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142282

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Ministry of Justice: G4S and Serco
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Statement of 12 March 2014, Official Report, column 27WS, on G4S and Serco (Contracts Update), how much of the sums to be repaid by each company is outstanding; and what other debts each such company owes to his Department.
	tabling member constituency	Hammersmith
	tabling member printed	Mr Andy Slaughter
	uin	213746
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>On 12 March 2014 the Justice Secretary informed the House that G4S had agreed to repay £108.9m owed to Government on the company’s electronic monitoring contract and on two contracts for facilities management in the courts. This followed the Justice Secretary’s announcement on 19 December 2013 that Serco had agreed to repay £70.5m owed on the company’s electronic monitoring and prisoner escort contracts.</p><p> </p><p>The sums in question also included provision for the direct costs to Government arising from these matters.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Both companies have repaid all money requested in accordance with the settlement agreements.</p><p> </p><p>We are not aware of any outstanding debts owed to this Department by the companies. We are managing all MoJ contracts robustly and would take swift action to recover any debt owed should we become aware of such an issue.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 11/11/2014 17:43:25 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1516 label Biography information for Andy Slaughter

93049

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Employment and Support Allowance: Work Capability Assessment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West on 20 February 2012, Official Report, column 655W, on employment and support allowance: work capability assessment, what the average wait was for an employment and support allowance applicant between completing the ESA 50 questionnaire and undergoing the work capability assessment in the most recent year for which data are available.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh East
	tabling member printed	Sheila Gilmore
	uin	210064
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The average time from receipt of an ESA50 to the completion of face to face work capability assessment (for both Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit Reassessment), for the period from January 2014 to September 2014, was 102 working days.</p><p> </p><p>Maximus Health and Human Services Ltd. has been awarded the contract to succeed Atos Healthcare from March 2015, to undertake Work Capability Assessments. The priority for MAXIMUS Health and Human Services Ltd will be to transition the service smoothly from the current provider, stabilise the operation to deliver the best service possible for claimants, increase the volume of assessments carried out and reduce waiting times without compromising quality.</p><p> </p><p>We are continuing to work closely with Atos under the current contract and process claims as quickly as possible.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 17/11/2014 13:23:39 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	3965 label Biography information for Sheila Gilmore

142327

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Child Maintenance Options 0800 telephone number is now free to all callers; and on what date the free service took effect.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Teresa Pearce
	uin	213735
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p> </p><p>The Child Maintenance Options 0800 telephone number was added to the DWP list of free to call numbers in August 2014. This means calls to Child Maintenance Options from BT landlines and those made by 93 per cent of mobile users, hosted by the six major mobile provider networks, will have the cost of the call met by DWP. Calls from other networks may be free, if they are included within call packages, but this will depend on the network provider. The remaining 7 per cent of calls from mobile users will be able to call the Child Maintenance Options 0800 number free of charge from autumn 2015, which is when the OFCOM ruling requires all network providers to make calls to all 0800 numbers free of charge.</p><p> </p><p>We will also offer to call back a customer, if asked, or if concerns are raised over the cost of the call. Alternatively, customers can also use the online ‘live chat’ facility or email service which is available via the Child Maintenance Options website at <a href="http://www.cmoptions.org" target="_blank">www.cmoptions.org</a>.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 17/11/2014 13:41:57 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	4003 label Biography information for Teresa Pearce

142295

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners on Remand
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average age of those held on remand was in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Tooting
	tabling member printed	Sadiq Khan
	uin	213801
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Bail and remand decisions are quite rightly for the independent courts to make, based on the facts of the particular case.</p><p> </p><p>In making remand decisions, courts must balance the risk that release on bail might pose to the public or to the administration of justice, against the detention of a person who may prove to be innocent. Defendants who are dangerous and pose a threat to society should always be remanded in custody.</p><p> </p><p>The requested information is provided in the table below.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 11/11/2014 17:44:03 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous attachment 1 file name 213801 table.xls title Average age of prisoners held on remand
	tabling member	1577 label Biography information for Sadiq Khan

106458

	registered interest
	date	04/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Magistrates' Courts
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times magistrates' courts hearings in each district have had to be postponed for lack of (a) prosecution preparedness, (b) the failure of Capita interpreters' contract, (c) lack of availability of court and (d) any other reason in the last year.
	tabling member constituency	Hammersmith
	tabling member printed	Mr Andy Slaughter
	uin	213387
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Data are published in Court Statistics Quarterly showing the number of trials in magistrates’ courts which are ineffective or postponed on the day of trial. This is for a variety of agreed reasons, including “Prosecution not ready”, “Interpreter availability” and “Court administration”. However, this only includes cases that have been listed for trial and are adjourned, not for any other hearings, such as preliminary hearings, guilty plea hearings or sentencing. HMCTS does not centrally collate the data on adjourned hearings, other than trials, and the reasons behind the adjournment.</p><p> </p><p>The volume of trials listed in magistrates’ courts, and those which were ineffective, are published in Table 3.5 of Court Statistics Quarterly which can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly</a></p><p> </p><p>The national Criminal Justice Board, chaired by my Rt Hon Friend the Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, is overseeing the <em>Transforming Summary Justice </em>programme, a collaboration between police, CPS and the courts to ensure that cases in the magistrates’ courts are prepared and prosecuted in a timely and efficient manner. It is currently being rolled out.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 11/11/2014 17:55:56 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
	tabling member	1516 label Biography information for Andy Slaughter

101739

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Extradition: Legal Aid Scheme
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they last considered the High Level Cost Benefit Analysis of Removing Legal Aid Means Testing in Extradition Cases prepared by the Ministry of Justice for Sir Scott Baker’s review of the United Kingdom’s extradition arrangements of September 2011; and when they next intend to do so.
	tabling member printed	Lord Inglewood
	uin	HL2548
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Her Majesty’s Government last considered the Cost Benefit Analysis in October 2012 shortly before it published its response to Sir Scott Baker’s Review of the United Kingdom’s Extradition Arrangements.</p><p> </p><p>Her Majesty’s Government has no plans to re-consider the Cost Benefit Analysis in the immediate future.</p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 17/11/2014 12:42:45 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
	tabling member	1980 label Biography information for Lord Inglewood

142281

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Probation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which mutual organisations have withdrawn bids for Transforming Rehabilitation contracts; and when his Department was notified in each case.
	tabling member constituency	Tooting
	tabling member printed	Sadiq Khan
	uin	213753
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Only one bidder has withdrawn from the Transforming Rehabilitation competition having submitted a bid – Geo Mercia Willowdene, which included a probation staff mutual, Mercia Community Action. We received Geo Mercia Willowdene’s letter confirming their withdrawal on 4 November.</p><p> </p><p>None of those who submitted bids are unsuccessful at this stage as the competition is ongoing and notification of contract award is still pending.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous grouped question UIN 213754 question first answered 11/11/2014 17:49:46 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1577 label Biography information for Sadiq Khan

106352

	registered interest
	date	04/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Legal Opinion
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has spent on external legal advice in each of the last four years.
	tabling member constituency	Hammersmith
	tabling member printed	Mr Andy Slaughter
	uin	213366
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Spend on external legal advice for the last four years is set out in the table below. The figures also include spend on legal representation as it is not possible to separate these figures. The figures are for the core Department and the larger executive agencies (NOMS, HMCTS and LAA). Smaller agencies (OPG and CICA) and NDPBs have not been included.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>£m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>24.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>22.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>21.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>34.2</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>£5.5m of the increase in spend in 2013/14 is due to the cost of legal staff that transferred to TSol in July 2013; and c£4m is attributable to family legal representation at the Hillsborough Inquest; and c£1.4m to an increase in NOMS costs for legal representation.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 11/11/2014 17:59:57 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
	tabling member	1516 label Biography information for Andy Slaughter

106361

	registered interest
	date	04/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Twitter
	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 discourage aggressive and nasty tweeting.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	213347
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The Government is absolutely clear that abusive and threatening behaviour online is totally unacceptable.</p><p> </p><p>There is a number of offences which may be committed by those abusing others on social media. Internet communication which is grossly offensive or menacing may fall under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003. Sending indecent, grossly offensive or threatening material to another with the purpose of causing distress or anxiety to a person to whom the material is communicated, including by means of the internet, is also an offence under the Malicious Communications Act 1988.</p><p> </p><p>Internet abuse could also amount to an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 if its distribution is carried out as part of a ‘course of conduct’ which alarms a person or causes distress. Under section 4 of that Act, it is also an offence to pursue a course of conduct that repeatedly puts someone in fear of violence.</p><p> </p><p>Changes to the law being taken forward in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill will increase the maximum penalty for offences under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 to 2 years imprisonment, and extend the time within which prosecutions under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 may be brought, to up to three years, as opposed to the current six month limit.</p><p>These steps will help to ensure that people who commit these awful crimes are prosecuted and properly punished.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 11/11/2014 17:59:26 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

142286

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Separation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the press release of 23 October 2014 from the Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties entitled More support for separating couples and parents, how much new money will be made available to each court.
	tabling member constituency	Hammersmith
	tabling member printed	Mr Andy Slaughter
	uin	213724
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The Government is committed to making sure that when people separate they do it in the best possible way. Too many people end up fighting expensive and confrontational court battles when they could be helped to resolve their problems outside the courts. However when people do end up in court it is imperative that they have the right advice and information.</p><p> </p><p>The new package of support announced on 23 October is aimed at keeping disputes away from court, while those who end up in court will be provided with better support. The £2m funding identified in the announcement is not being distributed on a court by court basis. The funding will be used to support a new strategic approach to increasing legal and practical support for litigants in person in the civil and family courts. This will provide direct support in some local courts, and other courts will be able to access national support via email or telephone. This strategy has been developed in partnership with the legal and advice sectors and we are working with them on implementation.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 11/11/2014 17:56:52 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	1516 label Biography information for Andy Slaughter