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1312007

registered interest
date	26/04/2021
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Sentencing: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many victims contacted the CPS to make a referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme in the most recent time period for which figures are available; whether his Department holds data on the number of referrals by type of offence in the relevant cases; and how many of those referrals resulted in a change to the sentence length of the offender.
tabling member constituency	Hove
tabling member printed	Peter Kyle
uin	187283
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2021 answer text <p>Requests for referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) Scheme are made to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO). Many victims contact the AGO directly and do not go to the CPS, and therefore the CPS do not hold all relevant data. All requests made via the CPS are reflected in the AGO statistics.</p><p>The AGO received 787 requests to review sentences under the ULS in 2020 and 144 requests were from victims and family members of victims. Of those 84 were eligible for review within the scheme and 14 of those were referred to the Court of Appeal. The data held by the AGO shows of the 14 cases referred: 4 were homicide cases, 8 were non-fatal offences against the person and 2 cases were categorised as rape and sexual offences. The Court of Appeal increased the sentence in 9 of those cases.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 29/04/2021 09:23:36 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4505 label Biography information for Peter Kyle

1311838

registered interest
date	23/04/2021
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Sentencing: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many and what proportion of victims that contacted the CPS to make a unduly lenient sentence referral had that referral rejected for being outside the 28 day time limit from the point of sentencing.
tabling member constituency	Hove
tabling member printed	Peter Kyle
uin	186192
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2021 answer text <p>Unfortunately, the CPS does not hold this information. The 28-day statutory time limit is absolute; the statute provides no power to extend or to apply for leave to refer sentences to the Court of Appeal out of time. I very much welcome the introduction of the new Victim’s Code which was introduced on 1 April 2021 and which places an obligation on Witness Care Officers to notify victims about the unduly lenient sentence scheme.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 28/04/2021 08:19:59 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4505 label Biography information for Peter Kyle

1311093

registered interest
date	21/04/2021
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Crown Prosecution Service: Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what mandatory training on domestic abuse CPS prosecutors have received in the last 12 months; what proportion of prosecutors have completed that training; and what evaluation has been undertaken on effectiveness of that training.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham West and Penge
tabling member printed	Ellie Reeves
uin	185461
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2021 answer text <p>The Crown Prosecution Service takes cases of domestic abuse extremely seriously. CPS prosecutors undertake specific e-learning modules with domestic abuse training delivered to all new lawyers joining CPS Areas. In the past 12 months, 349 staff have completed evidence led prosecution e-learning and 303 advocates have completed the domestic abuse drills course (an advocacy-based course supporting prosecutors dealing with domestic abuse cases, which covers issues around bail, guilty pleas, special measures, and case management). In addition to these mandatory modules, wider training on domestic abuse is also available to prosecutors.</p><p>As part of an ambitious domestic abuse programme launched in January 2021, the CPS is working with sector experts to review the current e-learning modules, to create additional learning opportunities and share messages with staff. The recent Domestic Abuse Best Practice Framework Conference demonstrates how key information can be shared virtually with prosecutors.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 29/04/2021 12:49:52 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4620 label Biography information for Ellie Reeves

1309792

registered interest
date	16/04/2021
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Attorney General: Business Interests
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, whether officials in his Department have received remuneration for paid work for organisations or companies outside of Government in the latest period for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham West and Penge
tabling member printed	Ellie Reeves
uin	182089
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2021 answer text <p>On 23 April, the Cabinet Secretary wrote to the Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the management of outside interests in the Civil Service.</p><p> </p><p>The Committee published this letter on 26 April. It can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/5623/documents/55584/default/" target="_blank">https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/5623/documents/55584/default/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Cabinet Secretary’s letter sets out a series of steps to improve processes. This programme of work will also take account of any recommendations that emerge from Nigel Boardman’s review.</p><p> </p><p>The Civil Service Management Code sets out, at paragraph 4.3.4, the requirement that civil servants must seek permission before accepting any outside employment which might affect their work either directly or indirectly. The applicable principles are those set out in the Business Appointment Rules. The Civil Service Management Code is published here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-servants-terms-and-conditions" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-servants-terms-and-conditions</a></p><p> </p><p>Where the civil servant is a member of the departmental board any outside employment, as well as other relevant interests will be published as part of the Annual Report and Accounts or other transparency publication.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 27/04/2021 15:02:32 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4620 label Biography information for Ellie Reeves

1309597

registered interest
date	15/04/2021
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Attorney General: West Yorkshire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many West Yorkshire based organisations he has met in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Batley and Spen
tabling member printed	Tracy Brabin
uin	181367
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>The Attorney General has not visited any West Yorkshire based organisations in the last 12 months.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 20/04/2021 16:05:07 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	4588 label Biography information for Tracy Brabin

1306863

registered interest
date	31/03/2021
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Trials
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what estimate she has made of the number of CPS prosecutions that have been classified as no longer in the public interest as a result of delays in criminal trials beginning in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	178563
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) case outcome records compiled in the Case Management System include an allocation of a principal reason for finalised prosecutions not resulting in a conviction (non-conviction outcomes), including the numbers which failed for public interest reasons.</p><p>The CPS does not have a specific reason accounting for delays in criminal trials. However, the category ‘Other charge/indictment; loss/harm minor from single incident; delay between offence/charge and trial’ may be allocated. This can apply where there has been a delay since the commission of the offence, or since the defendant was charged, leading either to the case being dropped by the CPS, or stopped by the court on the grounds of abuse of process. It is not possible to further disaggregate these reasons.</p><p>The table below shows the number of defendants allocated this reason in each of the last five years, and the six months April to September 2020</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>2015-2016</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016-2017</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017-2018</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018-2019</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019-2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>April - Sept 2020</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other charge/indictment, loss/harm minor from single incident, delay between offence/charge and trial</p></td><td><p>5,706</p></td><td><p>4,711</p></td><td><p>4,011</p></td><td><p>4,194</p></td><td><p>4,417</p></td><td><p>6,107</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>% Other charge/indictment, loss/harm minor from single incident, delay between offence/charge and trial</p></td><td><p>0.9%</p></td><td><p>0.8%</p></td><td><p>0.8%</p></td><td><p>0.8%</p></td><td><p>1.0%</p></td><td><p>4.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total Non-Conviction Outcomes</p></td><td><p>107,579</p></td><td><p>94,692</p></td><td><p>84,834</p></td><td><p>80,474</p></td><td><p>70,816</p></td><td><p>21,857</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>% Non-Conviction Outcomes</p></td><td><p>16.9%</p></td><td><p>16.1%</p></td><td><p>15.9%</p></td><td><p>16.3%</p></td><td><p>15.7%</p></td><td><p>15.4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total Completed Prosecution Outcomes</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>637,778</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>588,021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>533,161</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>494,811</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>451,046</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>141,885</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Between April and September 2020, the volume of completed prosecution outcomes reduced due to court closures and social distancing. However, the volume of cases dropped by the CPS are not as reliant on court hearings and were less impacted.</p><p>In response to COVID-19 the CPS introduced an <em>Interim Case Review Guidance on the Application of the Public Interest</em>, as part of the COVID-19 crisis response. The guidance is to be applied for charging decisions, including decisions on whether to continue or discontinue a case that has already been charged. The guidance advises that when considering the question of whether a prosecution is a proportionate response, prosecutors should do so in the context of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the potential delay to criminal proceedings. Application of the principles set out in this guidance may have contributed to an increase in the proportion of cases dropped under the category of ‘Other charge/indictment; loss/harm minor from single incident; delay between offence/charge and trial’.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 20/04/2021 14:31:22 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1304108

registered interest
date	18/03/2021
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Slavery
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the oral contribution of the hon. Member for Sefton Central of 18 March 2021, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on concerns in respect of modern slavery in supply chains for the procurement of personal protective equipment.
tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
uin	171587
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2021 answer text <p>I regularly meet ministerial colleagues to discuss important issues of common interest. However, it is a fundamental and longstanding principle of our system of Government that the fact of whether the Law Officers have advised on a particular issue is, by convention, not disclosed outside Government, without their consent. The Convention provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice in circumstances in which Ministers and Law Officers can be fully open with one another.</p><p>The Government is committed to tackling modern slavery in supply chains. On 26 March 2020, we became the first country to publish a Government Modern Slavery Statement setting out the steps we have taken to identify and prevent modern slavery in our own supply chains. From September 2021 onwards, Ministerial departments will publish their own annual statements setting out the steps they have taken in their priority risk areas.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office is working with DHSC, NHS and external experts to develop tailored training and guidance for HMG buyers and suppliers on best practice approaches to preventing modern slavery in PPE supply chains.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 23/03/2021 17:02:56 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1303371

registered interest
date	17/03/2021
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Domestic Abuse and Sexual Offences: Prosecutions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps she is taking to increase the number of prosecutions for (a) domestic violence, (b) rape and (c) sexual assault; and what plans she has to ensure that victims of those crimes (i) receive appropriate support to help them navigate the criminal justice system and (ii) have faith in that system.
tabling member constituency	Coventry North East
tabling member printed	Colleen Fletcher
uin	170668
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2021 answer text <p>Tackling sexual violence and domestic abuse is a priority for this Government and the CPS is working hard to deliver justice and protect victims of these abhorrent crimes.</p><p> </p><p>In July 2020, the CPS published its own rape strategy – ‘RASSO 2025’. This five-year strategy outlines a programme of work specifically to help reduce the disparity between reports and criminal justice outcomes. In addition, the CPS and police published a Joint National Action Plan for rape in January of this year to improve joint handling of rape investigations and prosecutions.</p><p> </p><p>Also in January this year, the CPS published an ambitious 12-month domestic abuse programme to help narrow the disparity between reporting and criminal justice outcomes and to proactively address domestic abuse offending.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS has continued to prioritise high harms crimes including cases of sexual violence and domestic abuse throughout the pandemic and as restrictions are eased via the introduction of an Interim Charging Protocol in April 2020.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 22/03/2021 17:43:44 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4378 label Biography information for Colleen Fletcher

1301906

registered interest
date	11/03/2021
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Crown Prosecution Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what Departmental oversight is exercised over the decisions of the CPS Complex Casework Units.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	167187
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2021 answer text <p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Complex Casework Units (CCUs) undertake some of the most complex and serious casework handled by the CPS. A recent report published by Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCSPI) found that CCUs are staffed by highly dedicated, skilled and professional teams who deliver high quality casework, often in demanding circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>CCUs are overseen through a structure of experienced legal managers including Unit Heads, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutors and Chief Crown Prosecutors. The Report identified evidence of effective and regular meetings and conversations between lawyers and managers about casework. They also identified evidence of national oversight with the referral of relevant cases being made to Headquarters for consideration.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 17/03/2021 17:44:35 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1301912

registered interest
date	11/03/2021
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Administration of Justice: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to increase public understanding of the law during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	167190
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2021 answer text <p>Public understanding of the law is even more essential during this unique time when individuals are facing unprecedented challenges. Public legal education is vital to help people to understand the law, their rights, and their responsibilities, and I am proud to work closely with the legal and third sector as part of my Public Legal Education Committee to support and promote this work.</p><p> </p><p>The Attorney General’s Office has also recently supported Justice Week this year, delivered digitally at the start of March. It is a testament to the sector’s commitment to supporting the public in times of crisis that pro bono support and public legal education across the country has continued in spite of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 17/03/2021 17:46:40 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord