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

175968

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Domestic Abuse: Sentencing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many victims of domestic violence have been imprisoned for contempt of court in the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Feltham and Heston
	tabling member printed	Seema Malhotra
	uin	222123
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Domestic violence and abuse is a dreadful crime and has no place in our society. Tackling it has been one of this Government’s top priorities. We are determined to support victims in rebuilding their lives and reporting these crimes, and to make sure perpetrators are brought to justice. We have piloted and rolled out Clare's Law and domestic violence protection orders; extended the definition of domestic abuse to cover controlling behaviour and teenage relationships; run two successful campaigns to challenge perceptions of abuse; and placed Domestic Homicide Reviews on a statutory footing to make sure lessons are learned from individual tragedies. More recently we have added an amendment to the Serious Crime Bill at Commons Committee stage to create a new offence of domestic abuse.</p><p> </p><p>Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the Court Proceedings Database does not include the circumstances behind each case beyond the description provided in the statute. It is not possible separately to identify from this centrally held information how many people imprisoned for contempt of court have also been victims of a crime. This detailed information may be held on court records but is not reported centrally to the Ministry of Justice. As such, the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 03/02/2015 17:50:01 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra

175506

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Human Trafficking
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 6.3.11 of the National Referral Mechanism Review published in November 2014, if he will review the provision of legal aid to potential victims of human trafficking.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	221908
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Civil legal aid is currently available to help victims of human trafficking in relation to applications for leave to enter or remain in the UK, and also for claims for damages or under employment law brought by victims of human trafficking arising in connection with their exploitation.</p><p> </p><p>My officials are working with the Home Office on implementation of the Review's recommendations.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 02/02/2015 16:37:59 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

175971

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Driving under Influence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were (a) breathalysed and (b) convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol in December in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	222116
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Driving offences can have very serious and sometimes devastating consequences for victims and their families. That is why the Government is toughened the law by closing loopholes relating to breath tests conducted by the police.</p><p> </p><p>The number of breath tests carried out by police in England and Wales between 2008 and 2012, the latest year available, and the number of tests that were positive or refused is set out in the table below. For reporting purposes the Home Office does not differentiate between ‘positive’ and ‘refused’ breathe tests. If an individual refuses a breath test, this is an offence which carries the same maximum penalty as a positive breath test.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of breath tests</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Positive/Refused</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>711,658</p></td><td><p>91,666</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>815,290</p></td><td><p>93,348</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>736,846</p></td><td><p>84,436</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>685,992</p></td><td><p>80,761</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>682,558</p></td><td><p>75,868</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The table below sets out the total number of offenders found guilty of drink driving offences in England and Wales per year between 2009 and 2013 (the latest year available) and in December of each year.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total number of offences </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Of which December =</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>68,335</p></td><td><p>5,041</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>53,305</p></td><td><p>3,823</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>50,320</p></td><td><p>3,774</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>50,192</p></td><td><p>3,498</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>47,844</p></td><td><p>3,645</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 03/02/2015 17:15:39 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

176792

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Offences against Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were (a) cautioned and (b) prosecuted for child neglect in the most recent year for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Burton
	tabling member printed	Andrew Griffiths
	uin	222706
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Protecting children from harm is a Government priority. All children should be able to grow up in a safe, happy environment. The focus must be on early intervention as we know that the earlier that help and support is given to vulnerable children and families, the more chance there is of turning their lives around, protecting children from harm and preventing problems escalating into child cruelty.</p><p> </p><p>However, where that is not possible, we have tough legislation in place to punish offenders for this intolerable behaviour. This is the offence of child cruelty at section 1 of the Children and Young Person’s Act 1933. Neglect is one way that the offence can be committed.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is currently taking forward a provision (clause 66) in the Serious Crime Bill, to update and clarify the law on child cruelty, in particular to make absolutely clear that cruelty which causes psychological suffering or injury is covered by this offence.</p><p>The number of people cautioned, prosecuted and sentenced at all courts for cruelty or neglect of children, from 2009 to 2013 ( the latest available), can be viewed on the Ministry of Justice website at the following link:-</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/311455/cjs-outcomes-by-offence-2009-2013.xls" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/311455/cjs-outcomes-by-offence-2009-2013.xls</a></p><p> </p><p>after selecting an offence of “11 Cruelty and neglect of children”.</p><p> </p><p>Those convicted of child cruelty are more likely to go to prison now than in 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The proportion of offenders given a custodial sentence of 10 years, or a sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection, for offences relating to cruelty or neglect of children, in England &amp; Wales, from 2009 to 2013 can be viewed in the table. (The maximum custodial sentence for the offence in section 1 of the 1933 Act is 10 years’ imprisonment. Previously, it was also possible to be given a sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection for this offence.)</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning grouped question UIN 222707 question first answered 04/02/2015 09:49:19 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	3936 label Biography information for Andrew Griffiths

175798

	registered interest
	date	26/01/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prison Accommodation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the effect of section 28 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 on the number of prison places which are required.
	tabling member constituency	Tooting
	tabling member printed	Sadiq Khan
	uin	222060
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Knives on our streets are a social scourge, and under this Government, criminals carrying knives are more likely to go to prison and to get longer sentences. Unlawful possession of a knife or offensive weapon is already a serious criminal offence (which carries a maximum 4 year custodial sentence). We are building on that in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, to make it absolutely clear that cautions should no longer be used for these offences.</p><p> </p><p>Parliament has also decided that those caught for a second time in possession of a knife should face a minimum custodial sentence.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice has undertaken an analysis of the prison places which would be required as a result of the implementation of section 28 of the Bill. This will be published alongside the final Impact Assessments for the Bill when it receives Royal Assent.<br> <br></p><p>This Government will always ensure that we have enough prison places for those sent to us by the courts.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 29/01/2015 12:57:01 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	1577 label Biography information for Sadiq Khan

175793

	registered interest
	date	26/01/2015
	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, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on access to legal aid in family courts of the evidence given on 1 December 2011 to the Justice Committee by the President of the Family Division.
	tabling member constituency	Finchley and Golders Green
	tabling member printed	Mike Freer
	uin	221990
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Ministers and officials regularly meet with members of the senior judiciary to discuss policy and operational matters.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government will respond to the report of the Justice Committee’s inquiry into the impact of changes to civil legal aid under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 once it is published.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 02/02/2015 16:28:07 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer

174456

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Town Halls: Fenton
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the next meeting between officials of his Department, Urban Vision and Stoke-on-Trent City Council to discuss Fenton Town Hall will take place.
	tabling member constituency	Stoke-on-Trent South
	tabling member printed	Robert Flello
	uin	221182
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Ministry of Justice officials met, including telephone conferences, with Urban Vision on one occasion and with Stoke on Trent City Council on three occasions in the last three months. There are no further meetings scheduled to take place. The MoJ is now in commercial discussions for the sale of the property to a private bidder.</p><p> </p><p>Members of the community in Stoke-on-Trent have made their views on the court building clear to us, and we have engaged in constructive dialogue with Urban Vision as they developed their business case.</p><p> </p><p>Following those discussions, we offered to transfer ownership of the building to Stoke-on-Trent City Council, for a peppercorn rate so they could work with Urban Vision and others on the long term future of the building. Unfortunately the council has declined that offer and sadly now we will be looking to sell the court.</p><p> </p><p>We were keen to explore solutions that suited the community but we have a duty to get best value for the taxpayer when disposing of surplus property and this building had been empty for over two years.</p><p> </p><p>We will be paying for three of the war memorials to be carefully relocated to the nearby Fenton Christ Church. There will be a legal duty for whoever buys the building to preserve the Minton Memorial which cannot be safely moved.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning grouped question UIN 221235 question first answered 22/01/2015 16:08:51 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	1569 label Biography information for Robert Flello

175503

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Human Trafficking
	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 efficacy of existing civil torts in enabling victims of human trafficking to claim damages from their traffickers.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	221878
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Modern slavery is an appalling crime that has no place in today’s society. It is an affront not just to the dignity and humanity of the people crushed by it but to every one of us.</p><p> </p><p>That's why the Government has introduced a Modern Slavery Bill, the first of its kind in Europe.</p><p> </p><p>But we are clear that legislation is only part of the answer. We have also launched the Modern Slavery Strategy setting out co-ordinated action across government departments, agencies and law enforcement in the UK and internationally to tackle slavery.</p><p> </p><p>We believe that the remedies available to victims of trafficking under the civil law of tort are adequate and effective. In addition to damages to compensate the victim for the harm he or she has suffered, the law also allows for aggravated or exemplary damages to be awarded depending on the circumstances of the case. We are confident that the courts will award such damages wherever it is appropriate to do so.</p><p> </p><p>Figures in relation to the number of civil claims brought by victims of trafficking and damages awarded are not available.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning grouped question UIN 221879 221883 question first answered 02/02/2015 17:33:57 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

174794

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Courts: Wales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the savings to his Department arising from the closure of (a) Rhyl family court and (b) Denbigh magistrates' court.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	221368
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Rhyl County Court, which deals with family work, remains open.</p><p> </p><p>Denbigh Magistrates’ Court closed in September 2013. The estimated savings arising from this closure are £230,000.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 27/01/2015 15:53:52 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

176139

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Computer Misuse Act 1990
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 in each year since it entered into force.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Mr Elfyn Llwyd
	uin	222192
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The Government is absolutely clear that abusive or threatening behaviour, stalking or harassment, are totally unacceptable, whether online or offline. A number of offences may be committed by misusing the internet or social media in this way, in particular under section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988 or section 127 of the Communications Act 2003. Changes to the law in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill will help to ensure that people who commit those offences are prosecuted and properly punished.</p><p> </p><p>Stalking causes misery for victims. That is why in 2012 we added to the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 two new specific offences of stalking (section 2A) and stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress (section 4A), the latter of which is punishable by up to five years in prison, or a fine, or both. Online stalking or harassment could amount to one of these offences if it is carried out as part of a ‘course of conduct’ which amounts to stalking, and could amount to the more serious offence if that course of conduct puts someone in fear of violence, or if it causes them serious alarm or distress which has a substantial adverse effect on their usual day-to-day activities</p><p> </p><p>The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found</p><p>guilty at all courts for offences relating to the Computer Misuse Act 1990,</p><p>from 1990 to 2013 (latest data available), can be viewed in the table.</p><p> </p><p>Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the Court Proceedings Database does not include the circumstances behind each case beyond the description provided in the statute. It is not possible to separately identify from this centrally held information convictions and sentences involving the use or misuse of social media, or cyber crime. This detailed information may be held on the court record but due to the size and complexity is not reported centrally to the MoJ. As such, the information requested can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Court proceedings data for 2014 are planned for publication in May 2015.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3">Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' court and found guilty at all courts for offences relating to the Computer Misuse Act 1990, England &amp; Wales, 1990-2013<sup>(1)(2)</sup></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Year</td><td>Proceeded<br> Against</td><td>Found<br> Guilty<sup>(3)</sup></td></tr><tr><td>1990</td><td>-</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>1991</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>1992</td><td>-</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>1993</td><td>-</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>1994</td><td>-</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>1995</td><td>-</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>1996</td><td>2</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>1997</td><td>-</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>1998</td><td>16</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>1999</td><td>13</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>2000</td><td>19</td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>2001</td><td>25</td><td>31</td></tr><tr><td>2002</td><td>18</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>2003</td><td>19</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>2004</td><td>21</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>2005</td><td>24</td><td>16</td></tr><tr><td>2006</td><td>25</td><td>18</td></tr><tr><td>2007</td><td>19</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>2008<sup>(4)</sup></td><td>17</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>19</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>10</td><td>18</td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>11</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>25</td><td>27</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>55</td><td>40</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>339</td><td>262</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>(-) Nil</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">(1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">(2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">(3) The number of defendants found guilty in a particular year may exceed the number proceeded against as the proceedings in the magistrates' court took place in an earlier year and the defendants were found guilty at the Crown Court in the following year; or the defendants were found guilty of a different offence to that for which they were originally proceeded against.</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">(4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008.</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.</td></tr><tr><td>PQ 222192</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning grouped question UIN 222193 222194 question first answered 04/02/2015 18:01:41 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	549 label Biography information for Mr Elfyn Llwyd