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1184734

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Judges: Accountability
	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 improve the accountability of judges.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
	uin	28696
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2020 answer text <p>Judges must be free to make their judicial decisions without being subject to interference by Parliament or the executive. Judicial independence is fundamental to the rule of law and the effective operation of our democracy. To protect the rule of law, the main form of accountability is through right of appeal to a higher court. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office support the Lord Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor in their responsibility for considering and determining complaints about the personal conduct of all judges in England and Wales.</p><p>I am fully confident in the competence of our judiciary. Judges are selected following a transparent, rigorous, independent, merit based process which is key to maintaining the quality, integrity and independence of our world class judiciary. The Lord Chief Justice and Senior President of Tribunals require judges to attend induction training before sitting and thereafter attend continuation training. There are a range of appraisal schemes across the courts and tribunals judiciary.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 28697 question first answered 17/03/2020 14:01:52 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1184735

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Judges: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how the competence of judges is evaluated.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
	uin	28697
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2020 answer text <p>Judges must be free to make their judicial decisions without being subject to interference by Parliament or the executive. Judicial independence is fundamental to the rule of law and the effective operation of our democracy. To protect the rule of law, the main form of accountability is through right of appeal to a higher court. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office support the Lord Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor in their responsibility for considering and determining complaints about the personal conduct of all judges in England and Wales.</p><p>I am fully confident in the competence of our judiciary. Judges are selected following a transparent, rigorous, independent, merit based process which is key to maintaining the quality, integrity and independence of our world class judiciary. The Lord Chief Justice and Senior President of Tribunals require judges to attend induction training before sitting and thereafter attend continuation training. There are a range of appraisal schemes across the courts and tribunals judiciary.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 28696 question first answered 17/03/2020 14:01:52 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1190048

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Probate Service: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps is he taking to ensure that the Probate Registry can process the current high level of cases.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
	uin	39713
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>Her Majesty’s Courts &amp; Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has continued to process applications for grant of probate during the coronavirus pandemic. The digital online probate service is available for both citizens and legal professionals and this means that both the applicant, and where necessary, HMCTS can administer grants remotely.</p><p> </p><p>Paper applications from citizens have been digitised, through the introduction of a bulk scanning, since January 2020. This will shortly be extended to legal professional applications for those who are not yet using the online service. This also increases the ability of HMCTS to continue to work and process high levels of probate applications.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, HMCTS has introduced a number of temporary measures to assist applicants in making their applicants during the current circumstances, such as allowing statements of truth in place of affidavits, enabling electronic signatures on applications and providing guidance on witnessing renunciations and Powers of Attorneys whilst social distancing measures are in place.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 05/05/2020 16:44:55 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1191192

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Child Rearing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps are the Government taking to tackle parental alienation.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
	uin	41131
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government is aware of the difficulties that parents can face in continuing a relationship with their child following parental separation or divorce, sometimes because of the obstructive behaviour of the other parent.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is confident that the family justice system can robustly address such behaviour when it is alleged in child arrangements cases. The child’s welfare is the paramount consideration when considering this issue. In assessing the child’s best interests, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) reports any concerns about alienating behaviours to the court. Parents are also able to inform the court of any concerns they may have about the other parent.</p><p> </p><p>Cafcass is continuing to develop its work in addressing parental alienation when it arises in child arrangements cases. Launched in October 2018, its Child Impact Assessment Framework (CIAF) includes various tools and guidance that further support social work practitioners in identifying how individual children are experiencing parental separation, including any alienating behaviour by one parent against the other. Further information about the Framework is available on the Cafcass website at www.Cafcass.gov.uk.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 04/05/2020 16:49:07 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
	tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1237667

	registered interest
	date	24/09/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Overseas Companies: EU Countries
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how will disputes between UK companies and companies in the EU be resolved once the Court of Justice of the European Union ceases to have direct jurisdiction.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
	uin	95170
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/09/2020 answer text <p>At the end of the transition period the United Kingdom will leave the EU’s civil judicial cooperation framework, which presently contains a framework of rules on matters such as jurisdiction, applicable law and recognition and enforcement of judgments that apply to disputes between parties in the UK and parties in an EU member state which raise cross-border issues. These EU rules will no longer apply and jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Union in relation to these rules will end. To protect parties involved in such disputes where proceedings are issued before the end of the transition period, the Withdrawal Agreement provides that the EU rules will continue to apply in such cases.</p><p>At the end of the transition period the UK will re-join the 2005 Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements as an independent contracting state. This Convention ensures that exclusive choice of court agreements in commercial contracts are given effect i.e. that the jurisdiction of the chosen court will be respected and its judgment will be recognised and enforced by the courts of other Contracting Parties (which include the EU). Where cases fall outside the scope of the 2005 Hague Convention, matters - such as jurisdiction for, and recognition and enforce of civil and commercial judgments in, cross border disputes - arising after the end of the transition period will be determined under the domestic private international law rules of the UK and the relevant EU member state.</p><p>The UK has also applied to re-join to the 2007 Lugano Convention, as an independent contracting party. This is an international convention that provides rules on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters involving parties from EU member states and Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. Our application is currently being considered by the existing signatories to the Convention and, if it were to be successful, would provide a comprehensive framework for dealing with commercial disputes.</p><p>The Government will soon be publishing guidance explaining the changes to the laws applying to civil and commercial disputes on Gov.uk.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 29/09/2020 16:12:08 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
	tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1272317

	registered interest
	date	18/12/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Judges: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to support fee-paid judges who have not earned enough this year to repay the loan offered by the judicial hardship fund.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
	uin	131377
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice is committed to supporting fee-paid judges who have been affected by reduced sittings as a result of COVID-19.</p><p>We introduced the hardship scheme in May to enable advance payments to be made to fee-paid judges who were struggling financially. This was on the understanding that this money would be recovered gradually from recipients as sittings resumed.</p><p>We reviewed the repayment terms in August and, as a result, have made the following changes to make it easier for fee-paid judges to repay the advance:</p><ul><li>the start date for repayments was moved from September to November 2020, to allow more time for sittings to recover;</li><li>recipient judges need only begin repayments once their judicial fee income reaches 70% of their monthly average for 2019-20, to ensure that repayments are affordable; and</li><li>judges can choose to spread repayments over the period up to 31 March 2022.</li></ul><p>We will continue to monitor the situation and will review repayment arrangements, on request, for anyone in the scheme who is concerned that they may struggle to make payment in full by March 2022.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 11/01/2021 16:22:17 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
	tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1315398

	registered interest
	date	18/05/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What assessment he has made of trends in the level of self-harm in women's prisons in 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
	uin	900161
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2021 answer text <p>The self-harm rate increased by 13% in the 12 months to December 2020. In the most recent quarter, self-harm rates decreased by 19% on the previous three months. Despite recent improvements, the level of self-harm in women’s prisons remains too high and we will continue to prioritise improving safety outcomes.</p><p> </p><p>We have established a Women’s Estate Self-Harm Taskforce and the Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) model, while expanding therapeutic services and improving gender-specific training for staff.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 18/05/2021 16:19:23 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
	tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1341572

	registered interest
	date	29/06/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What steps he is taking to reduce the number of women in prisons.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
	uin	901952
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2021 answer text <p>We recognise the benefits of diverting female offenders away from prison where appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>That is why we have committed to piloting Residential Women’s Centres for women at risk of short custodial sentences, where they will be supported to address the underlying causes of their offending behaviour and to move-on to settled accommodation. The first centre will be located in south Wales.</p><p> </p><p>I am pleased to say that there has been a 26% decrease in the female prison population in just over a decade.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 29/06/2021 16:35:50 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
	tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1367447

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what protection UK victims of coercive control have under the Hague Convention when subject to proceedings of that convention.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
	uin	72555
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2021 answer text <p>The government has assumed this question relates to the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention.</p><p>In 1980 Hague Convention proceedings for the return of a child to their country of habitual residence, the child is the subject of the proceedings. It is open to the taking parent, as a party in the case opposing the return, to bring evidence before the court that there is a grave risk that the return of the child would expose the child to physical or psychological harm or otherwise place the child in an intolerable situation.</p><p>It is for the independent court to decide on the basis of the evidence of grave risk, including where that evidence arises from alleged domestic abuse by the left behind parent against the taking parent, whether what is alleged gives rise to a grave risk to the child, such that the child should not be returned. The 1980 Hague Convention does not make provision for decisions about adults.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 16/11/2021 17:56:26 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1367454

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Crown Court: Kingston upon Thames
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) knives and (b) other bladed implements were removed from witnesses and visitors on entry to Kingston Crown Court and County Court premises in the year to 30 September 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
	uin	72556
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2021 answer text <p>There were 19 knives and 215 other bladed implements (for example metal cutlery which could be used as a weapon) removed from all visitors, including witnesses, on entry to Kingston Crown Court and County Court premises for the period 1 January 21 to 30 September 2021.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 16/11/2021 16:55:11 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney