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1128066

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Domestic Abuse
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Keen of Elie on 21 May (HL Deb, col 1863), what consideration they have given to providing (1) separate waiting facilities for the parties, and (2) facilities to enable the giving of evidence by screen or video link, for court cases relating to domestic abuse.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL15915
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>From context we have assumed the honourable member is asking about the family courts.</p><p> </p><p>(1) In family courts, vulnerable parties and witnesses may request the use of a separate entrance and waiting area. Where dedicated separate entrances or waiting areas are not available, court staff will make alternative arrangements wherever possible.</p><p> </p><p>(2) In the family court over 300 protective screens have been provided over the last two years to ensure that vulnerable parties and witnesses can be shielded from an alleged abuser in the courtroom. Video links may also be used either from a secure location within the court building or from a remote location. Use of these facilities must be approved by the Judge. Use of telephone hearings for without notice Family Law Act injunction hearings is being encouraged to avoid the need for victims of domestic abuse to attend court.</p><p> </p><p>We are determined that the family courts should never be used to further or perpetrate abuse. The Government announced on 21 May 2019 the establishment of an expert panel to gather evidence of how the family courts protect children and parents in cases of domestic abuse and other serious offences. Once formed, it is intended that the panel will report within three months.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 06/06/2019 15:23:08 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1123736

registered interest
date	29/04/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Housing
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of legal aid fees for housing cases not being increased for 20 years on the number of solicitors' firms providing advice and representation; for what reason they has been no increase in such fees; whether they intend to increase those fees; and if not, why not.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL15374
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>In February 2019 the Post Implementation Review (PIR) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) was published. This included an evidence based assessment of the impact of changes to civil fees made as part of The Legal Aid Reform Programme.</p><p> </p><p>The PIR found that for the vast majority of England and Wales there is sufficient coverage of legal provision. This is regularly monitored by the LAA and action is taken where gaps in services are identified or where demand is greater than the available supply.</p><p> </p><p>It is also worth noting that wherever you are in England and Wales, legal advice for housing remains available through the telephone gateway.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 14/05/2019 15:41:17 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1105806

registered interest
date	28/03/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Community Rehabilitation Companies
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the recent Report of the Chief Inspector of Probation, published on 28 March, they intend to continue to create more Community Rehabilitation Companies.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL14892
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>There are no plans to create more Community Rehabilitation Companies. In our consultation, <em>Strengthening Probation, Building Confidence</em>, we set out plans to move from 21 probation areas to 11. We will set out our response to the consultation later this year.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 09/04/2019 15:23:57 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1105807

registered interest
date	28/03/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Probation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to complete their review of probation services; and what form the output of this review will take.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL14893
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>We are currently finalising our proposals for the future of the probation service. We will publish a formal response to the consultation <em>Strengthening Probation, Building Confidence</em> later this year.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 09/04/2019 15:24:13 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1105655

registered interest
date	27/03/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Housing
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the availability of legal aid and advice in housing law cases; and what is the geographical distribution of the providers of such services in (1) London, (2) the rest of England, and (3) Wales.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL14847
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>Legal aid for housing advice is available to help people with a range of housing problems, subject to statutory means and merits tests. The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) frequently reviews market capacity to make sure there is adequate provision around the country, and moves quickly to ensure provision where gaps may appear.</p><p> </p><p>As of 1 March there is at least one provider offering housing and debt services in all but 4 procurement areas, representing over 97% coverage across England and Wales. The Legal Aid Agency has since undertaken a further tender to secure provision in the remaining areas. Irrespective of location in England and Wales, legal advice for housing remains available through a telephone service as well.</p><p> </p><p>The following table shows the number of providers operating in each of the locations enquired about, and the number of procurement areas which fall within each. The LAA monitors access to legal aid-funded services by geographic location using ‘Procurement Areas’. These are boundaries defined by the LAA according to the respective categories of law they cover.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Geographical location</strong></p></td><td><p><strong># of Procurement Areas</strong></p></td><td><p><strong># of Providers</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>235</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>35</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other</p></td><td><p>96</p></td><td><p>212</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 09/04/2019 15:17:15 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1081643

registered interest
date	04/03/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Young Offenders: Offences against Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse of Children in Custodial Institutions: 2009–2017, published on 28 February.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL14176
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2019 answer text <p>The findings in the Inquiry’s report are shocking. The safety and welfare of children across all aspects of the youth justice system is a priority for government. We are already conducting an urgent review into safeguarding in the youth custodial estate and we have commissioned an independent review of pain inducing restraint techniques. We are also rolling out new specialist training and a specific qualification for staff working in the secure estate as part of a wide programme of reform, but we recognise further action is needed. We will carefully consider all the report’s recommendations and respond in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 18/03/2019 16:02:37 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1081644

registered interest
date	04/03/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Young Offenders: Offences against Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many staff members of (1) young offender institutions, and (2) secure training centres, have been dismissed since 2009 for reasons connected with the sexual abuse of children in these institutions.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL14177
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2019 answer text <p>Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) centrally holds the data on conduct and disciplinary cases. The data includes sexual harassment/assault; however, it is not specifically recorded as sexual abuse of children. The data also could relate to sexual harassment against other staff or children in these settings.</p><p> </p><p>Between 2009/10 and 2017/18, there were fewer than 5 staff who had been dismissed for charges of ‘sexual harassment/assault’ in young offender institutions (Cookham Wood, Feltham, Wetherby, Werrington). There were no staff dismissed for ‘sexual harassment/assault’ in Parc YOI, or in Medway and Rainsbrook[1] Secure Training Centres (STCs).</p><p> </p><p>Between the period of 2009/10 and 2017/18, there has been fewer than 5 staff who had been dismissal at Oakhill STC for reasons connected with the sexual abuse of children.</p><p> </p><p>The safety, welfare and rehabilitation of young people in our care is the core priority of the Youth Custody Service and that is why we are fundamentally committed in reforming the youth custody service. HMPPS will not tolerate any form of abuse against the young people in our care and we will assist the police with their investigation into any allegation.</p><p> </p><p><strong><sup>1 </sup></strong>Since MTCnovo took over the contract at Rainsbrook STC in 2016 there has been no dismissals.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 18/03/2019 16:06:22 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1078272

registered interest
date	26/02/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what form the review into thresholds for legal aid and entitlement will take, as refererred to in Legal Support: The Way Ahead (CP 40); and what is the expected timescale for the completion and publication of the review and its recommendations.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL14044
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2019 answer text <p>The legal aid means test review will bring together data, evidence and expertise from across Government to assess the effectiveness with which the means testing arrangements appropriately protect access to justice, particularly with respect to those who are vulnerable. We are keen to work with experts from across the field to explore any improvements to the system.</p><p> </p><p>Upon conclusion of the review, expected by summer 2020, we will publish a full consultation paper setting out our future policy proposals in this area. We will seek to implement any final recommendations as soon as practicable following public consultation.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 12/03/2019 17:24:06 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1078273

registered interest
date	26/02/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that most people are aware of their entitlement to legal support; and what estimate they have made of the number of people likely to be eligible for support by way of (1) legal advice and (2) legal representation.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL14045
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2019 answer text <p>On 7 February 2019 the Government published the Legal Support Action Plan, which outlines our vision to deliver quicker and easier access to a broad spectrum of complimentary legal support services. This includes launching a campaign to improve awareness of how people can access legal support, including legal aid, by Autumn 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The Legal Support Action Plan builds on the evidence gathered as part of the Post-Implementation Review of Part 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. The review found that further consideration of the eligibility criteria for legal aid is required and the Action Plan commits to carrying out a comprehensive legal aid means test review.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst it is not currently possible to identify the proportion of the population that is eligible for legal aid advice and/or representation, analysis as part of the legal aid means test review is expected to provide an estimate for this figure.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 12/03/2019 17:27:52 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1078274

registered interest
date	26/02/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government to what extent the number of exceptional cases in which legal aid has been granted has risen in recent years.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL14046
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2019 answer text <p>Both the number of applications made through the Exceptional Case Funding scheme and the proportion of these that have been granted have increased in recent years, as illustrated below. The MoJ publishes information on the operation of the ECF scheme and this can be accessed at Table 8.2 of the ‘Main Tables’ under the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/legal-aid-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/legal-aid-statistics</a>.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Applications Received</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Applications Determined</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Applications Granted</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>% of determined applications granted</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>1,516</p></td><td><p>1,516</p></td><td><p>72</p></td><td><p>5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>1,172</p></td><td><p>1,172</p></td><td><p>231</p></td><td><p>20%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>1,344</p></td><td><p>1,344</p></td><td><p>668</p></td><td><p>50%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>1,879</p></td><td><p>1,879</p></td><td><p>995</p></td><td><p>53%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>2,625</p></td><td><p>2,623</p></td><td><p>1,481</p></td><td><p>56%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The Legal Aid Agency monitors access to legal aid-funded services by geographic location using ‘Procurement Areas’. These are boundaries defined by the LAA according to the respective categories of law they cover. All types of procurement area have at least two providers undertaking work in their respective categories, save for Housing and Debt matters, where over 97% of procurement areas for this category have at least one provider contracted for Housing and Debt services. The LAA has opened a further tender to secure provision in these remaining areas for the Housing and Debt category. A list of law firms offering legal aid, showing location and type of advice each can provide, is published at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/directory-of-legal-aid-providers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/directory-of-legal-aid-providers</a>. Advice can also be accessed by telephone through the Civil Legal Advice service.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie grouped question UIN HL14048 question first answered 12/03/2019 17:25:44 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham