Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1697938

registered interest
date	21/03/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Drugs and Mobile Phones
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 help tackle the smuggling of (a) drugs and (b) communication devices into prisons.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	19817
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2024 answer text <p>We are committed to tackling the smuggling of all illicit items into prisons, including drugs and communication devices such as mobile phones.</p><p>We completed the £100 million Security Investment Programme in March 2022, which included funding to bolster physical security measures. This investment delivered 75 additional X-ray body scanners, resulting in full coverage across the closed adult male estate. As of October 2023, we had recorded 46,925 positive indications, helping to tackle the supply of drugs and mobile phones into prisons. We also deployed Enhanced Gate Security to 42 high-risk prisons under this investment, implementing routine searching of staff and visitors. This included 659 dedicated staff, 154 drug sniffing dogs and over 200 pieces of equipment.</p><p>We have 165 drug trace detection machines across the prison estate to prevent the smuggling of drugs, such as psychoactive substances, through the mail. The rollout of an additional 20 next-generation devices was completed in March 2024, meaning every public section prison now has this next-generation equipment.</p><p>X-ray baggage scanners have been installed at 49 sites (45 prisons and 4 learning centres) building on the rollout of our X-ray body scanners, gate security and drug trace detection machines.</p><p>New airspace restrictions took effect on 25 January 2024 to create 400 metre flight restriction zones around all closed prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales. These will ensure swift action is taken against criminal drone activity, including the smuggling of illicit items.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 28/03/2024 15:32:41 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1691563

registered interest
date	26/02/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Probate: Digital Technology
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) digitising and (b) not physically storing probate documents on the accessibility of the justice system to litigants.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	15589
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2024 answer text <p>The Government has recently concluded a consultation on storage and preservation of wills. We will be publishing the response later this year, and this will address these issues and consider possible options for reform.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 04/03/2024 13:05:14 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1691186

registered interest
date	22/02/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Probate
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make it his policy that original probate documents are permanently preserved.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	15248
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2024 answer text <p>The Government has just undertaken a consultation on the storage and preservation of wills and other documents submitted in applications for probate. We will be publishing our response, setting out the outcome of the consultation, later this year.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 01/03/2024 12:10:36 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1691188

registered interest
date	22/02/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Cultural Heritage: Probate
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the contribution of the preservation of original probate documents to cultural heritage.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	15249
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2024 answer text <p>The Government has recently concluded a consultation on storage and preservation of wills. We will be publishing the response later this year, and this will address these issues and consider possible options for reform.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 01/03/2024 12:13:14 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1684417

registered interest
date	23/01/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Fly-tipping: Sentencing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he is taking steps to review sentencing guidelines for fly-tipping.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	11013
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2024 answer text <p>Sentencing guidelines are developed by the independent Sentencing Council for England and Wales, as required by statute.</p><p>As an independent body, the Sentencing Council decides on its own priorities and work plan for producing and reviewing guidelines. Therefore, the Government cannot require the Council to review particular guidelines. However, it is open to individuals to approach the Council to ask that it does so.</p><p>The Council’s published criteria for developing or revising guidelines is available on its website at: <a href="http://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/sentencing-and-the-council/about-the-sentencing-council/our-criteria-for-developing-or-revising-guidelines" target="_blank">www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/sentencing-and-the-council/about-the-sentencing-council/our-criteria-for-developing-or-revising-guidelines</a>.</p><p>The Ministry of Justice regularly monitors the effectiveness of the sentencing framework.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Gareth Bacon question first answered 31/01/2024 11:21:14 answering member 4798 label Biography information for Gareth Bacon
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1681897

registered interest
date	15/01/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Human Trafficking: Prosecutions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been prosecuted under human trafficking laws in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	9450
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2024 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes information on the number of defendants prosecuted for offences under human trafficking laws, from 2010 to 2022, in the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65a78896867cd8000d5ae9bd/outcomes-by-offence-2022-revised.xlsx" target="_blank">Outcomes by Offence data tool: December 2022</a>, and from year ending June 2011 to the year ending June 2023, in the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65a7e44aed27ca001327b161/outcomes-by-offence-june-2023.xlsx" target="_blank">Outcomes by Offence data tool: June 2023</a>:</p><p>Offences under sections 2(1), 4 and 30(1) and 30(3) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 can be found using following HO codes:</p><ul><li><p>03608 - Conspire to arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation</p></li><li><p>03610 - Commit offence other than kidnapping or false imprisonment with intent to commit human trafficking offence</p></li><li><p>03611 - Commit offence of kidnapping or false imprisonment with intention of committing human trafficking offence</p></li><li><p>03612 - Breach a slavery and trafficking risk or prevention order</p></li></ul><p> </p><p>Offences under sections 57, 58, 59, 59A(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 &amp; Offences under sections 4 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 can be found by using following offences:</p><ul><li><p>72 Human trafficking for sexual exploitation</p></li><li><p>78.1 Human trafficking for non-sexual exploitation</p></li></ul><p>These can be accessed by navigating to the ‘Prosecutions and convictions’ tab and using the HO Offence Code and Offence filters to select the above offences in the Outcomes by Offence data tool.</p><p>In 2015, the UK Government introduced the world-leading Modern Slavery Act, giving law enforcement agencies the tools to tackle trafficking, including maximum life sentences for perpetrators and enhanced protection for victims.</p><p>Since the Modern Slavery Act was passed in 2015, we have seen significant law enforcement activity focused on modern slavery, which has led to an increase in the number of live police modern slavery investigations.</p><p>This has also led to an increase in the number of prosecutions brought and convictions secured.</p><p>Measures under the Nationality and Borders Act came into force in 2023 which have helped clarify our obligations to providing support for victims of modern slavery.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Gareth Bacon question first answered 23/01/2024 12:23:43 answering member 4798 label Biography information for Gareth Bacon
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1674437

registered interest
date	30/11/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Constitutional Reform Act 2005
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will (a) repeal the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and (b) re-establish the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	4658
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2023 answer text <p>The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 provided for the Supreme Court to assume the jurisdiction of the Appellate Committee, established the independent Judicial Appointments Commission, and shared responsibilities for the administration of justice between the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice. The Act is therefore the statutory basis of a broad sweep of constitutional matters, and it continues to underpin relationships with the judicial branch of the state.</p><p> </p><p>It is not a current priority to review the arrangements that resulted from the 2005 Act or to assess whether further legislative changes might be necessary. The Supreme Court is rightly held in high esteem not just within the UK but also overseas, and the Lord Chancellor remains committed to maintaining an effective partnership with the judiciary within the legal framework the Act created.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 08/12/2023 14:15:29 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1670050

registered interest
date	14/11/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Cemeteries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will have discussions with the organisers of the Letters to Heaven project launched in Derry and Strabane cemeteries on the potential merits of expanding that project (a) nationally and (b) in Romford constituency.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	1840
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2023 answer text <p>The Government is responsible for law and policy relating to burial in England and Wales only. It does not have day-to-day operational responsibility for burial grounds, which is matter for local authority and private burial authorities.</p><p>I understand this initiative has been implemented in Derry and Strabane by the local authority and has previously been taken up in other parts of the UK. It would be a matter for individual burial authorities to decide whether they wish to implement the scheme.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 22/11/2023 13:53:32 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1663018

registered interest
date	13/10/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Tribunals: Standards
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 reduce waiting times for tribunal hearings.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	200872
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>Tribunals within the Ministry of Justice are administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and incorporate a wide range of administrative and civil &amp; commercial jurisdictions. The largest jurisdictions are responsible for appeals in Employment, Immigration &amp; Asylum and Social Security &amp; Child Support matters.</p><p>HMCTS aims to hear tribunal cases as quickly as possible and we are introducing online digital services in our larger tribunals to enable faster processing of cases and improve the customer experience. HMCTS is also recruiting additional Judges where required together with Legal Officers who will actively manage cases; and creating virtual regions in the Employment and Immigration &amp; Asylum tribunals to hear remote cases from any region and provide additional capacity.</p><p>If an expedited hearing is requested, a Judge or Legal Officer will make a decision on that issue, taking all the circumstances into account.</p><p>Tribunal statistics are published by MoJ on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics#tribunal-statistics-quarterly.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 23/10/2023 16:17:17 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1655880

registered interest
date	01/09/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Police and Prison Officers: Crimes of Violence
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on prison officers there were in 2021-22; and how many and what proportion of prisoners sentenced to imprisonment for assaulting a prison officer in that period served their sentence concurrently with a sentence already being served.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	195757
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>The data on prison officer assaults is recorded in our published Safety in Custody Statistics.</p><p>The number and rates of assaults on staff across the estates are published in the Safety in Custody Summary Table which can be found here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1173764/Safety-in-custody-summary-q1-2023-final-tables.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1173764/Safety-in-custody-summary-q1-2023-final-tables.xlsx</a>.</p><p>Sentencing data does not produce a breakdown of types of emergency worker for all violent offences. Consequently, we are unable to confirm within cost what proportion of prisoners sentenced for assaulting prison officers served their sentence concurrently.</p><p>However, the relevant sentencing guideline, issued by the independent Sentencing Council, makes clear that sentences for offences committed in prison will generally be served consecutively and, for any act of violence in prison custody, any reduction to take account of the principle of totality is likely to be minimal.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 11/09/2023 17:05:43 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell