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99922

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Written Questions
	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 his Department's latest internal guidance for officials on the drafting of answers to Parliamentary Questions.
	tabling member constituency	Shipley
	tabling member printed	Philip Davies
	uin	211099
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2014 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice’s internal guidance for answering parliamentary questions was updated and published on the Department’s intranet on 29<sup>th</sup> September 2014. I will send the hon. Member a copy and also arrange for it to be placed in the Libraries of the House.</p><p>In addition, the Cabinet Office has produced guidance for civil servants on drafting answers to parliamentary questions. This may be found on the gov.uk website at:</p><p><a title="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drafting-answers-to-parliamentary-questions-guidance" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drafting-answers-to-parliamentary-questions-guidance" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drafting-answers-to-parliamentary-questions-guidance</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 24/10/2014 13:36:06 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

100227

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Trials
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases in (a) magistrates' courts and (b) the Crown court were awaiting trial on 1 October in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Tooting
	tabling member printed	Sadiq Khan
	uin	211356
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2014 answer text <p>Data are published in Court Statistics Quarterly showing the number of outstanding trial cases in the Crown Court annually at the end of 2001, and quarterly at the end of each quarter commencing March 2009, including at the end of 30 September. The outstanding number of cases in magistrates’ courts is published broken down by indictable only trial cases, either way trial cases, summary motoring cases and summary non-motoring cases from the quarter ending June 2012. This data set was created in April 2012 so data is not available prior to that date. Prior to this, completed proceedings were published for magistrates’ courts. The data does not distinguish between trial cases still awaiting their trial and those who have either pleaded guilty or been convicted and are awaiting sentence. Court Statistics Quarterly is published at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly</a> Data to September 2014 is due to be published on 18 December 2014.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 24/10/2014 13:48:46 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	1577 label Biography information for Sadiq Khan

92688

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Sentencing: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2014, Official Report, column 425, on sentencing: females, which offences were classed within the miscellaneous crimes against society offence class for which female offenders aged 18 and over were sentenced to immediate custody for a first offence in England and Wales in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013; and how many people of each such ethnicity served what sentence length under each such offence.
	tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
	tabling member printed	Kate Green
	uin	209947
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>Sentencing decisions are entirely a matter for the independent judiciary. All courts must also follow the sentencing framework and guidelines issued by the independent Sentencing Council, which apply equally to everyone. Any differences in sentencing outcomes may, therefore, occur for a number of reasons including the types of crimes committed and the seriousness of the offence.</p><p> </p><p>The Criminal Justice System Strategy &amp; Action Plan, published last summer, set out a number of commitments to promote equality including a series of Minister-led events with stakeholders to explore what more could be done. Further actions designed to promote equality are set out in an update to this plan, which was published recently. In addition, the Criminal Justice Board , which is Chaired by Minister Mike Penning and brings together senior leaders across the justice system, has discussed equality and diversity issues and regularly reviews the statistical data.</p><p> </p><p>It has not been possible to provide the exact breakdown requested, as breaking down the ‘Miscellaneous crimes against society' offence class by individual offences, ethnic appearance and sentence lengths produced numbers that were too small to disclose. Therefore the following alternative breakdowns have been provided:</p><p> </p><p>Table 1 (A) and (B) shows the number of female offenders aged 18 and above sentenced to immediate custody for a first offence within the 'Miscellaneous crimes against society' offence class by individual offence in England and Wales, 2012-2013.</p><p> </p><p>Table 2 (A) and (B) shows the number of female offenders aged 18 and above sentenced to immediate custody for a first offence within the 'Miscellaneous crimes against society' offence class by sentence length and ethnic appearance in England and Wales, 2012-2013.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 21/10/2014 13:21:25 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes attachment 1 file name 209947.xls title Number of female offenders age 18 and above
	tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

90872

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Public Records
	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 ensure that departments meet targets for clearing public records for transfer to the National Archives.
	tabling member constituency	Berwick-upon-Tweed
	tabling member printed	Sir Alan Beith
	uin	905297
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2014 answer text <p>Government departments are currently in transition from the 30 year rule for transferring records to The National Archives to a 20 year rule, over a ten year period. The National Archives works closely with departments to help them meet their targets for transferring records through published statistics and capability assessments.</p><p> </p><p>In March 2014 the Prime Minister commissioned his independent adviser on ministerial standards, Sir Alex Allan, to establish the position across government on the annual release of papers and the ability and readiness of departments to meet the requirements of moving to the 20-year rule. The Government will consider Sir Alex’s recommendations in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 10/09/2014 10:13:42 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	513 label Biography information for Lord Beith

92288

	registered interest
	date	26/09/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Public Records
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what targets have been set for the release of his Department's material to the National Archives; what progress has been made in meeting those targets; and how many staff in his Department are engaged in reviewing records for that purpose.
	tabling member constituency	Berwick-upon-Tweed
	tabling member printed	Sir Alan Beith
	uin	209614
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Each spring and autumn the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) provides a submission to The National Archives (TNA) which sets out its progress for transferring records as part of the 10 year transition from the 30 to 20 year rule. In MoJ’s most recent submission to TNA in spring 2014, the department reported that it is on track to transfer records due in 2014. MoJ’s submission forms part of TNA’s Record Transfer Report which is available at the following link:</p><p><a title="http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/record-transfer-report.htm" href="http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/record-transfer-report.htm" target="_blank">http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/record-transfer-report.htm</a></p><p>MoJ currently has 10 members of staff that undertake record review.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 14/10/2014 14:15:43 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	513 label Biography information for Lord Beith

92291

	registered interest
	date	26/09/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Performance Appraisal
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many officials in his Department completed the Civil Service Employment Policy Performance Management System in 2013-14; how many and what proportion of those officials received the (a) exceeded, (b) met and (c) must improve performance mark; and how many and what proportion (i) did and (ii) did not qualify for a bonus under that process.
	tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
	tabling member printed	John Healey
	uin	209656
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The Ministry of Justice is unable to provide the data requested at this time. Performance marking figures for 2013/14 will not be available for publication until 30 October at the earliest.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 17/10/2014 10:06:02 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey

92054

	registered interest
	date	26/09/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) direct employees, (b) outsourced workers and (c) workers in agencies which report to his Department are paid less than the Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Mr Frank Field
	uin	209471
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>As of 1 August 2014 out of 68732 direct employees, 324 direct employees are paid less than the rate defined by the ‘Living Wage Foundation’. This calculation is based upon the UK living wage as of 4 November 2013.</p><p> </p><p>The direct employees included form part of the core Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and its agencies National Offender Management Service (NOMS), HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), Legal Aid Agency (LAA) and Office of the Public Guardian (OPG).</p><p> </p><p>Pay rate decisions made on 1 August2014 mean that no permanent employee on core departmental terms and conditions are paid below the living wage rate. 11 permanent employees individuals on legacy terms &amp; conditions following Machinery of Government changes remain below living wage levels,. These employees have been offered the option to move onto MoJ terms and conditions.</p><p> </p><p>In NOMS, the number of direct employees who are paid below living wage levels currently stands at 313.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p> </p></td><td><p>Number below living wage</p></td><td><p>On Strength Headcount</p></td><td><p>Proportion of staff employed</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(i) Department</p></td><td><p>Includes HQ, NOMS, HMCTS OPG and LAA</p></td><td><p>324</p></td><td><p>68732</p></td><td><p>0.47%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(ii) Agencies</p></td><td><p>Core MoJ</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p>22982</p></td><td><p>0.05%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>NOMS</p></td><td><p>313</p></td><td><p>45750</p></td><td><p>0.68%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Information on contractors paid less than the rate defined by the ‘Living Wage Foundation’ as a living wage is not recorded centrally. We would need to approach all of our contractors and or their agencies and get them to provide the information. This could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 21/10/2014 12:55:59 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

93351

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Office of the Public Guardian
	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 effectiveness of the Office of the Public Guardian.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	210333
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice and is subject to regular meetings with me to review its effectiveness. The last meeting took place in June 2014.</p><p> </p><p>I am satisfied that the OPG is performing effectively. During 2013/14 they introduced an online tool for making lasting powers of attorney (LPA), reduced the statutory waiting and objection periods for LPA and, by introducing end-to-end case management, have streamlined the way in which they process applications. They have also reviewed and improved their regime for supervising court appointed deputies.</p><p> </p><p>The number of complaints received in 2013/14 reduced significantly to 3,549, compared with 11,617 complaints received in 2012/13 and 14,814 in 2011/12, despite a significant increase in caseloads across the OPG.</p><p> </p><p>The OPG is not complacent and has undertaken work to enable them to compare complaints by type, yielding more information about trends to help them address the issues and concerns raised by their customers.</p><p> </p><p>Details of the OPG’s performance are published in their annual report which can be found at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/corporate-reports/OPG/opg-annual-report-accounts-2013-14.pdf</p><p> </p><p>Copies of the annual account and the OPG Framework document which sets out the arrangements for governance and accountability, have already been placed in the Library.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 20/10/2014 13:50:11 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

100904

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Ministry of Justice: Written Questions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to answer Question 202782, on prisoner escapes, tabled on 26 June 2014 for answer on 30 June 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Shipley
	tabling member printed	Philip Davies
	uin	211919
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>I answered Question 202782 on 24 October 2014. The answer can be found at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2014-06-26/202782/</p><p> </p><p>I apologise for the delay in answering this question.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 29/10/2014 16:07:41 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

93342

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Matrimonial Property
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department plans to provide an initial response to the Law Commission's report, Matrimonial Property, Needs and Agreements, published in March 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Huntingdon
	tabling member printed	Mr Jonathan Djanogly
	uin	210514
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>In line with the terms of the protocol we have with the Law Commission, I submitted my preliminary views on the recommendations in the report to the Law Commissioner in March. In September 2014 the Government proposed to the Law Commission that a final response should be given in the next Parliament. This will allow the next Government to give the proposals full consideration without the current pressures on Parliamentary time. The Family Justice Council is also carrying out further work to clarify the meaning of ‘financial need’ in divorce cases. This will include the Council producing guidance for separating couples to help them understand the likely outcomes of their case. We expect this to be completed by the end of the year</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 20/10/2014 09:34:00 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	1425 label Biography information for Mr Jonathan Djanogly