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1217865

registered interest
date	25/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Domestic Abuse
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department is conducting an internal review of domestic abuse policy.
tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
uin	64907
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>We are determined to drive the fundamental change necessary to keep victims of domestic abuse and their children safe. The Domestic Abuse Bill is the culmination of significant policy work and consultation on how we improve our response to this crime, which we are committed to keeping under review. Most recently, on 25 June 2020, we published our comprehensive report into the family courts system: ‘Assessing risk of harm to children and parents in private law children cases’.</p><p>We are taking immediate action to implement the panel’s recommendations, and will be undertaking further work to address the long-standing, systemic issues identified in the report particularly where there are allegations of domestic abuse. This work will include a review into the presumption of ‘parental involvement’ and whether the right balance is being struck between the risk of harm to children and victims, and the right of the child to have a relationship with both parents.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 30/06/2020 16:10:30 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

1218056

registered interest
date	25/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Employment Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to reintroduce Employment Tribunal fees.
tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
tabling member printed	Justin Madders
uin	64946
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>There have been no decisions regarding the re-introduction of fees in the Employment Tribunal. The Government is committed to the effective enforcement of employment rights. Should we bring forward any formal proposals relating to the re-introduction of fees in the Employment Tribunal, they would be subject to a full public consultation.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 30/06/2020 17:24:59 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

1216041

registered interest
date	22/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Ministry of Justice: Public Inquiries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish the (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory public inquiries being undertaken by his Department.
tabling member constituency	Ashfield
tabling member printed	Lee Anderson
uin	62615
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice is not conducting any inquires at this time. All previous public inquiries carried out by the Ministry of Justice, whether statutory or non-statutory, have concluded and the reports have been published.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 30/06/2020 16:04:57 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4743 label Biography information for Lee Anderson

1216173

registered interest
date	22/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Coronavirus
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 tackle the backlog of cases in Magistrates’ Courts and Crown Courts as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
tabling member constituency	Tottenham
tabling member printed	Mr David Lammy
uin	62278
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>COVID-19 has been an unprecedented challenge for the criminal justice system, but we have kept courts open and cases flowing through the system throughout. The UK has been a global leader and we are ahead of comparable systems, keeping our system open and functioning throughout COVID-19. The most time-critical hearings have continued to take place in the Magistrates’ Courts, including hearings where the defendant is in custody or there is a risk to the public, as well as dealing with applications to extend custody time limits.</p><p>In the Crown Court, whilst jury trials were paused we kept the system moving, disposing of over 5,000 cases. Jury trials were restarted on 18 May, and by mid-July all courts will have reopened. This has all been enabled through significantly increased use of technology, with over 6,500 cases heard remotely, and with close collaboration and joint working with partners and stakeholders across the criminal justice system.</p><p>There is more we need to do and HMCTS are pursuing an ambitious plan to continue to increase capacity, including increasing the use of video and audio enabled justice via a national rollout of Cloud Video Platform (CVP), expanded opening hours, and exploring ways to gain additional court capacity. This will all be set out in more detail in a Courts Recovery Plan which will be published soon.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 30/06/2020 14:16:20 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	206 label Biography information for Mr David Lammy

1216177

registered interest
date	22/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure effective communication between prisoners and their lawyers during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Tottenham
tabling member printed	Mr David Lammy
uin	62282
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>Alongside the closure of courts, the Government suspended all but exceptional visits to prisons in March. This was to ensure the safety of both prisoners and our staff through the pandemic.</p><p>Despite the absence of physical visits, prisoners do maintain the right to access legal advice, and we have looked to ensure that prisoners have continued to have the tools to make contact with their legal representatives via telephone, video link or written correspondence.</p><p>Since the outbreak of the pandemic we have enhanced the capability of prison videoconferencing facilities, particularly to support priority court work such as sentencing hearings and prisoners approaching their parole hearing dates. We have made use of the additional 1,250 mobile phones issued to prisons without in-cell telephony in order to facilitate private conversations with legal advisors, alongside encouraging Governors to ensure prisoners can have conversations with their representatives in confidence.</p><p>We are also taking steps to increase the available capacity of video conferencing across the estate through increased operating hours to include longer hours during the weekdays, and at some locations on Saturdays. This will sit alongside renewed guidance to all governors on the importance of making sure that adequate time for legal advice is made available to prisoners where possible.</p><p>Alongside this work, we are increasing the physical number of video link outlets at some critical sites where capacity is limited, as well as to support specialist courts including Youth and women’s prisons, together with the re-purposing of some unused spaces within prisons for more video link capacity.</p><p>Over the coming weeks, we are also looking to resume face-to-face access, where possible, in line with the easing of Government restrictions and advice from Public Health England. Advice to governors will be published as part of the National Framework.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer grouped question UIN 62283 question first answered 30/06/2020 14:25:21 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	206 label Biography information for Mr David Lammy

1216178

registered interest
date	22/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Legal Profession
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on what date he plans to enable legal practitioners to (a) attend Her Majesty’s Prisons and (b) take effective instructions from their clients.
tabling member constituency	Tottenham
tabling member printed	Mr David Lammy
uin	62283
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>Alongside the closure of courts, the Government suspended all but exceptional visits to prisons in March. This was to ensure the safety of both prisoners and our staff through the pandemic.</p><p>Despite the absence of physical visits, prisoners do maintain the right to access legal advice, and we have looked to ensure that prisoners have continued to have the tools to make contact with their legal representatives via telephone, video link or written correspondence.</p><p>Since the outbreak of the pandemic we have enhanced the capability of prison videoconferencing facilities, particularly to support priority court work such as sentencing hearings and prisoners approaching their parole hearing dates. We have made use of the additional 1,250 mobile phones issued to prisons without in-cell telephony in order to facilitate private conversations with legal advisors, alongside encouraging Governors to ensure prisoners can have conversations with their representatives in confidence.</p><p>We are also taking steps to increase the available capacity of video conferencing across the estate through increased operating hours to include longer hours during the weekdays, and at some locations on Saturdays. This will sit alongside renewed guidance to all governors on the importance of making sure that adequate time for legal advice is made available to prisoners where possible.</p><p>Alongside this work, we are increasing the physical number of video link outlets at some critical sites where capacity is limited, as well as to support specialist courts including Youth and women’s prisons, together with the re-purposing of some unused spaces within prisons for more video link capacity.</p><p>Over the coming weeks, we are also looking to resume face-to-face access, where possible, in line with the easing of Government restrictions and advice from Public Health England. Advice to governors will be published as part of the National Framework.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer grouped question UIN 62282 question first answered 30/06/2020 14:25:21 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	206 label Biography information for Mr David Lammy

1216248

registered interest
date	22/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much the Legal Aid Agency has paid out (a) since 31 March 2020 and (b) for a comparable period of time in the last three years with regard to (i) closed cases and (ii) payments on account.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull East
tabling member printed	Karl Turner
uin	62405
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The most recent statistics published for the Legal Aid Agency cover up to and including March 2020. Figures for quarters of the 2020/21 financial year are scheduled for future release, and as such payment data for part (a) of question 62405 cannot yet be provided. The figures for part (b) of the question are displayed below, matching the equivalent period of April, May and June inclusive for each financial year:</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Claims for Civil Representation – First Quarter Only</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Completed case expenditure (where costs met by LAA)</p></td><td><p>Payments on account (live cases)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Q1 2017/18</p></td><td><p>£153,943,450.58</p></td><td><p>£53,508,814.89</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Q1 2018/19</p></td><td><p>£149,331,830.09</p></td><td><p>£61,087,711.51</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Q1 2019/20</p></td><td><p>£168,696,887.77</p></td><td><p>£68,007,236.47</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The figure of £100m referred to by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State was based upon estimates produced by the Ministry of Justice relating to unbilled work for completed cases. The breakdown of the estimates is as follows:</p><ul><li>Criminal Legal Aid in relation to representation in the Crown Court and Higher Courts</li></ul><p>- <strong>£130m</strong></p><ul><li>Civil Legal Aid in relation to representation in the civil and family courts</li></ul><p>- <strong>£80m</strong></p><p> </p><p>All of the above estimates of unbilled work pertain to the position as at 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020.</p><p>As at 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020, the estimate produced by the Ministry of Justice of the amounts available for legal aid providers to claim in relation to unbilled work on completed matters were –</p><ul><li>Criminal Legal Aid in relation to representation in the Crown Court and Higher Courts</li></ul><p>- <strong>£130m</strong></p><ul><li>Civil Legal Aid in relation to representation in the civil and family courts</li></ul><p>- <strong>£80m</strong></p><p> </p><p>As at 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020, the estimate produced by the Ministry of Justice of the amount available for legal aid providers to claim in relation to payment on account for civil matters pertaining to representation in the civil and family courts was <strong>£165m</strong>.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 62406 62407 question first answered 30/06/2020 15:56:54 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4030 label Biography information for Karl Turner

1216249

registered interest
date	22/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the oral evidence of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State's evidence to the Justice Select Committee on 4 May 2020, Q131 HC299, what the unbilled amount of legal aid of over £100m is by legal area.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull East
tabling member printed	Karl Turner
uin	62406
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The most recent statistics published for the Legal Aid Agency cover up to and including March 2020. Figures for quarters of the 2020/21 financial year are scheduled for future release, and as such payment data for part (a) of question 62405 cannot yet be provided. The figures for part (b) of the question are displayed below, matching the equivalent period of April, May and June inclusive for each financial year:</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Claims for Civil Representation – First Quarter Only</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Completed case expenditure (where costs met by LAA)</p></td><td><p>Payments on account (live cases)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Q1 2017/18</p></td><td><p>£153,943,450.58</p></td><td><p>£53,508,814.89</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Q1 2018/19</p></td><td><p>£149,331,830.09</p></td><td><p>£61,087,711.51</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Q1 2019/20</p></td><td><p>£168,696,887.77</p></td><td><p>£68,007,236.47</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The figure of £100m referred to by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State was based upon estimates produced by the Ministry of Justice relating to unbilled work for completed cases. The breakdown of the estimates is as follows:</p><ul><li>Criminal Legal Aid in relation to representation in the Crown Court and Higher Courts</li></ul><p>- <strong>£130m</strong></p><ul><li>Civil Legal Aid in relation to representation in the civil and family courts</li></ul><p>- <strong>£80m</strong></p><p> </p><p>All of the above estimates of unbilled work pertain to the position as at 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020.</p><p>As at 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020, the estimate produced by the Ministry of Justice of the amounts available for legal aid providers to claim in relation to unbilled work on completed matters were –</p><ul><li>Criminal Legal Aid in relation to representation in the Crown Court and Higher Courts</li></ul><p>- <strong>£130m</strong></p><ul><li>Civil Legal Aid in relation to representation in the civil and family courts</li></ul><p>- <strong>£80m</strong></p><p> </p><p>As at 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020, the estimate produced by the Ministry of Justice of the amount available for legal aid providers to claim in relation to payment on account for civil matters pertaining to representation in the civil and family courts was <strong>£165m</strong>.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 62405 62407 question first answered 30/06/2020 15:56:54 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4030 label Biography information for Karl Turner

1216251

registered interest
date	22/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the funds available to legal aid practitioners with regard to (a) unclaimed costs for completed matters and (b) payments on account.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull East
tabling member printed	Karl Turner
uin	62407
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The most recent statistics published for the Legal Aid Agency cover up to and including March 2020. Figures for quarters of the 2020/21 financial year are scheduled for future release, and as such payment data for part (a) of question 62405 cannot yet be provided. The figures for part (b) of the question are displayed below, matching the equivalent period of April, May and June inclusive for each financial year:</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Claims for Civil Representation – First Quarter Only</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Completed case expenditure (where costs met by LAA)</p></td><td><p>Payments on account (live cases)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Q1 2017/18</p></td><td><p>£153,943,450.58</p></td><td><p>£53,508,814.89</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Q1 2018/19</p></td><td><p>£149,331,830.09</p></td><td><p>£61,087,711.51</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Q1 2019/20</p></td><td><p>£168,696,887.77</p></td><td><p>£68,007,236.47</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The figure of £100m referred to by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State was based upon estimates produced by the Ministry of Justice relating to unbilled work for completed cases. The breakdown of the estimates is as follows:</p><ul><li>Criminal Legal Aid in relation to representation in the Crown Court and Higher Courts</li></ul><p>- <strong>£130m</strong></p><ul><li>Civil Legal Aid in relation to representation in the civil and family courts</li></ul><p>- <strong>£80m</strong></p><p> </p><p>All of the above estimates of unbilled work pertain to the position as at 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020.</p><p>As at 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020, the estimate produced by the Ministry of Justice of the amounts available for legal aid providers to claim in relation to unbilled work on completed matters were –</p><ul><li>Criminal Legal Aid in relation to representation in the Crown Court and Higher Courts</li></ul><p>- <strong>£130m</strong></p><ul><li>Civil Legal Aid in relation to representation in the civil and family courts</li></ul><p>- <strong>£80m</strong></p><p> </p><p>As at 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020, the estimate produced by the Ministry of Justice of the amount available for legal aid providers to claim in relation to payment on account for civil matters pertaining to representation in the civil and family courts was <strong>£165m</strong>.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 62405 62406 question first answered 30/06/2020 15:56:54 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4030 label Biography information for Karl Turner

1216303

registered interest
date	22/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners' Release: Females
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 18 June 2020 to Question 58089, of the 230 women who were not deemed suitable for the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme how many (a) lacked suitable accommodation in the community, (b) no longer wished to proceed with their application and (c) were deemed to present an unacceptable level of risk if released.
tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
tabling member printed	Kate Green
uin	62432
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>236 women in custody asked to be considered for the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme (ECTR).</p><p>As of Friday 12 June, 6 women were released under ECTR and 22 were still in the process (undergoing police and probation checks).</p><p>49 women did not consent to ECTR.</p><p>128 women did not pass the initial risk screening at establishment level, and 31 were screened out later in the process following checks by police and probation.</p><p>No women were deemed unsuitable due to a lack of accommodation. The National Probation Service (NPS) established 7 joint NPS/CRC Homelessness Prevention Taskforces (HPT) in England and Wales in March 2020. All homeless prisoners who are otherwise eligible for ECTR, are referred to the HPTs who will work with local housing providers to source appropriate accommodation. During the Covid -19 pandemic, Ministry of Justice funding has also been made available to house ECTR released prisoners in short term accommodation for up to 56 nights. This can include hotel and B&amp;B accommodation. Those who are at risk of homelessness, will be referred to Local Authorities for assistance. Through The Gate case workers will be assigned to each person released on ECTR to support their move into longer term housing as well as other resettlement pathways.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 30/06/2020 14:40:19 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green