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99945

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The Wales Office has regular discussions with Ofcom about improving mobile coverage across Wales. The UK Government is considering a number of options for improving coverage in partial not-spot areas, including passive infrastructure sharing and national roaming.</p><p> </p>

93650

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>There is an exceptions process which enables individuals who do not have a National Insurance Number to register to vote. Ministerial guidance has been provided for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) which sets out the framework for administering this process.</p><p>The Commission is currently producing a guide to support anyone interested in promoting electoral registration. This guide will make clear that any individual who does not have a National Insurance Number should be directed to their ERO for advice on what they need to do to register.</p>

93651

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The Electoral Commission has made no such estimate. National Insurance Numbers are allocated by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Commission does not hold any data on this process.</p><p> </p><p>Under individual electoral registration, there is an exceptions process which enables individuals who do not have a National Insurance Number to register to vote.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p>

100250

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>My discussions about the establishment of a Panel on Parading in the Twaddell/Ardoyne area of North Belfast are ongoing. I have recently written to the Executive parties seeking their thoughts on possible panel membership and am awaiting responses.</p><p>I would urge political parties and others with an involvement in the dispute to engage constructively with this process.</p><p> </p>

100139

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>This Government takes recovery and enforcement of financial impositions very seriously and remains committed to finding new ways to encourage payment of impositions and to trace those who do not pay. This is why there has been a year on year increase in the amount of financial penalties collected over the last three years.</p><p> </p><p>When it appears to HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) that an offender is normally resident in another EU country HMCTS can transfer road traffic offence fines, imposed by courts in this country, to other EU jurisdictions for enforcement under the EU Framework Decision on Mutual Recognition of Financial Penalties (MRFP). The Framework Decision obliges Member States to take over enforcement of eligible fines imposed by other Member States’ courts, where the offender is resident or has assets in the enforcing state. All monies collected however are retained by the enforcing Member State.</p><p> </p><p>Where the offender is resident in a non EU country or in one not included in the MRFP Framework there is no mechanism for HMCTS to be able to recover the amounts outstanding.</p><p> </p><p>It is not possible to identify the value of fines outstanding which relate to motoring offences for offenders who live overseas without incurring disproportionate cost as this information could only be obtained by a manual search of all live fine accounts.</p>

100259

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>This Government takes recovery and enforcement of financial impositions very seriously and remains committed to finding new ways to encourage payment of impositions and to trace those who do not pay. This is why there has been a year on year increase in the amount of financial penalties collected over the last three years.</p><p> </p><p>When it appears to HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) that an offender is normally resident in another EU country HMCTS can transfer road traffic offence fines, imposed by courts in this country, to other EU jurisdictions for enforcement under the EU Framework Decision on Mutual Recognition of Financial Penalties (MRFP). The Framework Decision obliges Member States to take over enforcement of eligible fines imposed by other Member States’ courts, where the offender is resident or has assets in the enforcing state. All monies collected however are retained by the enforcing Member State.</p><p> </p><p>Where the offender is resident in a non EU country or in one not included in the MRFP Framework there is no mechanism for HMCTS to be able to recover the amounts outstanding.</p><p> </p><p>It is not possible to identify the value of fines outstanding which relate to motoring offences for offenders who live overseas without incurring disproportionate cost as this information could only be obtained by a manual search of all live fine accounts.</p>

91521

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The table below sets out the amounts spent on electronic monitoring services provided by G4S and Serco for the years requested.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>£116,906,087</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>£107,684,810</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>£36,987,915</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The 2013-14 figure is significantly lower as we withheld payment in 2013 once we became aware of long-standing anomalies in the billing arrangements on these contracts. We have since recovered all money owed on the contracts from the suppliers.</p><p> </p><p>In April 2014 Capita took over the management of the electronic monitoring service, on an interim basis until the new service comes into operation. Under these interim arrangements, G4S and Serco no longer have a direct role in delivering the service on the ground – and we have far greater oversight of costs and charging than previously, with direct access to the suppliers’ systems. We continue to manage these arrangements robustly.</p>

100492

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The Government does not tolerate violence of any kind in young offender institutions and assaults are treated extremely seriously. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is comprehensively reviewing how it manages violence and will issue revised guidance in 2015. NOMS is also working with the police and Crown Prosecution Service to improve the investigation and prosecution of crime in young offender institutions and prisons.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to reducing self-harm in young offender institutions. All young offender institutions and prisons are required to have procedures in place to identify, manage and support people who are at risk of harm to themselves. These procedures include the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process, which is an offender-centred, flexible care planning system designed to ensure that offenders at risk are managed in a way that is responsive to individual needs, including those related to age.</p><p> </p><p>An analysis of assaults and self-harm by age is included in the Safety in Custody Statistics Bulletin, available at <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-in-custody-statistics" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-in-custody-statistics</a>.</p><p> </p>

100493

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The Government does not tolerate violence of any kind in young offender institutions and assaults are treated extremely seriously. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is comprehensively reviewing how it manages violence and will issue revised guidance in 2015. NOMS is also working with the police and Crown Prosecution Service to improve the investigation and prosecution of crime in young offender institutions and prisons.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to reducing self-harm in young offender institutions. All young offender institutions and prisons are required to have procedures in place to identify, manage and support people who are at risk of harm to themselves. These procedures include the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process, which is an offender-centred, flexible care planning system designed to ensure that offenders at risk are managed in a way that is responsive to individual needs, including those related to age.</p><p> </p><p>An analysis of assaults and self-harm by age is included in the Safety in Custody Statistics Bulletin, available at <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-in-custody-statistics" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-in-custody-statistics</a>.</p><p> </p>

99920

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>My officials are currently working to provide the information requested but it has not proved possible to produce it in the time allowed. I will write to you in due course.</p>

99925

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>As of 30 June 2014, the latest date for which data is available, there were 157 proceedings under Section 2A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 outstanding in magistrates’ courts in England and Wales.</p>

100497

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p /> <p>When sentencing a child or young person under the age 18, courts have a duty to have regard to the welfare of the offender, which includes their mental health.</p><p> </p><p>Youth Offending Teams provide courts with a pre-sentence report for each young person, including information about their mental health and any self-harming or risk taking behaviour. Where emotional and mental health issues have been identified, a referral to the mental health specialist worker should be made for completion of a Comprehensive Health Assessment Tool which will provide details about the support and type of intervention programme needed, tailored to their needs. The pre-sentence report should assess the potential impact of any custodial sentence imposed by the court (including the impact on mental health).</p><p> </p><p>In January 2014, the Government announced £25 million of funding for the Liaison and Diversion Programme, which will join up police and courts with mental health services and to fund the provision of mental health professionals to give prompt and appropriate treatment.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This Programme, commissioned by NHS England, identifies, assesses and refers people of all ages with a wide range of mental health and other issues on first contact with the criminal justice system. A person assessed with single or multiple vulnerabilities will be referred to the appropriate treatment or support service and care and/or support will be instigated.</p>

100239

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p /> <p>This Government takes recovery and enforcement of financial impositions very seriously and remains committed to finding new ways to encourage payment of impositions and to trace those who do not pay. This is why there has been a year on year increase in the amount of financial penalties collected over the last three years.</p><p> </p><p>When it appears to H M Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) that an offender is normally resident in another EU country HMCTS can transfer road traffic offence fines, imposed by courts in this country, to other EU jurisdictions for enforcement under the EU Framework Decision on Mutual Recognition of Financial Penalties (MRFP). The Framework Decision obliges Member States to take over enforcement of eligible fines imposed by other Member States’ courts, where the offender is resident or has assets in the enforcing state.</p><p> </p><p>Where the offender is resident in a non EU country or in one not included in the MRFP Framework there is no mechanism for HMCTS to be able to recover the amounts outstanding.</p>

92764

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p /> <p>The Government is considering the judgment handed down by the High Court on 2 October. We will set out the next steps in due course.</p>

100495

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p /> <p>The Government is committed to providing emotional support to young people and young adults in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs). All young offender institutions and prisons are required to have procedures in place to identify, manage and support offenders in need of emotional support or at risk of harming themselves.</p><p> </p><p>These procedures include the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process which is an offender-centred, flexible care planning system designed to ensure that offenders at risk are managed in a way that is responsive to individual needs, including those related to age. A recent review of the ACCT process for young people made a number of recommendations that are being taken forward by the National Offender Management Service.</p><p> </p><p>NHS England provide a commissioned healthcare service to all YOIs which includes GPs, nurses and mental health professionals to support those with an identified physical or mental health need in custody. Support services provided under contract are equitable with those provided in the community.</p><p> </p><p>Healthcare services are supported by the chaplaincy team which offers a range of pastoral support services and by the Samaritans who provide free helpline access and train young offenders aged 18 and over to act as ‘Listeners’, that is, peer supporters for other young offenders who are in crisis.</p>

92777

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p /> <p>Her Majesty’s Government has not made any representations to the Law Society about its practice note on Sharia-compliant wills.</p><p> </p><p>The legal profession is independent of government, and is regulated by Approved Regulators, for which the Legal Services Board (LSB) has oversight responsibility. The Approved Regulators and LSB are also independent of government, as are the bodies which deal with complaints about those in the legal profession.</p>

99915

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p /> <p>Sentencing guidelines are produced independently of Government, by the Sentencing Council. The guidelines are available on the Sentencing Council website. Any decision to review the overarching sentencing guideline on domestic violence is a matter for the Sentencing Council.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The overarching sentencing guideline on domestic violence makes clear that because an offence has been committed in a domestic context there are likely to be aggravating factors present which make it more serious. The guideline sets out in some detail certain aggravating, and mitigating factors, which are of particular relevance to offences committed in a domestic context. All courts must take this guideline into account, and they must also follow sentencing guidelines for individual offences. This makes sure that the courts have a consistent approach to the task of determining the appropriate sentence in each case.</p>

93133

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>There were no visits made by Defence Ministers to the Torbay Constituency in the last 12 months to 14 October 2014.</p>

93139

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>There are currently around 20 UK Armed Forces Personnel performing various non-combat roles in Northern Iraq. The majority of this number deployed before 26 September 2014.</p><p> </p>

93777

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>There are 169 military and 207 civilian Ministry of Defence posts at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court. It is expected that the manpower requirement for the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) will be approximately the same. <br><br>It is expected that many Headley Court staff will relocate to the DNRC when it opens in 2018. However, it is too soon to say exactly how many will choose to do so.</p>

93784

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>There are 169 military and 207 civilian Ministry of Defence posts at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court. It is expected that the manpower requirement for the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) will be approximately the same. <br><br>It is expected that many Headley Court staff will relocate to the DNRC when it opens in 2018. However, it is too soon to say exactly how many will choose to do so.</p>

93493

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The table details the number of UK Regular Forces stationed in Northern Ireland on 1 April in each year from 2010 to 2013.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td colspan="3"><p><strong>UK</strong><strong> Regulars</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td><p><strong>Officers</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Other Ranks</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total of UK Regulars</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p>2010</p></td><td><p>370</p></td><td><p>3,770</p></td><td><p>4,140</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p>2011</p></td><td><p>370</p></td><td><p>3,640</p></td><td><p>4,010</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p>2012</p></td><td><p>370</p></td><td><p>3,370</p></td><td><p>3,740</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p>2013</p></td><td><p>250</p></td><td><p>2,280</p></td><td><p>2,530</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>1) Due to the rounding methods used, figures may not always equal the sum of their rounded parts.</p><p> </p><p>When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias.</p><p> </p><p>2) UK Regular Forces includes all trained and untrained personnel. Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve personnel, and mobilised reservists are excluded.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>

93788

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The purpose of the memorandum of understanding signed in January 2014 is to facilitate greater co-operation and joint training, in particular between the Colombian Navy and the Royal Navy, with co-operation in counter-narcotics as a primary intent. A number of activities have, since January 2014, been either implemented or completed including a visit to Cartagena by HMS Portland; and a Colombian Navy officer is currently a student at the Royal College of Defence Studies.</p>

99803

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The UK’s offer to contribute four RAF Typhoon aircraft to NATO’s standing Baltic Air Policing Mission in 2015 currently rests with NATO. Should our offer be accepted the final decision on their location is for NATO and will be determined by best military judgement.</p>

93776

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The UK does not routinely discuss the specific operational use of conventional weapons with partners or allies; these are primarily a matter for the States concerned.</p><p> </p>