_blank">Civil justice statistics quarterly - GOV.UK.</a></p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 18432 18435 question first answered 18/03/2024 17:07:24 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1695810

registered interest
date	13/03/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Civil Proceedings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce the backlog in civil courts; and whether he has set targets to reduce average waiting times by case type.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	18432
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>I refer the honourable Member for Stockton North to the answer I gave on 19 February 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-02-06/13277" target="_blank">13277</a> and the answer I gave on the 23 January 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-01-15/9675" target="_blank">9675</a> in relation to the steps being taken to improve timeliness in civil courts.</p><p>Due to the nature of Civil claims, data relating to the number of people awaiting hearing is not held centrally. The time to hearing in relation to the small proportion of civil claims which are defended and proceed to trial is published quarterly: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-justice-statistics-quarterly" target="_blank">Civil justice statistics quarterly - GOV.UK.</a></p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 18431 18435 question first answered 18/03/2024 17:07:24 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1691642

registered interest
date	26/02/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Domestic Abuse: Family Proceedings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of (a) barristers, (b) solicitors and (c) CILEX practitioners have registered for work under the Cross Examination Prohibition Scheme in each of the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	15623
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/02/2024 answer text <p>We have assumed that both questions refer to the Qualified Legal Representative (QLR) scheme which was introduced in July 2022 and follows the Government’s Domestic Abuse Act (2021) which prohibited unrepresented perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of abuse from cross-examining their victims or alleged victims in family and civil proceedings, and vice versa. The prohibition ensures that vulnerable victims and witnesses are not traumatised by being cross-examined directly by their alleged perpetrator.</p><p> </p><p>Barristers, solicitors, and CILEX practitioners can register to undertake work as part of the QLR scheme at GOV.UK: <a href="https://register-qualified-legal-representative.form.service.justice.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Register to be a qualified legal representative (justice.gov.uk)</a>. The statutory guidance sets out the requirement for QLRs to have undertaken advocacy and vulnerable witness training, or to have made a commitment to attend such training within six months of having registered on the court list of qualified legal representatives: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63109a5fd3bf7f73a121c8b2/final-statutory-guidance-role-of-the-qualified-legal-representative.pdf" target="_blank">Statutory Guidance for the Qualified Legal Representative Scheme</a>. The Government encourages professionals to take up this important work to assist in both the family and civil courts.</p><p> </p><p>As of 27 February 2024, in total, there were 363 QLRs registered for family cases, and 78 QLRs registered for civil cases. We do not hold monthly data on registrations, or central data on how many QLRs have completed or applied for training, which they are able to access from a range of external providers. The QLR register does not record whether practitioners are barristers, solicitors, or CILEX practitioners. We do not collect data on the number of QLRs that have presented cases under the scheme.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris grouped question UIN 15624 question first answered 29/02/2024 16:45:48 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1691643

registered interest
date	26/02/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Domestic Abuse: Family Proceedings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of (a) barristers, (b) solicitors and (c) CILEX practitioners have (i) applied for and (ii) completed training to become a qualified legal representative under the Cross Examination Prohibition Scheme since July 2022; and whether he has made an estimate of the number these individuals that have presented cases under the scheme.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	15624
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/02/2024 answer text <p>We have assumed that both questions refer to the Qualified Legal Representative (QLR) scheme which was introduced in July 2022 and follows the Government’s Domestic Abuse Act (2021) which prohibited unrepresented perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of abuse from cross-examining their victims or alleged victims in family and civil proceedings, and vice versa. The prohibition ensures that vulnerable victims and witnesses are not traumatised by being cross-examined directly by their alleged perpetrator.</p><p> </p><p>Barristers, solicitors, and CILEX practitioners can register to undertake work as part of the QLR scheme at GOV.UK: <a href="https://register-qualified-legal-representative.form.service.justice.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Register to be a qualified legal representative (justice.gov.uk)</a>. The statutory guidance sets out the requirement for QLRs to have undertaken advocacy and vulnerable witness training, or to have made a commitment to attend such training within six months of having registered on the court list of qualified legal representatives: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63109a5fd3bf7f73a121c8b2/final-statutory-guidance-role-of-the-qualified-legal-representative.pdf" target="_blank">Statutory Guidance for the Qualified Legal Representative Scheme</a>. The Government encourages professionals to take up this important work to assist in both the family and civil courts.</p><p> </p><p>As of 27 February 2024, in total, there were 363 QLRs registered for family cases, and 78 QLRs registered for civil cases. We do not hold monthly data on registrations, or central data on how many QLRs have completed or applied for training, which they are able to access from a range of external providers. The QLR register does not record whether practitioners are barristers, solicitors, or CILEX practitioners. We do not collect data on the number of QLRs that have presented cases under the scheme.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris grouped question UIN 15623 question first answered 29/02/2024 16:45:48 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1690406

registered interest
date	20/02/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Solicitors
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what modelling his Department is undertaking to estimate the number of criminal legal aid duty solicitors that will be working over the next five years.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	14860
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2024 answer text <p>The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) frequently reviews market capacity, including the number of duty solicitors on each local duty scheme, to make sure there is adequate access to legal aid services throughout England and Wales. The LAA moves quickly, where issues arise, taking operational actions within its control to secure additional provision and to ensure continuity of legal aid services.</p><p>We publish data on numbers, new joiners, returners, and leavers <a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiNjAxNGY2MDUtODU4Yi00NzE4LTgyNzgtMDdjYjAxMDAyZjIyIiwidCI6ImM2ODc0NzI4LTcxZTYtNDFmZS1hOWUxLTJlOGMzNjc3NmFkOCIsImMiOjh9&amp;chromeless=1" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>In responding to the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review, we uplifted most criminal legal aid fee schemes, including the police station fee scheme, by 15%.</p><p>On 29 January, we published a consultation on proposed reforms to the police station fee scheme and the Youth Court where an additional £21.1 million per year has been allocated.</p><p>This increases spend by up to £141 million a year, taking expected criminal legal aid spend to £1.2 billion per year.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 23/02/2024 11:34:05 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1690407

registered interest
date	20/02/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Solicitors
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will have discussions with the Legal Aid Agency on the effectiveness of the duty solicitor scheme at providing duty solicitor coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; and what data his Department holds on the number of schemes that are unable to provide this level of coverage.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	14861
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2024 answer text <p>Ministry of Justice Ministers and the Legal Aid Agency meet regularly to discuss matters pertaining to criminal legal aid, including the duty solicitor scheme.</p><p>In September 2022, we uplifted most criminal legal aid fee schemes by 15%. This includes a 15% increase to the police station scheme and the magistrates’ court scheme, which includes youth court work.</p><p>On 29 January, we published a consultation on proposed reforms to the police station fee scheme and the Youth Court where an additional £21.1 million per year has been allocated.</p><p>The increases we have implemented, alongside longer-term reforms, mean that criminal legal aid spending is expected to be up to £1.2 billion per year.</p><p>We are unaware of any duty schemes unable to provide coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days a year either on an ongoing basis or as an isolated instance.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 23/02/2024 11:35:39 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1690408

registered interest
date	20/02/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Criminal Proceedings: Legal Aid Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to legal aid in criminal cases and what criteria his Department uses to make that assessment.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	14862
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2024 answer text <p>The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is responsible for commissioning legal aid services in England and Wales. The LAA manages capacity in a number of ways. The LAA’s network of regional contract managers located throughout England and Wales provide intelligence-led information based on contact with legal aid service providers.</p><p>In addition, the LAA frequently reviews market capacity, including the number of duty solicitors on each local duty scheme, to make sure there is adequate access to legal aid services throughout England and Wales. The LAA shares information about provider capacity to support policy development via a number of fora, including via the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board (CLAAB).</p><p>The LAA moves quickly, where issues arise, taking operational actions within its control to secure additional provision and to ensure continuity of legal aid services.</p><p>Provision under the duty scheme is demand led based on the individual factors for each local duty scheme and the needs of local courts and police. Anyone who is arrested and interviewed by the police is offered a duty solicitor irrespective of their financial means. Effective coverage is achieved where all duty schemes have a sufficient number of duty solicitors to cover the available rota slots. The LAA has arrangements in place to ensure all duty rotas have cover 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.</p><p>Information about the number of legal aid providers contracted to provide services, as well as details of numbers of duty solicitors across all schemes, are published as part of the LAA’s statistics at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-january-to-march-2023/legal-aid-statistics-england-and-wales-bulletin-jan-to-mar-2023#legal-aid-providers" target="_blank">Legal aid statistics England and Wales bulletin Jan to Mar 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>. These statistics are used by the LAA as management information to monitor the availability of legal aid services over time, in different areas of law and different regions of England and Wales.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 23/02/2024 11:36:45 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1690471

registered interest
date	20/02/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme
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 implications for his policies of the judgment in the case of the Law Society of England and Wales v The Lord Chancellor of 31 January 2024.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	14863
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2024 answer text <p>While the claimants in the case being referred to were successful on specific narrow grounds, the majority of their claims were rejected by the Court. We are carefully considering the judgment and will set out further detail on our response in due course.</p><p>We recently announced a consultation that would lead to an additional £21 million being invested in the criminal legal aid solicitor profession, bringing the overall increase from 9% to 11%. We expect our existing reforms to increase spending on criminal legal aid by up to £141 million a year.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 23/02/2024 11:37:55 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1689183

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Tribunals Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of claims to the Tribunals Service were in relation to (a) unfair dismissal, (b) unpaid wages, (c) unpaid holiday pay and (d) unlawful discrimination since April 2023.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	14066
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2024 answer text <p>Information on the proportion of claims accepted by the Employment Tribunal Service for the period up to September 2023 are outlined in the attached table.</p><p>Data is a subset of the published statistics.</p><p>Statistical information in relation to the Employment Tribunal can be found in our published stats: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.</a></p><p>We currently only have data published up to September 2023.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 21/02/2024 17:08:14 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer attachment 1 file name 2024-02-21 PQ 14066 Table.xls title Table_14066
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1689184

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Tribunals Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of claims to the Tribunals Service since 1 April 2023 were not in relation to financial awards.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	14067
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2024 answer text <p>Tribunals administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service exercise a wide and diverse range of jurisdictions, including appeals against decisions made by public bodies and party versus party claims.</p><p>The number and proportion of claims not relating to financial awards varies by tribunal jurisdiction and a breakdown of claims by jurisdiction is published quarterly in Tribunal Statistics: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2023/tribunal-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2023#:~:text=In%20July%20to%20September%202023%2C%20FTTIAC%20receipts%20increased%20by%2010,21%25%20(to%2031%2C000)." target="_blank">Tribunal Statistics Quarterly: July to September 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 21/02/2024 17:09:05 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham