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1183431

registered interest
date	09/03/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	National Fund
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Keen of Elie on 14 March 2019 (HL14162), what was the outcome of the Attorney General’s application to the High Court on 22 May 2018 to release the assets of the National Fund; and whether that charity’s up-to-date accounts have been filed with the Charity Commission.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
uin	HL2334
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2020 answer text <p>The National Fund was created in 1928 with the purpose of paying off the entire national debt. At present the fund cannot be used unless it completely clears the national debt, due to the terms of the fund’s charitable trust.</p><p> </p><p>On 22 May 2018 the then Attorney General made an application to the High Court to vary the terms of the charitable trust so that the National Fund can be used to help pay down the national debt.</p><p> </p><p>It is now for the High Court to decide whether the terms of the charitable trust should be varied. If the application is successful the money in the fund will be paid over to the National Debt Commissioners towards the reduction of the national debt.</p><p> </p><p>The hearing in the High Court is scheduled for October 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The website of the Charity Commission indicates that the accounts of the National Fund for 05 April 2019 are overdue.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 17/03/2020 11:36:50 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1182888

registered interest
date	04/03/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Intestacy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many estates of people that died (1) without known entitled relatives, and (2) without leaving a will, were referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department in (a) 2017–18, and (b) 2018–19; and how many of those were referred by local authorities.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
uin	HL2211
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2020 answer text <p>In 2017-2018 there were 2768 estates referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department of estates where people died without leaving known entitled relatives or a valid will of which 909 were referred by local authorities. There were 2 referrals of estates where the deceased died leaving a valid will which did not dispose of the entire of estate but without leaving known entitled relatives entitled to share in the undisposed residue, neither of which were referred by local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018-2019 there were 1971 estates referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department of which 575 were referred by local authorities. There were 3 referrals of estates where the deceased died leaving a valid will which did not dispose of the entire of estate but without leaving known entitled relatives entitled to share in the undisposed residue, none of which were referred by local authorities.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 17/03/2020 11:35:14 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1182889

registered interest
date	04/03/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Intestacy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) how many, and (2) what proportion of, referrals to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department have come from (a) local authorities, (b) hospital trusts, (c) coroners, and (d) other organisations and individuals, in (i) 2017–18, and (ii) 2018–19.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
uin	HL2212
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2020 answer text <p>In 2017-2018 there were 2770 estates referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department of which 33% were referred by local authorities, 4% were referred by hospital trusts, 63% by other organisations and individuals. There was one referral by a Coroner’s Office.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018-2019 there were 1974 estates referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department of which 29% were referred by local authorities, 3% were referred by hospital trusts, 68% by other organisations and individuals. There were no referrals by Coroners.</p><p /><p /><p><br></p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 17/03/2020 11:30:14 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1182179

registered interest
date	03/03/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Gross Negligence Manslaughter and Culpable Homicide Review
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the report of the Independent review of gross negligence manslaughter and culpable homicide, commissioned by the General Medical Council, published in June 2019, whether the CPS has taken steps to implement the recommendation on enhancing the transparency and understanding of its decision-making process.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	24261
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>The CPS published updated legal guidance on gross negligence manslaughter in May 2019, to help make decision-making in these cases more transparent and to provide comprehensive and up-to-date guidance on the offence of gross negligence manslaughter in a medical setting, incorporating the recent relevant case law.</p><p> </p><p>Evidence of medical experts will be required in all cases of medical manslaughter. Experts have to be suitably qualified and are selected on the basis of having recent and relevant expertise on the area of medicine concerned. Experts are provided with terms of reference on the elements of the offence before providing their advice. For cases where a charging decision of gross negligence manslaughter is under consideration, the prosecutor and counsel will meet with the expert to discuss the report and the evidential test. Any information which meets the disclosure test will be provided to the defence if a prosecution is commenced.</p><p> </p><p>Since April 2019, all case decisions relating to charges of gross negligence manslaughter are made by specialist prosecutors or senior specialist prosecutors within the CPS Special Crime Division, and are taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 09/03/2020 15:34:05 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1182185

registered interest
date	03/03/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Law: Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Education to teach an understanding of the law among young people.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	24347
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>I chair a Public Legal Education Committee, and regularly engage with stakeholders and other government departments to explore how we can increase public understanding of the law.</p><p>I work closely with my Ministerial colleagues to improve provision of Public Legal Education, and I recently met with The Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for Education, to discuss how to ensure young people have a strong understanding of the law.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 09/03/2020 15:34:54 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1181873

registered interest
date	02/03/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Domestic Abuse: Males
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps the Government is taking to (a) tackle the rise in reported male domestic abuse and (b) improve rates of prosecution for male domestic abuse.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	23478
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2020 answer text <p>The CPS takes cases of domestic abuse extremely seriously and is determined to provide all victims, irrespective of gender, with the greatest possible protection from offending and reoffending.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS provides comprehensive guidance and training on domestic abuse to prosecutors. This includes specific guidance on how to deal with cases involving male victims. The CPS has also led the implementation of a national Domestic Abuse Best Practice Framework in magistrates’ courts across England and Wales. The framework aims to ensure consistent good practice by all criminal justice agencies that deal with cases of domestic abuse.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 06/03/2020 11:14:34 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1181947

registered interest
date	02/03/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Slavery: Car Washes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many cases have been brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of modern slavery at hand car washes; and how many convictions there have been as a result of those cases.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	23669
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2020 answer text <p>The data published by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) shows the number of defendants prosecuted for offences of human trafficking for all forms of exploitation. To obtain details on the number of defendants prosecuted for offences relating to exploitation at hand-car washes would require a manual examination of individual case files to be undertaken at a disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The table below shows the number of defendants prosecuted in cases flagged as human trafficking offences in England and Wales from 2015/16 to September 2019.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Convictions</strong></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Non-Convictions</strong></p></td><td rowspan="2"><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Volume</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>%</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Volume</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>%</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015 - 16</p></td><td><p>192</p></td><td><p>65.1%</p></td><td><p>103</p></td><td><p>34.9%</p></td><td><p><strong>295</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016 - 17</p></td><td><p>181</p></td><td><p>61.4%</p></td><td><p>114</p></td><td><p>38.6%</p></td><td><p><strong>295</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017 - 18</p></td><td><p>185</p></td><td><p>65.1%</p></td><td><p>99</p></td><td><p>34.9%</p></td><td><p><strong>284</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018 - 19</p></td><td><p>219</p></td><td><p>68.0%</p></td><td><p>103</p></td><td><p>32.0%</p></td><td><p><strong>322</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April - Sept 19</p></td><td><p>114</p></td><td><p>72.2%</p></td><td><p>44</p></td><td><p>27.8%</p></td><td><p><strong>158</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6"><p>Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 06/03/2020 11:12:25 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1179861

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	National Fund
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they intend to take, if any, in regard to the National Fund.
tabling member printed	Lord De Mauley
uin	HL1729
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2020 answer text <p>The National Fund was created in 1928 with the purpose of paying off the entire national debt. At present the fund cannot be used unless it completely clears the national debt, due to the terms of the fund’s charitable trust.</p><p> </p><p>On 22 May 2018 my predecessor made an application to the High Court to vary the terms of the charitable trust so that the National Fund can be used to help pay down the national debt.</p><p> </p><p>It is now for the High Court to decide whether the terms of the charitable trust should be varied. If the application is successful the money in the fund will be paid over to the National Debt Commissioners towards the reduction of the national debt.</p><p> </p><p>A hearing of the claim is due to take place in October.</p><p /><p /> <p> </p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 05/03/2020 12:24:53 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley

1180106

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Attorney General: Civil Society
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, how much funding his Department has allocated to (a) civil society and (b) campaigning bodies in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	19824
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2020 answer text <p>The Attorney General’s Office has not allocated any funding to civil society or<br>campaigning bodies in the last three years.</p><p /><p /> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 03/03/2020 13:04:31 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1179075

registered interest
date	21/02/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many and what proportion of people that were due to be prosecuted for benefit fraud have had their prosecution proceedings terminated in the latest period for which figures are available; and for what reasons were those proceedings terminated.
tabling member constituency	North West Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Richard Holden
uin	18925
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>Allegations of benefit fraud are investigated by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and Local Authority investigators. DWP and Local Authority investigators have discretion to apply an administrative penalty or refer to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or Local Authority prosecutors for a decision on whether to prosecute.</p><p> </p><p>The records held by the CPS identify the number of offences in which a prosecution commenced and reached a first hearing in magistrates’ courts, rather than the number of people prosecuted. A single defendant may be prosecuted for multiple offences.</p><p> </p><p>No central records of the prosecution outcomes of offences are held by the CPS. To obtain details of the number of people prosecuted and whose proceedings were stopped by the CPS, for offences of benefit fraud would require a manual exercise of reviewing individual case files to be undertaken at a disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, cases of benefit fraud are also prosecuted by Local Authorities so any data the CPS can glean from a manual exercise would not provide a complete record.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 02/03/2020 14:04:21 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	4813 label Biography information for Mr Richard Holden