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227176

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Justices' Clerks: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what training and information is given to magistrates' clerks to ensure that they operate in accordance with the Armed Forces Covenant.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Oliver Colvile
	uin	227457
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The responsibility for the training of Magistrates and their legal advisers lies with the Lord Chief Justice as head of the judiciary and is exercised through the Judicial College.</p><p>The Government’s response to the November 2014 Stephen Phillips’ Review into ‘Former Members of the Armed Forces and the Criminal Justice System’, included a commitment by the Judicial College to consider whether the Bench Book should be updated to include former service personnel as a separate group.</p><p>The Judicial College concluded that their Equal Treatment Bench Book already sufficiently covers many of the important aspects of fair treatment and makes some suggestions as to the steps that judges can take in different situations, to ensure that there is fairness and equality of outcome for all those involved in the justice process.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 19/03/2015 17:52:23 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
	tabling member	4022 label Biography information for Oliver Colvile

1606036

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Students: Death
	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 potential merits of introducing a requirement for coroners to inform universities of the death of a student enrolled on a course.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	170732
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2023 answer text <p>Every student death is a tragedy. Where a student’s death is investigated by the coroner, it may be appropriate for the higher education provider to have “interested person” status in the investigation and, where this is the case, would be provided with the Record of Inquest which includes the cause of death. Inquest hearings are public and open for anyone to attend.</p><p>In addition, coroners have a statutory duty to issue a report to prevent future deaths (a PFD report) where they consider that an investigation has identified circumstances which should be addressed to prevent or reduce the risk of future deaths. The report must be made to a person or organisation whom the coroner believes could have the power to take action, which may include higher education providers, and recipients are obliged by law to respond.</p><p>As coroners are independent judicial office holders, the way in which they conduct their investigations is entirely a matter for them. It would therefore be inappropriate to impose a duty on them to provide information to higher education providers in relation to individual student suicide cases. Moreover, coronial investigations are limited fact-finding exercises, and it cannot be guaranteed that consistent and comprehensive information on a deceased person’s background will be made available to the coroner in every case.</p><p>The Government expects all higher education providers to take suicide prevention very seriously, providing information with place for students to find help, actively identifying students at risk, and intervening with swift support when needed. Where a tragedy does occur, this must be treated with the utmost sensitivity by a provider. This approach to suicide prevention is set out in the <a href="https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/policy-and-research/publications/suicide-safer-universities" target="_blank">Suicide Safer Universities</a> framework, led by Universities UK and Papyrus and supported by Government. Supporting mental health and ensuring action is taken to prevent future tragedies is a high priority for Government. That is why we have targeted funding at mental health support measure including, partnerships between higher education providers and NHS services to provide better pathways of care for university students.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 27/03/2023 16:49:17 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1145892

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Parole
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has plans to undertake a review of the Parole Board guidance on remorse shown by an offender following the release of Vanessa George.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	291064
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2019 answer text <p>Guidance to Parole Board members is a matter for the independent Parole Board. It would be inappropriate for the Government to review guidance issued by an independent body making judicial decisions.</p><p> </p><p>The Parole Board already provides guidance and training to Parole Board members to enable its members to decide whether a prisoner’s continued imprisonment is necessary for the protection of the public. This is a decision focused on an assessment of future risk and will ordinarily look at: the circumstances of the original offending; whether there is any evidence of change whilst in custody; and an assessment of whether risk can be managed in the community if the prisoner were to be released.</p><p> </p><p>In making decisions parole panels must take account of all the written and oral evidence provided, including whether the prisoner expresses remorse. Whilst remorse, or lack of it, cannot be determinative in a parole decision, in making its decisions a Parole Board panel will take account of a prisoner’s attitude to their original offences; their insight into the impact of their offending on victims; and the extent to which they now take responsibility for their offences.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 03/10/2019 14:44:57 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1700520

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Dartmoor Prison: Radon Gas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he expects radon gas testing to be completed at Dartmoor prison; and what assurances he has been given that there are no safety concerns for the staff and prisoners who remain on site.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	21407
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>HMP Dartmoor is currently operating at a reduced capacity due to the presence of radon gas in accommodation areas. This is a temporary measure while work to permanently reduce radon levels is completed.</p><p> </p><p>The prison will return to its full operational capacity at the earliest possible opportunity following the completion of remedial works to ensure that the accommodation can be safely occupied. A design solution for the remedial works is currently being designed and tested.</p><p> </p><p>The health and safety of staff and prisoners remains a top priority for the Department. Testing across all residential areas continues and prisoners have been removed from accommodation where readings were returned at above actionable levels. At all times, the safety and wellbeing of staff and prisoners will be at the heart of our decision making and we are guided by experts in this area. There are no adverse safety implications to staff or prisoners who remain on the site.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 21408 question first answered 22/04/2024 12:45:20 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1700521

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Dartmoor Prison: Radon Gas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate he has made of when HMP Dartmoor will return to its full operational capacity following the detection of radon gas in that prison.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	21408
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>HMP Dartmoor is currently operating at a reduced capacity due to the presence of radon gas in accommodation areas. This is a temporary measure while work to permanently reduce radon levels is completed.</p><p> </p><p>The prison will return to its full operational capacity at the earliest possible opportunity following the completion of remedial works to ensure that the accommodation can be safely occupied. A design solution for the remedial works is currently being designed and tested.</p><p> </p><p>The health and safety of staff and prisoners remains a top priority for the Department. Testing across all residential areas continues and prisoners have been removed from accommodation where readings were returned at above actionable levels. At all times, the safety and wellbeing of staff and prisoners will be at the heart of our decision making and we are guided by experts in this area. There are no adverse safety implications to staff or prisoners who remain on the site.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 21407 question first answered 22/04/2024 12:45:20 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1423303

	registered interest
	date	18/02/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Dartmoor Prison: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has plans to allocate funding for facilities at HMP Dartmoor.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	125492
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2022 answer text <p>In December 2021, HMPPS agreed the principal terms of a new lease with the Duchy of Cornwall. Subject to final agreement, HMP Dartmoor will remain operational as a prison beyond the end of 2023, when the existing lease expires. This will protect jobs in the rural south-west of England, as well as preserving 640 much-needed prison places. I am committed to ensuring that conditions in Dartmoor are fit for purpose. HMPPS will deliver a number of significant infrastructure upgrades to improve physical conditions, following agreement of the lease. These include major investment in roof and gate upgrades, as well as planned work to replace all lighting across the prison.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 01/03/2022 16:56:00 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1672875

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Immigration
	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 to increase the legal (a) aid and (b) advice provision for individuals with (i) immigration and (ii) refugee law queries in (A) Plymouth and (B) the South West.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	3672
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>Legal aid is available for immigration and asylum cases, including those involving victims of domestic abuse and modern slavery, for separated migrant children, and for cases where someone is challenging a detention decision.</p><p> </p><p>Earlier in November, the Legal Aid Agency published a list of immigration legal services providers that are willing and able to provide remote advice to clients in the South West of England; the list is available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-providers-south-west-support-directory" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-providers-south-west-support-directory</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The ongoing Review of Civil Legal Aid is considering the broader economic context of the civil legal aid market as a whole across eleven categories (including immigration) so that it can operate sustainably in the long-term; the Review’s final report is expected in March 2024. When the Illegal Migration Act 2023 is implemented, individuals who receive a removal notice under the IMA will have access to free legal advice in relation to that notice.</p><p>Section 27(2) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 allows the Lord Chancellor to make arrangements for legal services to be provided by telephone or by other electronic means. Whether legal advice in a particular case is delivered remotely or in-person is down to the discretion of the legal provider. As set out in the Government’s response of 28 September 2023 to the consultation on legal aid fees for IMA work, which included an equality impact assessment (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-bill/outcome/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-act-government-response" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-bill/outcome/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-act-government-response</a>), a great deal of legal advice is already provided “remotely”, largely by telephone. The Government intends to allow advice to be provided remotely at Detained Duty Advice Scheme surgeries for those detained at Immigration Removal Centres. The Government acknowledges and agrees with stakeholder feedback on the need for some clients to continue to be seen face-to-face. Accordingly, conducting remote advice will be enabled at provider discretion, thus ensuring the continuation of appropriate decisions on the delivery of advice in relation to vulnerable clients.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not have data on how the advice is ultimately provided to the clients (whether face-to-face or remotely) because the decision on how to provide the service is at the discretion of the service providers, taking into account the best interests of the client. Data on the number of legal aid matters started on immigration and asylum is publicly available as part of the quarterly legal aid statistics (see tables 5.1 and 6.2 in the tables published at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-april-to-june-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-april-to-june-2023</a>). Under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, all immigration advisers must be registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) or be regulated by a Designated Qualifying Regulator (DQR). The OISC and the DQRs are responsible for ensuring immigration advisers are fit, competent, and act in their clients’ best interests. In relation to work funded under legal aid, the “Standard Civil Contract 2018: Immigration and Asylum Specification” includes a number of measures to ensure immigration and asylum advice is only provided by caseworkers who hold appropriate accreditation.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 3673 3674 3675 question first answered 04/12/2023 16:55:15 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1672876

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Immigration
	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 adequacy of the remote provision of immigration and asylum advice; and whether he has carried out an Equality Impact Assessment on the remote provision of such advice.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	3673
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>Legal aid is available for immigration and asylum cases, including those involving victims of domestic abuse and modern slavery, for separated migrant children, and for cases where someone is challenging a detention decision.</p><p> </p><p>Earlier in November, the Legal Aid Agency published a list of immigration legal services providers that are willing and able to provide remote advice to clients in the South West of England; the list is available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-providers-south-west-support-directory" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-providers-south-west-support-directory</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The ongoing Review of Civil Legal Aid is considering the broader economic context of the civil legal aid market as a whole across eleven categories (including immigration) so that it can operate sustainably in the long-term; the Review’s final report is expected in March 2024. When the Illegal Migration Act 2023 is implemented, individuals who receive a removal notice under the IMA will have access to free legal advice in relation to that notice.</p><p>Section 27(2) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 allows the Lord Chancellor to make arrangements for legal services to be provided by telephone or by other electronic means. Whether legal advice in a particular case is delivered remotely or in-person is down to the discretion of the legal provider. As set out in the Government’s response of 28 September 2023 to the consultation on legal aid fees for IMA work, which included an equality impact assessment (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-bill/outcome/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-act-government-response" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-bill/outcome/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-act-government-response</a>), a great deal of legal advice is already provided “remotely”, largely by telephone. The Government intends to allow advice to be provided remotely at Detained Duty Advice Scheme surgeries for those detained at Immigration Removal Centres. The Government acknowledges and agrees with stakeholder feedback on the need for some clients to continue to be seen face-to-face. Accordingly, conducting remote advice will be enabled at provider discretion, thus ensuring the continuation of appropriate decisions on the delivery of advice in relation to vulnerable clients.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not have data on how the advice is ultimately provided to the clients (whether face-to-face or remotely) because the decision on how to provide the service is at the discretion of the service providers, taking into account the best interests of the client. Data on the number of legal aid matters started on immigration and asylum is publicly available as part of the quarterly legal aid statistics (see tables 5.1 and 6.2 in the tables published at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-april-to-june-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-april-to-june-2023</a>). Under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, all immigration advisers must be registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) or be regulated by a Designated Qualifying Regulator (DQR). The OISC and the DQRs are responsible for ensuring immigration advisers are fit, competent, and act in their clients’ best interests. In relation to work funded under legal aid, the “Standard Civil Contract 2018: Immigration and Asylum Specification” includes a number of measures to ensure immigration and asylum advice is only provided by caseworkers who hold appropriate accreditation.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 3672 3674 3675 question first answered 04/12/2023 16:55:16 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1672877

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Asylum
	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 proportion of asylum seekers who have had access to confidential remote legal advice in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	3674
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>Legal aid is available for immigration and asylum cases, including those involving victims of domestic abuse and modern slavery, for separated migrant children, and for cases where someone is challenging a detention decision.</p><p> </p><p>Earlier in November, the Legal Aid Agency published a list of immigration legal services providers that are willing and able to provide remote advice to clients in the South West of England; the list is available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-providers-south-west-support-directory" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-providers-south-west-support-directory</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The ongoing Review of Civil Legal Aid is considering the broader economic context of the civil legal aid market as a whole across eleven categories (including immigration) so that it can operate sustainably in the long-term; the Review’s final report is expected in March 2024. When the Illegal Migration Act 2023 is implemented, individuals who receive a removal notice under the IMA will have access to free legal advice in relation to that notice.</p><p>Section 27(2) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 allows the Lord Chancellor to make arrangements for legal services to be provided by telephone or by other electronic means. Whether legal advice in a particular case is delivered remotely or in-person is down to the discretion of the legal provider. As set out in the Government’s response of 28 September 2023 to the consultation on legal aid fees for IMA work, which included an equality impact assessment (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-bill/outcome/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-act-government-response" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-bill/outcome/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-act-government-response</a>), a great deal of legal advice is already provided “remotely”, largely by telephone. The Government intends to allow advice to be provided remotely at Detained Duty Advice Scheme surgeries for those detained at Immigration Removal Centres. The Government acknowledges and agrees with stakeholder feedback on the need for some clients to continue to be seen face-to-face. Accordingly, conducting remote advice will be enabled at provider discretion, thus ensuring the continuation of appropriate decisions on the delivery of advice in relation to vulnerable clients.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not have data on how the advice is ultimately provided to the clients (whether face-to-face or remotely) because the decision on how to provide the service is at the discretion of the service providers, taking into account the best interests of the client. Data on the number of legal aid matters started on immigration and asylum is publicly available as part of the quarterly legal aid statistics (see tables 5.1 and 6.2 in the tables published at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-april-to-june-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-april-to-june-2023</a>). Under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, all immigration advisers must be registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) or be regulated by a Designated Qualifying Regulator (DQR). The OISC and the DQRs are responsible for ensuring immigration advisers are fit, competent, and act in their clients’ best interests. In relation to work funded under legal aid, the “Standard Civil Contract 2018: Immigration and Asylum Specification” includes a number of measures to ensure immigration and asylum advice is only provided by caseworkers who hold appropriate accreditation.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 3672 3673 3675 question first answered 04/12/2023 16:55:16 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1672878

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Asylum
	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 adequacy of remote advice provision in asylum seeker accommodation sites.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	3675
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>Legal aid is available for immigration and asylum cases, including those involving victims of domestic abuse and modern slavery, for separated migrant children, and for cases where someone is challenging a detention decision.</p><p> </p><p>Earlier in November, the Legal Aid Agency published a list of immigration legal services providers that are willing and able to provide remote advice to clients in the South West of England; the list is available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-providers-south-west-support-directory" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-providers-south-west-support-directory</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The ongoing Review of Civil Legal Aid is considering the broader economic context of the civil legal aid market as a whole across eleven categories (including immigration) so that it can operate sustainably in the long-term; the Review’s final report is expected in March 2024. When the Illegal Migration Act 2023 is implemented, individuals who receive a removal notice under the IMA will have access to free legal advice in relation to that notice.</p><p>Section 27(2) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 allows the Lord Chancellor to make arrangements for legal services to be provided by telephone or by other electronic means. Whether legal advice in a particular case is delivered remotely or in-person is down to the discretion of the legal provider. As set out in the Government’s response of 28 September 2023 to the consultation on legal aid fees for IMA work, which included an equality impact assessment (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-bill/outcome/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-act-government-response" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-bill/outcome/legal-aid-fees-in-the-illegal-migration-act-government-response</a>), a great deal of legal advice is already provided “remotely”, largely by telephone. The Government intends to allow advice to be provided remotely at Detained Duty Advice Scheme surgeries for those detained at Immigration Removal Centres. The Government acknowledges and agrees with stakeholder feedback on the need for some clients to continue to be seen face-to-face. Accordingly, conducting remote advice will be enabled at provider discretion, thus ensuring the continuation of appropriate decisions on the delivery of advice in relation to vulnerable clients.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not have data on how the advice is ultimately provided to the clients (whether face-to-face or remotely) because the decision on how to provide the service is at the discretion of the service providers, taking into account the best interests of the client. Data on the number of legal aid matters started on immigration and asylum is publicly available as part of the quarterly legal aid statistics (see tables 5.1 and 6.2 in the tables published at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-april-to-june-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-april-to-june-2023</a>). Under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, all immigration advisers must be registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) or be regulated by a Designated Qualifying Regulator (DQR). The OISC and the DQRs are responsible for ensuring immigration advisers are fit, competent, and act in their clients’ best interests. In relation to work funded under legal aid, the “Standard Civil Contract 2018: Immigration and Asylum Specification” includes a number of measures to ensure immigration and asylum advice is only provided by caseworkers who hold appropriate accreditation.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 3672 3673 3674 question first answered 04/12/2023 16:55:16 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard