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1175585

registered interest
date	03/02/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Acquittals: Legal Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reimbursing legal costs for defendants acquitted during legal trials.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	11493
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government has measures in place to reimburse acquitted defendants in the criminal courts. Defendants who have been granted legal aid for representation in the Crown Court are paid back the sum of any income contributions, which they have made, in full upon acquittal.</p><p> </p><p>Acquitted defendants who were financially ineligible for legal aid and who have paid privately for legal representation in the Magistrates’ or Crown Court are entitled to recover their costs at the legal aid rates, via a Defendant’s Cost Order.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 11/02/2020 16:07:46 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1180738

registered interest
date	26/02/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Alternatives to Prosecution: Shoplifting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of offenders convicted of retail theft who are dealt with via an out-of-court disposal have gone on to re-offend in the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	21247
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2020 answer text <p>The latest statistics showing the proportion of adult offenders who reoffend following police cautions for retail theft is set out in the table below.</p><p>Note that reoffending rates are not available on the full range of Out of Court Disposals (OOCDs).</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Cohort</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of reoffenders</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of offenders</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Proportion of offenders who reoffend (%)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr - Jun 2013</p></td><td><p>1,078</p></td><td><p>3,663</p></td><td><p>29.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul - Sep 2013</p></td><td><p>1,037</p></td><td><p>3,438</p></td><td><p>30.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct - Dec 2013</p></td><td><p>1,064</p></td><td><p>3,791</p></td><td><p>28.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan - Mar 2014</p></td><td><p>1,081</p></td><td><p>3,629</p></td><td><p>29.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr - Jun 2014</p></td><td><p>944</p></td><td><p>3,289</p></td><td><p>28.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul - Sep 2014</p></td><td><p>879</p></td><td><p>3,037</p></td><td><p>28.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct - Dec 2014</p></td><td><p>901</p></td><td><p>3,176</p></td><td><p>28.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan - Mar 2015</p></td><td><p>784</p></td><td><p>2,880</p></td><td><p>27.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr - Jun 2015</p></td><td><p>722</p></td><td><p>2,624</p></td><td><p>27.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul - Sep 2015</p></td><td><p>639</p></td><td><p>2,263</p></td><td><p>28.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct - Dec 2015</p></td><td><p>740</p></td><td><p>2,511</p></td><td><p>29.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan - Mar 2016</p></td><td><p>693</p></td><td><p>2,432</p></td><td><p>28.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr - Jun 2016</p></td><td><p>606</p></td><td><p>2,249</p></td><td><p>26.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul - Sep 2016</p></td><td><p>502</p></td><td><p>1,900</p></td><td><p>26.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct - Dec 2016</p></td><td><p>560</p></td><td><p>2,085</p></td><td><p>26.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan - Mar 2017</p></td><td><p>486</p></td><td><p>1,930</p></td><td><p>25.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr - Jun 2017</p></td><td><p>432</p></td><td><p>1,546</p></td><td><p>27.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul - Sep 2017</p></td><td><p>381</p></td><td><p>1,406</p></td><td><p>27.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct - Dec 2017</p></td><td><p>391</p></td><td><p>1,486</p></td><td><p>26.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan - Mar 2018</p></td><td><p>389</p></td><td><p>1,403</p></td><td><p>27.7</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 06/03/2020 12:54:23 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1180740

registered interest
date	26/02/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Alternatives to Prosecution: Shoplifting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people convicted of retail theft have been dealt with via an out-of-court disposal in the most recent period for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	21248
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2020 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice has published information on out of court disposals including Penalty Notices for Disorder (PND) and cautions by offence up to December 2018. This information can be found using the Out of Court Disposals data tool.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802305/out-of-court-disposal-tool-2018.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802305/out-of-court-disposal-tool-2018.xlsx</a></p><p> </p><p>In the PND pivot replace ‘Outcome’ with ‘Offence’ in the ‘Rows’ field. Put ‘Outcomes’ in the ‘Filters’ field and filter by ‘DA12 Theft (retail under £100)’. The total number of PNDs issued for Theft (retail under £100) will then be displayed in row 21.</p><p> </p><p>In the Cautions pivot, filter by ‘Offence’ to include only ’46 Theft from Shops’. The total number of cautions issued for these offences in each year will then be displayed in row 21.</p><p>Separately, the Home Office has published information on outcomes for police recorded crimes, including community resolutions. These are counted on a ‘per offence’ basis (rather than per defendant as the case with the MoJ data on cautions and PNDs above). The number of community resolutions for shoplifting can be found in the outcomes open data tables, available at the landing page here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables</a></p><p>with the latest tables (for the first two quarters of 2019/20) available here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/859287/prc-outcomes-open-data-aprsep2019-tables.ods" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/859287/prc-outcomes-open-data-aprsep2019-tables.ods</a></p><p> </p><p>In the offence subgroup tab select ‘Shoplifting’</p><p>Remove ‘sum of force outcomes for offences recorded in quarter’</p><p>Drag ‘Force outcomes recorded in quarter’ to the values field and ensure it says ‘Sum of’ (rather than count of) – if not, click the pull down, value field settings and change to sum.</p><p>Add financial year and financial quarter to the columns field and sum across relevant quarters of community resolutions displayed in the table. Previous financial years are published on the landing page above.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 05/03/2020 16:56:03 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1626179

registered interest
date	09/05/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Bill of Rights Bill
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when Second Reading of the Bill of Rights Bill will take place.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	184065
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2023 answer text <p>The Lord Chancellor is currently considering all aspects of his department’s business. Business in the House will be announced in the usual way through Business Statements by the Leader of the House of Commons.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 184066 question first answered 17/05/2023 14:37:18 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1626180

registered interest
date	09/05/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Bill of Rights Bill
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 Leader of the House on whether legislative time will be provided for the Bill of Rights Bill in this parliamentary session.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	184066
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2023 answer text <p>The Lord Chancellor is currently considering all aspects of his department’s business. Business in the House will be announced in the usual way through Business Statements by the Leader of the House of Commons.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 184065 question first answered 17/05/2023 14:37:18 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1337410

registered interest
date	16/06/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Civil Proceedings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to amend English common and tort law to ensure that the ex turpi causa non oritur actio doctrine is applied against plaintiffs in all cases.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	16842
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2021 answer text <p>The <em>ex turpi causa non oritur actio</em> doctrine operates in English law so that a claimant will be unable to benefit through the courts for a legal action should it arise from their own illegal act, or an act contrary to public policy. The doctrine is often applied by courts in tort cases to bar recovery by a claimant on public policy grounds – it is an important common law principle that prevents illegality or acts contrary to public policy from being used for personal gain.</p><p> </p><p>There is a separate common law doctrine of illegality, which is subject to its own rules, and may operate to deny or limit recovery. Most claimants will not, however, have committed an illegal act. In such cases, the <em>ex turpi causa</em> doctrine is available to the defence or can be raised by the court of its own motion.</p><p> </p><p>The principle is working in practice and as such, there are no current plans to reform the law.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 25/06/2021 13:23:33 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1365494

registered interest
date	02/11/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Community Orders
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will increase awareness among magistrates of their ability to impose community payback sentences on offenders.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	68240
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2021 answer text <p>Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent courts. When deciding what sentence to impose, courts take into account the circumstances of the offence as well as any aggravating and mitigating factors, in line with Sentencing Guidelines. Sentencing Guidelines are issued by the independent Sentencing Council and include a description of the community order requirements available, including unpaid work.</p><p>Magistrates and their legal advisers receive training on the use and application of Sentencing Guidelines. To ensure judicial independence, the statutory responsibility for judicial training in England and Wales sits with the Lord Chief Justice and is exercised through the Judicial College. Briefing and training for magistrates on probation service delivery, including community payback is provided via Judicial College with materials provided by relevant teams.</p><p>The probation service routinely provides the judiciary with detail on their ability to impose community payback sentences on offenders. There is regular engagement through the national judicial forum, regional and cross bench meetings and at local court level.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 10/11/2021 12:17:21 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1669583

registered interest
date	13/11/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Community Orders
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make a comparative assessment of the effectiveness of (a) short custodial sentences and (b) sentences served in the community.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	1541
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2023 answer text <p>There is persuasive evidence that community orders and suspended sentence orders are more effective than sentences of immediate custody in reducing reoffending, in certain circumstances.</p><p>The department’s latest published reoffending statistics (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/proven-reoffending-statistics" target="_blank">Proven reoffending statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.) show that 55% of those released from prison after serving a custodial sentence of less than twelve months were convicted for a proven offence in the following 12 months. This compares to 32% of those serving a court order (community sentence or suspended sentence order) or 24% of those serving a suspended sentence with requirements served in the community.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Gareth Bacon question first answered 21/11/2023 17:26:11 answering member 4798 label Biography information for Gareth Bacon
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1195500

registered interest
date	13/05/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Coroners
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what additional resources her Department has allocated to coroners to help them to release bodies to next of kin in a timely manner to comply with religious orthodoxy.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	46617
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2020 answer text <p>Coroners services are funded by local authorities. Councils can support their local coronial services using the £1.6bn of funding announced by Government on 18 April, which was made available to support local authorities with costs of responding to Covid-19, including the costs of death management.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 22/05/2020 14:06:19 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1349050

registered interest
date	21/07/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Coroners
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of coroners' activities within the legal system.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	37445
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2021 answer text <p>Coroners are independent judicial office holders. A system of appraisal for assistant coroners which was launched by the previous Chief Coroner in April 2019 is now well-established and a system of appraisal for area and senior coroners is now being developed by the current Chief Coroner following a recently completed pilot scheme.</p><p> </p><p>Coroners carry out their role in line with their statutory powers and duties set out in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and the Rules and Regulations which underpin the Act. The Chief Coroner provides leadership, guidance and support to coroners to assist them in their role and Justice Ministers meet the Chief Coroner on a regular basis. On 27 July the Justice Committee published the report of its inquiry into the coroner service. The Government has responded to the Committee’s report and the Committee is expected to publish the response on its website in due course.</p><p> </p><p>Since July 2013 when the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 came into force, to be eligible for appointment as a senior, area or assistant coroner, a person has to have a legal qualification. Coroners in post at that time who only had a medical qualification could, however, continue in that role but they would not be eligible for another coroner appointment. Individuals who are both legally and medically qualified remain eligible for appointment.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 37444 37446 question first answered 10/09/2021 13:54:51 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord