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76970

registered interest
date	10/07/2014
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Prosecutions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many and what proportion of all (a) Crown Prosecution Service and (b) Serious Fraud Office cases were prosecuted by external counsel in 2013-14 and each of the five preceding years; and what the cost to each agency was of such counsel in each such year.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	205096
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2014 answer text <p>Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) cases are not prosecuted exclusively by self-employed advocates or in-house advocates. Many cases are transferred between self-employed and in-house advocates and therefore it is not possible to report on the number or proportion of cases prosecuted solely by one type of advocate or the other.</p><p>However, the CPS does record the proportion of work undertaken across the 13 CPS Areas in the Crown Court by self-employed advocates by value, in accordance with the graduated fee scheme (GFS). CPS records show:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p><strong>Crown Court Advocacy (13 Area position)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p><strong>SELF-EMPLOYED ADVOCATES</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p><strong>% of prosecutions by GFS value</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008-09</p></td><td><p>78%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>75%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>72%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>69%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>70%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>71%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The cost to the CPS of fees paid to self-employed advocates in relation to Crown Court and Higher Court advice, preparation and advocacy for each of the last six years is:</p><p> </p><p>2013-14: £114,606,541</p><p>2012-13: £110,608,524</p><p>2011-12; £111,041,044</p><p>2010-11: £134,194,869</p><p>2009-10: £135,296,368</p><p>2008-09: £127,132,677</p><p> </p><p>Note: Figures include VAT and are all fees paid to self-employed advocates not just those paid under the graduated fee scheme.</p><p>All of the cases prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office in the Crown Court are prosecuted by external counsel. Costs associated with this are detailed in the following table.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p>2008/09</p></td><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>2013/14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Fees to counsel relating</strong></p><p><strong> to prosecution work</strong></p></td><td><p> </p><p> </p><p>£3,146k</p></td><td><p> </p><p> </p><p>£2,313k</p></td><td><p> </p><p> </p><p>£3,651k</p></td><td><p> </p><p> </p><p>£4,008k</p></td><td><p> </p><p> </p><p>£3,548k</p></td><td><p> </p><p> </p><p>£4,167k</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kenilworth and Southam answering member printed Jeremy Wright question first answered 01/09/2014 14:06:48 answering member 1560 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Wright
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

76992

registered interest
date	10/07/2014
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 steps he plans to take in response to the funding of HM Chief Inspectorate of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in his Annual Report 2013-14, page 4 that the background of continuing resource reductions is now having an impact on the ability of the CPS to deliver effectively across the whole range of its activity.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	205211
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2014 answer text <p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has a comprehensive cost reduction strategy to 2015-16 that is fully aligned to, and supports, CPS priorities and objectives. The strategy will ensure that the department meets the SR2013 savings targets.</p><p>In their annual report for 2013-14 the Inspectorate acknowledged that CPS had improved its performance on serious and complex cases and also highlighted CPS success in hate crime cases and those involving violence against women and girls. The report was largely based on cases completed more than a year ago and more recent data shows performance improvements across the board since then. For example, magistrates' courts are seeing more guilty pleas and fewer cases dropped while the Crown Courts are showing increasing conviction rates – now at 81% across England and Wales. The challenges mentioned in the report are being addressed but they should be seen in the context of an improving prosecution service across the country.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kenilworth and Southam answering member printed Jeremy Wright question first answered 16/07/2014 15:11:39 answering member 1560 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Wright previous answer version 10485 answering member constituency Kenilworth and Southam answering member printed Jeremy Wright answering member 1560 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Wright
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

76994

registered interest
date	10/07/2014
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 steps he plans to take in response to the finding of HM Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Inspector in his Annual Report 2013-14, page 12, that there was a considerable decline in performance of the CPS in that year in relation to how it handled its disclosure obligations.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	205209
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The CPS is committed to the proper application of the disclosure provisions in the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 and is already engaged in a range of activities that will improve performance in this area:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>· A disclosure assurance regime is in place for Crown Court disclosure;</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>· The CPS contributed to the Kinch / Riddle review into disclosure in the magistrates’ courts and is implementing the recommendations as part of the cross-CJS efforts to transform summary justice. This will mean more targeted and effective disclosure at first hearing in magistrates’ courts; and</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>· CPS has addressed the recommendations of the Gross reviews and the HMCPSI review of disclosure in R v Mouncher to further improve performance.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The CPS continues to look at how compliance with the disclosure regime can be improved and will actively consider further initiatives as necessary.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Mr Robert Buckland question first answered 01/09/2014 15:08:08 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland previous answer version 10484 answering member constituency Kenilworth and Southam answering member printed Jeremy Wright answering member 1560 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Wright
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

76996

registered interest
date	10/07/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Procurement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many contracts (a) let since 2010 and (b) about to be let by his Department and its agencies are worth (i) between £1 million and £3 million and (ii) over £3 million; how much has been spent on monitoring each contract let by his Department since 2010; and how many officials in his Department monitor each contract let since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
uin	205195
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2014 answer text <p>The Department complies with the Government's Transparency programme. As part of this all of the Department's contract opportunities with a value greater than £10,000 and all contracts subsequently awarded are published on Contracts Finder.</p><p> </p><p>The maintenance of central records of all contracts let by the Department commenced from August 2012. Therefore, I can provide information on the contracts let in the period August 2012 to date only.</p><p> </p><p>According to these records one contract has been let in the £1m to £3m range and two contracts have been let with a value in excess of £3m.</p><p> </p><p>I am not aware that any contracts are about to be let with a value above £1m.</p><p> </p><p>Records are not kept on the numbers of officials monitoring these contracts or the cost of so doing.</p><p> </p><p>I have approached the Chief Executives of the Department's Executive Agencies (Insolvency Service, Companies House, National Measurement Office, Intellectual Property Office, UK Space Agency, Ordnance Survey, Met Office, and the Land Registry) and they will respond to the Hon. Member directly. A letter from the Skills Funding Agency will be placed in the libraries of the House.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 17/07/2014 16:53:51 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson attachment 1 file name 15455 AGENCY LETTERS.pdf title Executive Agency letters for PQ UIN: 205195
tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

76998

registered interest
date	10/07/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Business: Cybercrime
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to deter and punish the perpetrators of cyber-crime attacks on UK businesses.
tabling member constituency	Hove
tabling member printed	Mike Weatherley
uin	205272
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>Combating cyber crime is a core part of the National Cyber Security Strategy, <br>which is underpinned by the National Cyber Security Programme (NCSP) and £860 <br>million of investment over five years. The Government has so far committed £70 <br>million of NCSP funding to build law enforcement capabilities to tackle cyber <br>crime. This includes the establishment of the National Cyber Crime Unit in the <br>National Crime Agency (NCA), and cyber teams within each of the Regional <br>Organised Crime Units across England and Wales. We are also developing the <br>capability and awareness of local police forces. The NCA has led efforts to <br>arrest and disrupt cyber criminals, including warning individuals who may have <br>access to malicious software that they are known to the agency and that any <br>movement into criminality will result in action. NCSP also funds the Action <br>Fraud, the national reporting service for fraud and financially motivated cyber <br>crime, and the National Fraud Intellligence Bureau. Both of these are run by <br>the City of London Police, the country’s national lead force for fraud <br>investigations. My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, visited the City of <br>London Police earlier this month with the Member for Hove and Portslade in <br>order to see the good work that the force is doing. <br><br>In addition, the Government has introduced a new offence as part of the Serious <br>Crime Bill to capture cyber attacks which cause, or create a significant risk <br>of, serious damage. This will ensure that serious cyber attacks carry <br>sentences that reflect the impact they can have. Where cyber attacks result in <br>loss of life or serious damage to national security, the maximum sentence will <br>be life imprisonment. Where an attack results in serious economic or <br>environmental damage, the maximum sentence will be 14 years’ imprisonment.<br><br>Furthermore, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has delivered a <br>range of measures to help protect businesses against cyber crime, including <br>producing best practice guidance, providing innovation vouchers to help <br>businesses boost their cyber defences, and delivering a campaign of <br>awareness-raising and behaviour change activities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 21/07/2014 14:49:00 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley previous answer version 10553 answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
tabling member	3984 label Biography information for Mike Weatherley

77000

registered interest
date	10/07/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Video Games: Cybersecurity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department has taken steps to protect from cyber-crime attacks videogame developers and publishers who have products that are specifically based online.
tabling member constituency	Hove
tabling member printed	Mike Weatherley
uin	205270
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/08/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is playing a key role in the Government’s five-year, £860m National Cyber Security Programme and has delivered a range of measures to help protect all UK businesses from cyber crime attacks. The Government has regular discussions with the videogames industry, for example through the work of the Creative Industries Council. Companies can draw upon various forms of Government help and support, such as the range of good practice guidance and the £5,000 cyber security innovation vouchers aimed at small businesses and start-ups. BIS continues to work with Government and industry partners to raise awareness of cyber threats and encourage businesses to take action to protect themselves.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 29/08/2014 08:49:47 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot previous answer version 10693 answering member constituency Tunbridge Wells answering member printed Greg Clark answering member 1578 label Biography information for Greg Clark
tabling member	3984 label Biography information for Mike Weatherley

77002

registered interest
date	10/07/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Official Receiver: Leeds
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many desks there were in the Leeds Official Receiver's Office on 30 June 2014; and how many such desks were are unoccupied.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
uin	205077
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2014 answer text <p>As of the 30 June 2014, the total number of desks in the Leeds Official Receiver's office is 124. The total number of unoccupied desks is 52.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 16/07/2014 14:10:13 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

77009

registered interest
date	10/07/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Buildings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much his Department has spent on refurbishing its entrance hall in the last year.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	205052
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2014 answer text <p>The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills has spent £56,250.49 refurbishing the entrance hall in the last year (rolling 12 month period). The following is a breakdown of this expenditure:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Expenditure</p></td><td><p>Cost</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>BIS TV reception installation and equipment</p></td><td><p>£6,320.00</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Reception wall frames.</p><p> </p><p>Reception display stands</p><p> </p><p>Signage</p></td><td><p>£8,130.00</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Backdrop for the exhibition space within the main reception</p></td><td><p>£968.00</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Building works carried out in 1VS reception</p><p> </p></td><td><p>£40,842.49</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>£56,250.49</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The reception area has been reconfigured in order to maximise the opportunities for exhibitions and displays to showcase UK businesses.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 17/07/2014 16:33:08 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

77015

registered interest
date	10/07/2014
answering body	Deputy Prime Minister
answering dept id	58
answering dept short name	Deputy Prime Minister
answering dept sort name	Deputy Prime Minister
hansard heading	Electoral Register
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what support the Government will provide to promote National Voter Registration Day in 2015.
tabling member constituency	Bradford East
tabling member printed	Mr David Ward
uin	205113
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2014 answer text <p>Government welcomes initiatives that promote democratic engagement and increase electoral registration such as National Voter Registration Day.</p><p>The Government works with many organisations to encourage people to register to vote.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Tunbridge Wells answering member printed Greg Clark question first answered 15/07/2014 12:28:23 answering member 1578 label Biography information for Greg Clark
tabling member	3923 label Biography information for Mr David Ward

77021

registered interest
date	10/07/2014
answering body	Deputy Prime Minister
answering dept id	58
answering dept short name	Deputy Prime Minister
answering dept sort name	Deputy Prime Minister
hansard heading	Electoral Register
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2014, Official Report, columns 298-9W, to the hon. Member for South West Devon representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, on electoral register, which of the local authorities which failed Performance Standard Three in more than one year (a) were and (b) were not granted additional central government funding to increase registration.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
uin	205138
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p>All Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) have received funding, based on their levels of under-registration, to help with the costs of local activities to maximise registration as part of the transition to Individual Electoral Registration.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah question first answered 22/07/2014 16:35:36 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane