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

1135289

	registered interest
	date	27/06/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of re-allocating the funding for legal aid for immigration cases to domestic family law mediation cases.
	tabling member constituency	Yeovil
	tabling member printed	Mr Marcus Fysh
	uin	270422
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2019 answer text <p>Mediation for family law cases is already available under Part I of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO).</p><p> </p><p>The department recently conducted an extensive review of LASPO and has announced several changes as part of the Legal Support Action Plan. These included expanding the scope of legal aid in family law to cover representation for special guardianship orders and placement orders.</p><p> </p><p>Data is not held on successful cases, but the Legal Aid Agency does hold data on cases that have started (and are funded by legal aid). These statistics are included below for both family law mediation and immigration cases for the last three years:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="6"><p><strong>Legal aid in cases involving family law mediation </strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>Family Mediation <br> starts</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>7,611</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>6,302</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>6,515</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="23"><p>Note: ‘Proportion started’ data is not held for family mediation matters, as the application process and decision on whether to grant funding is devolved to the solicitor in question (the provider).</p></td><td colspan="2"><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><p><strong>Legal aid in cases involving Immigration </strong></p></td><td colspan="3"><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p>Legal help</p></td><td colspan="6"><p>Civil representation</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>Grants</p></td><td><p>Applications</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Grants</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>Proportion granted</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>29,111</p></td><td><p>1,904</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>1,404</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>74%</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>26,609</p></td><td><p>1,596</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>1,203</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>75%</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>28,821</p></td><td><p>1,535</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>1,155</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>75%</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="20"><p><em>Legal help</em> is assistance short of representation. Note: ‘Proportion granted’ data is not held for Legal Help matters, as the application process and decision on whether to grant funding is devolved to the solicitor in question (the provider).</p></td><td colspan="3"><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard grouped question UIN 270423 question first answered 04/07/2019 10:22:55 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4446 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Fysh

1135290

	registered interest
	date	27/06/2019
	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, how many and what proportion of applications for legal aid in relation to (a) family law mediation costs and (b) immigration cases were successful since 2016.
	tabling member constituency	Yeovil
	tabling member printed	Mr Marcus Fysh
	uin	270423
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2019 answer text <p>Mediation for family law cases is already available under Part I of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO).</p><p> </p><p>The department recently conducted an extensive review of LASPO and has announced several changes as part of the Legal Support Action Plan. These included expanding the scope of legal aid in family law to cover representation for special guardianship orders and placement orders.</p><p> </p><p>Data is not held on successful cases, but the Legal Aid Agency does hold data on cases that have started (and are funded by legal aid). These statistics are included below for both family law mediation and immigration cases for the last three years:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="6"><p><strong>Legal aid in cases involving family law mediation </strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>Family Mediation <br> starts</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>7,611</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>6,302</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>6,515</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="23"><p>Note: ‘Proportion started’ data is not held for family mediation matters, as the application process and decision on whether to grant funding is devolved to the solicitor in question (the provider).</p></td><td colspan="2"><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><p><strong>Legal aid in cases involving Immigration </strong></p></td><td colspan="3"><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p>Legal help</p></td><td colspan="6"><p>Civil representation</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>Grants</p></td><td><p>Applications</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Grants</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>Proportion granted</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>29,111</p></td><td><p>1,904</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>1,404</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>74%</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>26,609</p></td><td><p>1,596</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>1,203</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>75%</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>28,821</p></td><td><p>1,535</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>1,155</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>75%</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="20"><p><em>Legal help</em> is assistance short of representation. Note: ‘Proportion granted’ data is not held for Legal Help matters, as the application process and decision on whether to grant funding is devolved to the solicitor in question (the provider).</p></td><td colspan="3"><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard grouped question UIN 270422 question first answered 04/07/2019 10:22:56 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4446 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Fysh

1135029

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Probation: Artificial Intelligence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) community rehabilitation companies and (b) the Probation Service on the use of algorithms in the probation system.
	tabling member constituency	Wrexham
	tabling member printed	Ian C. Lucas
	uin	269689
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>Algorithmic tools are used both by the National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Companies to support decision making and aid professional judgement in assessing the level of risk posed by offenders. We have internal processes in place to ensure we develop and roll-out algorithmic models appropriately and responsibly and are working with The Alan Turing Institute to make sure the use of these models is ethical, safe and fair. These tools are one element of a number of measures for assessing the risk of re-offending: In all cases, the professional judgement of the offender manager is a key factor in deciding what measures are needed to manage an offender and prevent re-offending.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 01/07/2019 16:46:45 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
	tabling member	1470 label Biography information for Ian C. Lucas

1135180

	registered interest
	date	27/06/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Working Links: Wales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract for the Transforming Rehabilitation scheme agreed with Working Links in Wales.
	tabling member constituency	Wrexham
	tabling member printed	Ian C. Lucas
	uin	270316
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>Details for the contract Transforming Rehabilitation contracts with Working Links in Wales are published on Contracts Finder;</p><p><a href="https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/933013f7-cfc2-4880-8e84-0bdb84d7e94f?p=@FQxUlRRPT0=NjJNT08=U" target="_blank">https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/933013f7-cfc2-4880-8e84-0bdb84d7e94f?p=@FQxUlRRPT0=NjJNT08=U</a></p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 02/07/2019 14:45:48 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
	tabling member	1470 label Biography information for Ian C. Lucas

1136212

	registered interest
	date	02/07/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners' Release
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance his Department has issued to (a) probation services and (b) community rehabilitation companies on the use of algorithms in relation to recall decisions following a breach of licence conditions.
	tabling member constituency	Wrexham
	tabling member printed	Ian C. Lucas
	uin	272181
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>All probation providers must adhere to the published Policy Framework on Recall, Review and Re-Release of Recalled Prisoners, including on the steps Responsible Officers must take to satisfy themselves that a recall request is appropriate. The Policy Framework also contains the ‘Recall Best Practice Guide: Working with Recalled Prisoners’ for use by all probation and prison staff involved in the recall process.</p><p>The Policy Framework is available online here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recall-review-and-re-release-of-recalled-prisoners" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recall-review-and-re-release-of-recalled-prisoners</a></p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 08/07/2019 15:44:46 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
	tabling member	1470 label Biography information for Ian C. Lucas

1136214

	registered interest
	date	02/07/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners' Release
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the sharing of information between the two Departments to inform decisions on recall following breach of licence conditions.
	tabling member constituency	Wrexham
	tabling member printed	Ian C. Lucas
	uin	272182
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2019 answer text <p>Probation services supervise offenders on licence and, if offenders breach their conditions, the Offender Manager will assess their level of risk and, if the conclusion is that the offender cannot be safely managed in the community, will recall the offender to prison. Officials in the Public Protection Casework Section in HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) will then formally revoke the offender’s licence. Public protection is our priority.</p><p> </p><p>HMPPS engagement about information sharing is primarily with the Police as it is the Chief Constable of each police force who is responsible for operational policing decisions. Police officers will sometimes receive or obtain information about an offender on licence which is relevant for the purposes of determining whether the offender has breached his licence conditions. I have asked my officials to work with the Police to ensure that police officers have a sound understanding of the system of licensed supervision and of the importance of sharing information with probation services as soon as possible whenever an offender on licence comes to their attention.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 11/07/2019 15:54:33 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
	tabling member	1470 label Biography information for Ian C. Lucas

1136215

	registered interest
	date	02/07/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Community Rehabilitation Companies: Artificial Intelligence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what process is used by his Department to monitor the use of algorithms by community rehabilitation companies.
	tabling member constituency	Wrexham
	tabling member printed	Ian C. Lucas
	uin	272183
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice assesses the quality of alternative risk assessment tools proposed by Community Rehabilitation Companies and sets a number of conditions for approval including a requirement for ongoing research and evaluation to ensure the tool is fit for purpose. Under our proposals for future probation arrangements responsibility for undertaking risk assessment processes will sit with staff in the National Probation Service.</p><p>We are still at the early stages of using algorithms in the criminal justice system, primarily as decision support tools to aid professional judgement. We have internal process in place to ensure we develop and roll-out algorithmic models appropriately and responsibly and are working with The Alan Turing Institute to make sure use of these models is ethical, safe and fair</p><p>These tools are one element of a number of measures for assessing the risk of re-offending: offender managers make robust risk assessments based on their professional expertise. The most complex cases, and those with the highest assessed risk of re-offending or causing harm, will attract the most intensive intervention. In all cases, the professional judgement of the offender manager is a key factor in deciding what measures are needed to manage an offender and prevent re-offending.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 08/07/2019 15:43:45 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
	tabling member	1470 label Biography information for Ian C. Lucas

1138964

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	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 assessment he has made of the performance of the Probate Service in processing applications for probate in 2019; how he measures that performance; and how long it took on average to process a probate application in each of the last 24 months.
	tabling member constituency	Witham
	tabling member printed	Priti Patel
	uin	277181
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2019 answer text <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. Her Majesty’s Courts &amp; Tribunals Service (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>July 2017</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>August 2017</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>September 2017</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>October 2017</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>November 2017</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>December 2017</p></td><td><p>3</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>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><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 is increasing staffing levels and further improving the digital service to help reduce waiting times.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard grouped question UIN 277182 question first answered 18/07/2019 09:21:14 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

1138965

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	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, whether he is taking steps to reduce the time taken to process applications for probate; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Witham
	tabling member printed	Priti Patel
	uin	277182
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2019 answer text <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. Her Majesty’s Courts &amp; Tribunals Service (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>July 2017</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>August 2017</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>September 2017</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>October 2017</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>November 2017</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>December 2017</p></td><td><p>3</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>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><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 is increasing staffing levels and further improving the digital service to help reduce waiting times.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard grouped question UIN 277181 question first answered 18/07/2019 09:21:14 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

1138966

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Probate: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the effect on the application-processing performance of the Probate Service of changes to the fees structure in 2019; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Witham
	tabling member printed	Priti Patel
	uin	277183
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2019 answer text <p>Full consideration has been given to the effect of the proposed fees structure for grant of probate applications on receipts and subsequently on processing performance. We would expect an increase in the number of applications received prior to the introduction of the new fees, which would be partly offset by a decline in receipts post-introduction.</p><p> </p><p>In March 2019 there was a significant increase of probate applications ahead of the anticipated implementation of the new fee structure but, as the fees were not introduced as planned, the high volume of receipts continued into April.</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 and Tribunals Service is increasing staffing levels and further improving the digital service to help reduce waiting times.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 18/07/2019 09:23:33 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel