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65066

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Autism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department has taken to support adults with autism who are involved with the courts.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	203420
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice is committed to making reasonable adjustments to accommodate a court user's needs in line with its duty under the Equality Act 2010 and has a number of steps in place to facilitate this:</p><p> </p><p>HM Courts and Tribunals (HMCTS) provides support to users of the courts and tribunals who have disabilities (including those with autism) in a variety of ways. Staff are able to make reasonable adjustments for customers when coming to court, including for example, auxiliary aids or help with completing forms.</p><p> </p><p>In addition HMCTS are working closely with NHS England on the Liaison and Diversion Programme. This aims to identify individuals as early as possible after they come into contact with the police and criminal justice system. They who aim to make sure that individuals have had their health needs and vulnerabilities (including the autistic spectrum) identified and assessed at the earliest possible stage, so they are referred to the right services to receive the help and support they need.</p><p> </p><p>In the criminal jurisdiction the CPS or defence can apply for special measures for victims, witnesses and defendants with disabilities. The appropriateness and specific nature of these measures would be decided upon by the Judge.</p><p> </p><p>Similarly, in civil, family and tribunal jurisdictions, parties can apply to the Judge to ask for additional support, which could for example include the provision of intermediaries and appropriate adults.</p><p> </p><p>A new Code of Practice for Victims of Crime was launched on 10th December 2013. The Code provides enhanced entitlements for vulnerable victims such as those who have a significant impairment. Special measures could include the use of communication aids such as alphabet boards or other assistance to victims if they have to give evidence in court.</p><p> </p><p>Judges are aware of the special measures available for disabled people. Guidance on fair treatment and equality issues, including general information on disability issues, is available to the judiciary in the Equal Treatment Bench Book and it is for the judge to consider the individual elements of each case. Additionally, the Judicial College regularly reviews its training materials to ensure that awareness of diversity and equality is given appropriate priority.</p><p> </p><p>Finally, the Ministry of Justice are signatories to the recent refresh of the Adult Autism Strategy “Think Autism – Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives, the strategy for adults with autism in England: an update” published April 2014.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 08/07/2014 16:42:22 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

65071

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Jimmy Savile
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will revise his decision to redact documents relating to Jimmy Savile in the PREM 19/878 file in the National Archives.
tabling member constituency	West Bromwich East
tabling member printed	Mr Tom Watson
uin	203322
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p>The majority of the information in the file has been disclosed. An application for closed information in the file is currently subject to a pending appeal in the First-tier tribunal. Therefore the Government cannot comment further in these circumstances.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 07/07/2014 16:46:00 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
tabling member	1463 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest

65165

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Mediation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to reverse the fall in take-up of family mediation for separating and divorcing couples.
tabling member constituency	Exeter
tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
uin	203498
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p>We have changed the law to require people to consider mediation before applying to the Family Court. This will encourage people to resolve their issues through mediation rather than court, where appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>We are delivering a wide-ranging programme of activity to improve public awareness about family mediation and to make sure that advice agencies are providing the right information about it. This includes being very clear that legal aid is still available for mediation and for legal support for mediation.</p><p> </p><p>I have taken the opportunity to engage directly with mediation and legal practitioners about the issues facing them at the moment. I have hosted a webchat for people to come forward and offer ideas to encourage people to use family mediation and launched an online tool called Dialogue where people can post their ideas.</p><p> </p><p>I have hosted two roundtable meetings to discuss increasing the take-up of family mediation with key figures in the mediation profession. The ideas from these events were considered by the Family Mediation Task Force, which was chaired by David Norgrove. The ‘Report of the Family Mediation Task Force' has been published on the mediation Dialogue webpage at: <a title="http://bit.ly/1o7roWW" href="http://bit.ly/1o7roWW" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1o7roWW</a>. The report makes recommendations about increasing the uptake of family mediation. The Government will respond in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 07/07/2014 08:57:15 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

64824

registered interest
date	30/06/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Roads: Accidents
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many coroners' inquests have been held into the death of a child below the age of four as a result of being a passenger in a road traffic accident in each of the last five years; in how many of those cases the inquest found that a faulty child's car seat was a contributory factor; and in how many of those cases the inquest found that an incorrectly fitted child's car seat was a contributory factor.
tabling member constituency	North Warwickshire
tabling member printed	Dan Byles
uin	203091
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice collects data from coroners for the annual Coroners Statistics bulletin, which is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coroners-statistics-2013" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coroners-statistics-2013</a></p><p>The statistical information is collected in summary form, which does not include data at the level of detail requested.</p><p> </p><p>Coroners are independent judicial office holders, appointed by a local authority within the coroner area, and are not employed by the Ministry of Justice.</p><p>To provide the information requested would require the Ministry of Justice to ask coroners in England and Wales to examine their records for over five thousand inquests to extract the information and provide a summary report to the centre. As such, this information is only available at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 07/07/2014 08:55:41 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
tabling member	4112 label Biography information for Dan Byles

64202

registered interest
date	26/06/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Data Protection
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions she has had with the Lord Chancellor on the introduction of section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 in relation to data protection offences; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Croydon North
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Reed
uin	202612
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p>I am not aware that any discussions have taken place between the Lord Chancellor and the Home Secretary on the introduction of s77 of the Criminal Justice Act 2008 (CJIA). The Ministry of Justice will liaise with all interested Government Departments before deciding whether to consult on introducing section 77 (CJIA) and commencing the enhanced public interest defence under section 78 (CJIA).</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 02/07/2014 08:18:33 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

64216

registered interest
date	26/06/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Styal Prison
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Styal spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners in that prison was in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14.
tabling member constituency	Newport East
tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
uin	202582
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2014 answer text <p>Up until the end of 2011-2012, information was collected on the average hours during each weekday when prisoners cells were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day, it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell.</p><p> </p><p>Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-2010 to 2011-2012 have been placed in the library of the House.Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.</p><p> </p><p>It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.</p><p> </p><p>Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-2012 because it was not used in the day to day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline of collecting the data. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 could therefore only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Indicators introduced into prison service learning agreements in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending.</p><p> </p><p>Work in prisons is a key priority to make sure that prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release which is a key element to reducing reoffending.</p><p> </p><p>The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-2011 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda in 2012-2013, which is the first year when they were required to supply figures, private sector prisons reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running by performing tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.</p><p> </p><p>Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum: <a title="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 01/07/2014 16:42:22 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

64218

registered interest
date	26/06/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Powers of Attorney
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will strengthen levels of protection of elderly and vulnerable people by allowing the Office of the Public Guardian to investigate abuses of power of attorney in cases where these powers have been revoked.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Nadine Dorries
uin	202570
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p>The Government is committed to protecting elderly and vulnerable people, and to ensuring that anyone responsible for abuse is dealt with appropriately.</p><p> </p><p>The Public Guardian has power to investigate cases where concerns are raised about the actions of a person acting under a power of attorney, and to apply to the Court to revoke the power of attorney where necessary to prevent abuse. The Public Guardian will refer cases to health and care authorities, who can act under statutory safeguarding powers to protect an individual who may be at risk, and to the police if he suspects a criminal offence has been committed.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently considering whether the Public Guardian needs additional powers to strengthen his role in safeguarding elderly and vulnerable people, including the power to continue an investigation after a power of attorney or court order has been revoked or disclaimed. This would require changes to primary legislation.</p><p> </p><p>Data on prosecutions for fraud, or for ill-treatment and neglect under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, do not specify whether the allegation relates to a person acting under a power of attorney. The Government's response to the House of Lords Select Committee's report on the Mental Capacity Act includes a commitment to review the use of the criminal offence under s44 of the Act.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes grouped question UIN 202571 202572 202573 202574 question first answered 02/07/2014 16:24:54 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
tabling member	1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

64219

registered interest
date	26/06/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Powers of Attorney
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to increase levels of protection for elderly and vulnerable people who fall victim to abuse of power of attorney.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Nadine Dorries
uin	202573
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p>The Government is committed to protecting elderly and vulnerable people, and to ensuring that anyone responsible for abuse is dealt with appropriately.</p><p> </p><p>The Public Guardian has power to investigate cases where concerns are raised about the actions of a person acting under a power of attorney, and to apply to the Court to revoke the power of attorney where necessary to prevent abuse. The Public Guardian will refer cases to health and care authorities, who can act under statutory safeguarding powers to protect an individual who may be at risk, and to the police if he suspects a criminal offence has been committed.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently considering whether the Public Guardian needs additional powers to strengthen his role in safeguarding elderly and vulnerable people, including the power to continue an investigation after a power of attorney or court order has been revoked or disclaimed. This would require changes to primary legislation.</p><p> </p><p>Data on prosecutions for fraud, or for ill-treatment and neglect under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, do not specify whether the allegation relates to a person acting under a power of attorney. The Government's response to the House of Lords Select Committee's report on the Mental Capacity Act includes a commitment to review the use of the criminal offence under s44 of the Act.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes grouped question UIN 202570 202571 202572 202574 question first answered 02/07/2014 16:24:55 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
tabling member	1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

64221

registered interest
date	26/06/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Powers of Attorney
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will take steps to expand the investigatory powers of the Office of the Public Guardian to better protect elderly and vulnerable people in cases in which power of attorney is abused; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Nadine Dorries
uin	202574
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p>The Government is committed to protecting elderly and vulnerable people, and to ensuring that anyone responsible for abuse is dealt with appropriately.</p><p> </p><p>The Public Guardian has power to investigate cases where concerns are raised about the actions of a person acting under a power of attorney, and to apply to the Court to revoke the power of attorney where necessary to prevent abuse. The Public Guardian will refer cases to health and care authorities, who can act under statutory safeguarding powers to protect an individual who may be at risk, and to the police if he suspects a criminal offence has been committed.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently considering whether the Public Guardian needs additional powers to strengthen his role in safeguarding elderly and vulnerable people, including the power to continue an investigation after a power of attorney or court order has been revoked or disclaimed. This would require changes to primary legislation.</p><p> </p><p>Data on prosecutions for fraud, or for ill-treatment and neglect under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, do not specify whether the allegation relates to a person acting under a power of attorney. The Government's response to the House of Lords Select Committee's report on the Mental Capacity Act includes a commitment to review the use of the criminal offence under s44 of the Act.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes grouped question UIN 202570 202571 202572 202573 question first answered 02/07/2014 16:24:55 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
tabling member	1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

64222

registered interest
date	26/06/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	East Sutton Park Prison
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Sutton Park spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners was in that prison in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14.
tabling member constituency	Bolton South East
tabling member printed	Yasmin Qureshi
uin	202626
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Up until the end of 2011-2012, information was collected on the average hours during each weekday when prisoners cells were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day, it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell.</p><p> </p><p>Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-2010 to 2011-2012 have been placed in the library of the House.Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.</p><p> </p><p>It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.</p><p> </p><p>Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-2012 because it was not used in the day to day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline of collecting the data. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 could therefore only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Indicators introduced into prison service learning agreements in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending.</p><p> </p><p>Work in prisons is a key priority to make sure that prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release which is a key element to reducing reoffending.</p><p> </p><p>The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-2011 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda in 2012-2013, which is the first year when they were required to supply figures, private sector prisons reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running by performing tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.</p><p> </p><p>Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum: <a title="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes grouped question UIN 202627 question first answered 01/07/2014 16:40:53 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
tabling member	3924 label Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi