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521649

registered interest
date	25/05/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Domestic Abuse
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 effect of reform of access to legal aid in cases of domestic violence on children; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
uin	38519
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2016 answer text <p>When reforming legal aid the government was careful to protect legal aid for the highest priority cases, including those relating to domestic violence and child abuse.</p><p> </p><p>The government is committed to undertaking a post-implementation review of the reforms within 3 to 5 years of their implementation.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 10/06/2016 09:57:58 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

521650

registered interest
date	25/05/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Domestic Abuse
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 effect on applicants for legal aid in cases of domestic violence of the requirement that victims provide substantial written evidence; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
uin	38521
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2016 answer text <p>The Government is absolutely clear that victims of domestic violence must have access to the help that they need, including access to legal aid.</p><p> </p><p>As I updated the House on 21 April, the Ministry of Justice has begun work with domestic violence support groups, legal representative bodies and colleagues across government to gather data and further develop our understanding of the issues facing victims of domestic violence when applying for legal aid. The findings will be used to inform an evidence-based and sustainable solution, with the aim of drawing up replacement regulations.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara grouped question UIN 38520 38522 question first answered 10/06/2016 10:19:39 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

521651

registered interest
date	25/05/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Domestic Abuse
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what provision is made within the family justice system to assist victims of domestic abuse in private family law cases who do not have the financial capability to provide documented evidence when applying for legal aid.
tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
uin	38522
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2016 answer text <p>The Government is absolutely clear that victims of domestic violence must have access to the help that they need, including access to legal aid.</p><p> </p><p>As I updated the House on 21 April, the Ministry of Justice has begun work with domestic violence support groups, legal representative bodies and colleagues across government to gather data and further develop our understanding of the issues facing victims of domestic violence when applying for legal aid. The findings will be used to inform an evidence-based and sustainable solution, with the aim of drawing up replacement regulations.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara grouped question UIN 38520 38521 question first answered 10/06/2016 10:19:39 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

521653

registered interest
date	25/05/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Domestic Abuse
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will review charges made by the (a) police and (b) NHS for obtaining official documentation when such papers are required for applications for legal aid in cases of domestic abuse.
tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
uin	38520
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2016 answer text <p>The Government is absolutely clear that victims of domestic violence must have access to the help that they need, including access to legal aid.</p><p> </p><p>As I updated the House on 21 April, the Ministry of Justice has begun work with domestic violence support groups, legal representative bodies and colleagues across government to gather data and further develop our understanding of the issues facing victims of domestic violence when applying for legal aid. The findings will be used to inform an evidence-based and sustainable solution, with the aim of drawing up replacement regulations.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara grouped question UIN 38521 38522 question first answered 10/06/2016 10:19:39 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

100480

registered interest
date	22/10/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Stalking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what further training is planned for (a) the probation service, (b) magistrates and (c) judges on the new stalking laws.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Nadine Dorries
uin	211540
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p><strong>(a)</strong> The National Probation Service is a new organisation that has only been in existence since June 2014. The Professional Skills Training team are in the process of putting together the national training plan and stalking awareness will be part of this.</p><p> </p><p>(<strong>b</strong>) &amp; <strong>(c)</strong> The responsibility for judicial training for courts judiciary lies with the Lord Chief Justice as head of the judiciary and is exercised through the Judicial College. Magistrates sit with legal advisers in court who advise them on the law.</p><p> </p><p>The new stalking laws came from the amendments made to the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 by the Protection of Freedom Act 2012. The Judicial College provides regular updates to judges and legal advisers on any changes to the law via a jurisdictional electronic internal newsletter, and did so in respect of these provisions in June 2012.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office also issued a circular [Ref: 018/2012] on the new provisions in October 2012. This was issued to the Association Of Chief Police Officers (in England And Wales And Northern Ireland), Association Of Magisterial Officers, Central Council Of Magistrates Courts, Justices Clerks Society, Law Society, Magistrates Association, Ministry of Justice, and the Judicial College.</p><p> </p><p>In addition the Justices Clerks Society also issued a circular to their members outlining the new provisions in December 2012.</p><p> </p><p>The Judicial College regularly assesses judicial training needs and how to meet them. Ultimately, judges use the law to make independent decisions based on the evidence and information provided to them in court.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 03/11/2014 16:40:29 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

100487

registered interest
date	22/10/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Stalking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many magistrates in England and Wales have been given training on the new laws on stalking to date.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Nadine Dorries
uin	211545
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The responsibility for the training of Magistrates lies with the Lord Chief Justice as head of the judiciary and is exercised through the Judicial College.</p><p> </p><p>Magistrates sit with legal advisers in court who advise them on the law. The Judicial College is not responsible for teaching and updating Legal Advisers on the law. However, reference to any relevant law will be made at training events for the topics being covered.</p><p> </p><p>The Judicial College provides regular updates to Legal Advisers on any changes to the law via a jurisdictional electronic internal newsletter and did so in respect of these provisions in June 2012. In addition, the Home Office also issued a circular [Ref: 018/2012] on the new provisions in October 2012, and the Justices Clerks Society issued a circular to their members outlining the new provisions in December 2012.</p><p> </p><p>The Judicial College regularly assesses judicial training needs and how to meet them. Ultimately, magistrates use the law to make independent decisions based on the evidence and information provided to them in court.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 03/11/2014 16:34:59 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

100488

registered interest
date	22/10/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Stalking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many judges in England and Wales have been given training on the new laws on stalking to date.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Nadine Dorries
uin	211546
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The responsibility for the training of judges lies with the Lord Chief Justice as head of the judiciary and is exercised through the Judicial College.</p><p> </p><p>The Judicial College is not responsible for teaching and updating judges on the law; judges are professional lawyers and are expected to keep themselves up to date. However, reference to any relevant law will be made at training events for the topics covered. The Judicial College provides regular updates to judges on any changes to the law via a jurisdictional electronic internal newsletter and did so in respect of these provisions in June 2012.</p><p> </p><p>The Judicial College regularly assesses judicial training needs and how to meet them. Ultimately, judges use the law to make independent decisions based on the evidence and information provided to them in court.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 03/11/2014 16:12:46 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

100489

registered interest
date	22/10/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Stalking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted under the provisions of section 4a of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997; and how many such people received a custodial sentence.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Nadine Dorries
uin	211535
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The stalking offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, sections 2A (stalking) and 4A (stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress), have been available from 25 November 2012. The section 2A offence has a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and/or a fine, and the section 4A offence has a maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment.</p><p> </p><p>The number of people convicted under sections 2A and 4A in 2012 and 2013 and those receiving custodial sentence can be viewed at the table below.</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><p><em>Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody at all courts of offences under Sections 2A and 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, England and Wales, 2012 to 2013<sup>1,2,3</sup></em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>Section of Act</em></p></td><td><p><em>Outcome</em></p></td><td><p><em>2012</em></p></td><td><p><em>2013</em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Section 2A<sup>4</sup></p></td><td><p>Proceeded against</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>293</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Found guilty</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>196</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Sentenced</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>192</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><em>Of which:</em></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Immediate custody</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>35</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><em>Of which:</em></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>up to 12 months</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>35</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>12 to 24 months</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>over 24 months</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Section 4A<sup>5</sup></p></td><td><p>Proceeded against</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>154</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Found guilty</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>53</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Sentenced</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>42</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><em>Of which:</em></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Immediate custody</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><em>Of which:</em></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>up to 12 months</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>12 to 24 months</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>over 24 months</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="4"><p><sup>1</sup> 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 for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. <sup>2</sup> 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. <sup>3</sup> The number of offenders sentenced can differ from those found guilty as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty in a particular year, and committed for sentence at the Crown Court, may be sentenced in the following year. <sup>4</sup> Pursue course of conduct in breach of S.1(1) of the Act which amounts to stalking. <sup>5</sup> Stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm and distress. <em>Note:</em> Offences introduced 25 November 2012. <em>Source:</em> Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara grouped question UIN 211536 question first answered 03/11/2014 16:04:05 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

100490

registered interest
date	22/10/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Stalking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted under the provisions of section 2A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997; and how many such people received a custodial sentence.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Nadine Dorries
uin	211536
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The stalking offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, sections 2A (stalking) and 4A (stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress), have been available from 25 November 2012. The section 2A offence has a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and/or a fine, and the section 4A offence has a maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment.</p><p> </p><p>The number of people convicted under sections 2A and 4A in 2012 and 2013 and those receiving custodial sentence can be viewed at the table below.</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><p><em>Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody at all courts of offences under Sections 2A and 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, England and Wales, 2012 to 2013<sup>1,2,3</sup></em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>Section of Act</em></p></td><td><p><em>Outcome</em></p></td><td><p><em>2012</em></p></td><td><p><em>2013</em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Section 2A<sup>4</sup></p></td><td><p>Proceeded against</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>293</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Found guilty</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>196</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Sentenced</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>192</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><em>Of which:</em></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Immediate custody</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>35</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><em>Of which:</em></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>up to 12 months</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>35</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>12 to 24 months</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>over 24 months</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Section 4A<sup>5</sup></p></td><td><p>Proceeded against</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>154</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Found guilty</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>53</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Sentenced</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>42</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><em>Of which:</em></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Immediate custody</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><em>Of which:</em></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>up to 12 months</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>12 to 24 months</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>over 24 months</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="4"><p><sup>1</sup> 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 for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. <sup>2</sup> 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. <sup>3</sup> The number of offenders sentenced can differ from those found guilty as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty in a particular year, and committed for sentence at the Crown Court, may be sentenced in the following year. <sup>4</sup> Pursue course of conduct in breach of S.1(1) of the Act which amounts to stalking. <sup>5</sup> Stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm and distress. <em>Note:</em> Offences introduced 25 November 2012. <em>Source:</em> Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara grouped question UIN 211535 question first answered 03/11/2014 16:04:05 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

77444

registered interest
date	11/07/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Video Conferencing
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 July 2014, Official Report, columns 256-60W, on courts: video conferencing, which of the enlisted external video end points have been used in court proceedings involving children in England and Wales in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	205418
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2014 answer text <p>We must do everything we can to support vulnerable witnesses and help them give their best possible evidence to bring offenders to justice. That's why we are trialling pre recorded cross-examination to allow young and vulnerable witnesses to give evidence away from what can be an aggressive court room atmosphere.</p><p> </p><p>Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service uses information about child witnesses in criminal cases to ensure that individual trials are managed effectively. HMCTS does not however, hold child witness data on video link usage.</p><p> </p><p>The answer of 8 July 2014, Official Report, columns 256-60W sets out the court houses within each HMCTS region which have the ability to link to an external video end point to that of the trial court. All of the HMCTS video estate is located within HMCTS courthouses.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara grouped question UIN 205419 question first answered 17/07/2014 13:02:55 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis