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1141459

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Debt Collection: Complaints
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Written Statement of 22 July 2019, Enforcement Update, HCWS 1776, what barriers in the current complaints system may deter people from making a complaint.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	281123
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>As set out in the Justice Secretary’s Written Statement on bailiff reform, we will respond to the Call for Evidence and the Justice Select Committee’s report following further engagement with our stakeholders over the Summer. We will explore what barriers prevent people from making a complaint based on submissions to the Call for Evidence and meetings with our stakeholders.</p><p> </p><p>Our response will also consider the case for further regulation. County Court Bailiffs, who are employees of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), and Approved Enforcement Agencies who enforce criminal orders, were not within scope of the review of enforcement agents. We will liaise with trade unions if any proposals that may arise from our consideration of the responses from the Call for Evidence directly impact on Court staff.</p><p> </p><p>HMCTS are in the process of procuring a new set of contracts for Approved Enforcement Agencies (AEA) to enable the collection of criminal orders. The tender went live on 1 July 2019. We anticipate awarding contracts in December 2019, with services to commence in May 2020.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 281124 281125 question first answered 03/09/2019 14:49:39 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1141464

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Debt Collection: Regulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Written Statement of 22 July 2019 on Enforcement Update, HCWS 1776, whether he plans to consult staff trades unions before strengthening the regulation of enforcement agents.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	281125
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>As set out in the Justice Secretary’s Written Statement on bailiff reform, we will respond to the Call for Evidence and the Justice Select Committee’s report following further engagement with our stakeholders over the Summer. We will explore what barriers prevent people from making a complaint based on submissions to the Call for Evidence and meetings with our stakeholders.</p><p> </p><p>Our response will also consider the case for further regulation. County Court Bailiffs, who are employees of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), and Approved Enforcement Agencies who enforce criminal orders, were not within scope of the review of enforcement agents. We will liaise with trade unions if any proposals that may arise from our consideration of the responses from the Call for Evidence directly impact on Court staff.</p><p> </p><p>HMCTS are in the process of procuring a new set of contracts for Approved Enforcement Agencies (AEA) to enable the collection of criminal orders. The tender went live on 1 July 2019. We anticipate awarding contracts in December 2019, with services to commence in May 2020.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 281123 281124 question first answered 03/09/2019 14:49:39 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1133555

	registered interest
	date	20/06/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Residential Women's Centres
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release of 27 June 2018 entitled Secretary of State launches dedicated strategy to break the cycle of female offending, how many residential women's centres have been opened in England and Wales for females convicted of offences since June 2018; and what the locations are of those centres.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	267241
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2019 answer text <p>The Female Offender Strategy committed to develop a ‘residential women’s centre’ pilot in at least five sites across England and Wales. The aim of the pilots, when they begin, will be to develop an evidence base for how we might reduce the numbers of women entering and re-entering custody for short periods.</p><p> </p><p>We want to make sure the models we take forward are sustainable, scalable and appropriate for the local context of each site. We have recently concluded our first phase of consultation with stakeholders, partners and providers to inform our scoping. We will continue to consult with partners as we refine the design and delivery of the pilot.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently reflecting on the findings from our scoping work to develop a delivery plan for the pilots. No decisions regarding the location of Residential Women’ Centre pilots have yet been made.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 27/06/2019 11:56:40 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1141463

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Debt Collection: Regulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Written Statement of 22 July 2019 on Enforcement Update, HCWS 1776, whether he has plans to increase the regulation of enforcement agents before work performed by civilian enforcement officers is put out to tender.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	281124
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>As set out in the Justice Secretary’s Written Statement on bailiff reform, we will respond to the Call for Evidence and the Justice Select Committee’s report following further engagement with our stakeholders over the Summer. We will explore what barriers prevent people from making a complaint based on submissions to the Call for Evidence and meetings with our stakeholders.</p><p> </p><p>Our response will also consider the case for further regulation. County Court Bailiffs, who are employees of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), and Approved Enforcement Agencies who enforce criminal orders, were not within scope of the review of enforcement agents. We will liaise with trade unions if any proposals that may arise from our consideration of the responses from the Call for Evidence directly impact on Court staff.</p><p> </p><p>HMCTS are in the process of procuring a new set of contracts for Approved Enforcement Agencies (AEA) to enable the collection of criminal orders. The tender went live on 1 July 2019. We anticipate awarding contracts in December 2019, with services to commence in May 2020.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 281123 281125 question first answered 03/09/2019 14:49:39 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1544486

	registered interest
	date	22/11/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Criminal Injuries Compensation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department is taking steps with the (a) Police and (b) Crown Prosecution Service to raise awareness of Criminal Injuries Claims in those eligible to make such claims.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	93597
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/11/2022 answer text <p>Under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime, victims are entitled to be told about how to claim compensation for any loss, damage or injury caused as a result of crime.  Victims injured by violent crime are also entitled to be told by the police how to apply for compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (the Scheme).</p><p> </p><p>The draft Victims Bill will send a clear signal about what victims can and should expect from the criminal justice system and includes measures to increase oversight of delivery of services to victims by criminal justice agencies including the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.</p><p> </p><p>The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, which administers the Scheme, also provides awareness sessions to stakeholders, including the police, who deliver frontline services to victims of violent crime.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 25/11/2022 14:17:50 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1660300

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Police: Criminal Injuries Compensation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the most common reason is for claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority by a serving police officer injured during the course of their duties not succeeding.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	199209
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2023 answer text <p>The GB-wide Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (the Scheme) provides state-funded compensation to victims of violent crime who cannot pursue compensation or redress from other routes. Payments are available for physical or psychological injuries resulting directly from a crime of violence, as defined in Annex B of the Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Scheme, any emergency worker who is assaulted while working, including serving police officers, will be considered as a direct victim of an intentional crime of violence in the same manner as any other victim group, with the same eligibility criteria being applied. An applicant who was not the direct victim of an intentional crime of violence may also be eligible for an award if they are injured whilst taking an exceptional and justified risk in the course of limiting or preventing a crime under paragraph 5 of the Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which operates the Scheme, does not hold data on how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful claims have been made by serving police officers injured during the course of their duties or the most common reason for claims by serving police officers injured during the course of their duties not succeeding. CICA does not request or record information relating to the occupation of applicants for criminal injuries compensation.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 199208 question first answered 18/09/2023 11:42:09 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1139888

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Probate
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average time taken was to obtain grants of probate and letters of administration from probate registries across England and Wales in each month in 2018 and 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	278567
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/08/2019 answer text <p>The recent, temporary increase in waiting times was caused by a combination of an increased volume of incoming work and the transition to a new case management system. The move to the new system meant that staff had to spend time being trained and familiarising themselves with it. There were also some initial performance issues which have now been resolved.</p><p> </p><p>At the end of June 2019, 93% of users indicated, from five feedback options, that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the online application service provided.</p><p> </p><p>Urgent action has been taken to address the delays which have been experienced in the probate service. Her Majesty’s Courts &amp; Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is increasing staffing levels and further improving the digital service to help reduce waiting times.</p><p> </p><p>Official statistics are not published on the average length of time from receipt of the application to the issue of a grant of probate and letters of administration. HMCTS internal management information, which is not subject to the rigorous quality assurance processes of official statistics, has been used to show the following average times from receipt of an application to a grant being issued:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month and year </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average Weeks to grant issued </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>January 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>February 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>June 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>July 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>August 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>September 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>October 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>November 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>December 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>January 2019</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>February 2019</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2019</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April 2019</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May 2019</p></td><td><p>6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>June 2019</p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>These figures do not include cases which are waiting for a grant to be issued. The data from April 2019 to June 2019 have been extracted from the HMCTS Reform Core Case Data system, which is a new system in active development, and may not be directly comparable with figures for earlier periods. All figures, especially those for April 2019 to June 2019, are provisional and subject to revision.</p><p> </p><p>Some grants are experiencing delays of between four and six weeks outside of our targets as a result of significant increases in work during March and April and some technology issues which have now been resolved. We have recruited more staff and are now issuing in excess of 1,000 grants a day, which is bringing waiting times down further.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 278565 278566 question first answered 02/08/2019 14:39:10 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1660302

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Crimes of Violence: Emergency Services and Police
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average length of custodial sentence was for assaulting (a) an emergency worker, and (b) a police officer in the course of their duties in each year since 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	199211
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2023 answer text <p>The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 created an aggravated offence of common assault or battery when committed against an emergency worker acting in the exercise of their functions as an emergency worker, including a police constable. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 increased the maximum penalty from 12 months to 2 years’ imprisonment for any offence committed on or after 28 June 2022.</p><p> </p><p>The Police Act 1996 includes an offence of assault of a constable in the execution of his duty, with a maximum penalty of 6 months imprisonment. This offence remains on the statute book as it has broader application than the assaults on emergency workers offence and includes the wilful obstruction of a constable, or the assault of a person assisting a constable. However, there may be circumstances in which this offence remains to be used for an assault on a constable.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice publishes information on the number of offenders sentenced and the average custodial sentence length for both offences in the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1182043/outcomes-by-offence-2022_v2.xlsx" target="_blank">Outcomes by Offence data tool: December 2022</a>, using the following HO codes:</p><ul><li>10423 - Assault on a constable</li><li>00873 – Common assault or battery of an emergency worker</li></ul><p> </p><p>While improving our data processing in 2022, a data mapping issue was discovered in the Courts Proceedings Database whereby an estimated 1,301 convictions (227 in 2019, 530 in 2020 and 544 in 2021) for the offence ‘00873 – Common assault or battery of an emergency worker’ were not correctly mapped to this offence at Crown Court, therefore were not presented in the published data. We are exploring ways to add these convictions to the Outcomes by Offence data tool in future publications. This mapping was corrected in data for 2022 and therefore all data going forward will present correct figures.</p><p>There are also several other assault offences which may be charged depending on the level of harm caused including actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm, and grievous bodily harm with intent. These are not specific to emergency workers or police officers. However, the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 created a statutory aggravating factor where such offences are committed against an emergency worker</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 199210 question first answered 18/09/2023 11:43:43 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1139887

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Probate: Software
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department has taken to mitigate the potential effect of the rollout of new software at probate registries across England and Wales on the length of time it takes to obtain grants of probate and letters of administration.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	278566
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/08/2019 answer text <p>The recent, temporary increase in waiting times was caused by a combination of an increased volume of incoming work and the transition to a new case management system. The move to the new system meant that staff had to spend time being trained and familiarising themselves with it. There were also some initial performance issues which have now been resolved.</p><p> </p><p>At the end of June 2019, 93% of users indicated, from five feedback options, that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the online application service provided.</p><p> </p><p>Urgent action has been taken to address the delays which have been experienced in the probate service. Her Majesty’s Courts &amp; Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is increasing staffing levels and further improving the digital service to help reduce waiting times.</p><p> </p><p>Official statistics are not published on the average length of time from receipt of the application to the issue of a grant of probate and letters of administration. HMCTS internal management information, which is not subject to the rigorous quality assurance processes of official statistics, has been used to show the following average times from receipt of an application to a grant being issued:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month and year </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average Weeks to grant issued </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>January 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>February 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>June 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>July 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>August 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>September 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>October 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>November 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>December 2018</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>January 2019</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>February 2019</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2019</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April 2019</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May 2019</p></td><td><p>6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>June 2019</p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>These figures do not include cases which are waiting for a grant to be issued. The data from April 2019 to June 2019 have been extracted from the HMCTS Reform Core Case Data system, which is a new system in active development, and may not be directly comparable with figures for earlier periods. All figures, especially those for April 2019 to June 2019, are provisional and subject to revision.</p><p> </p><p>Some grants are experiencing delays of between four and six weeks outside of our targets as a result of significant increases in work during March and April and some technology issues which have now been resolved. We have recruited more staff and are now issuing in excess of 1,000 grants a day, which is bringing waiting times down further.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 278565 278567 question first answered 02/08/2019 14:39:10 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1696792

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Razors
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of replacing wet shaving razors with electric shavers in all prisons across Wales.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	19120
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2024 answer text <p>We are committed to making prisons a safe place to work and recognise the risks associated with the current wet shave razor provision. In the 2021 Prison Safety White Paper, we committed to trial alternatives to wet-shave razors in prisons to test whether a change in approach might lead to a safer environment for both prisoners and staff. Throughout 2022 and 2023 six pilots have been carried out in the male estate and one carried out in the female estate.</p><p>Testing at all sites has now concluded and the results are being evaluated. The evaluation will consider outcomes, learning and positive practice from across all pilot sites and will be measured against the impact they have had on violence and/or self-harm.</p><p>The evaluation will be completed by the end of March 2024. This evaluation will enable us to make informed recommendations on future shaving provision in prison establishments.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 21/03/2024 13:38:05 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts