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155623

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Motherwell and Wishaw
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of applicants for personal independence payments in Motherwell and Wishaw constituency appealed their personal independence payment decision between June 2013 and June 2014; and how many appeals were submitted for disability living allowance between June 2012 and June 2013.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Mr Frank Roy
	uin	214354
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support), administered by HM Courts &amp; Tribunals Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) decisions on a range of benefits, including a person’s entitlement to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA).</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The number of individuals living in the Motherwell and Wishaw constituency who applied for PIP and the outcomes of those applications, between April 2013 and July 2014, can be found in published DWP statistics available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-july-2014.</p><p> </p><p>HMCTS does not keep data on the proportion of benefit claimants who choose to appeal the DWP’s final decision. In the period June 2013 to June 2014, 61 PIP appeals were lodged in the Tribunal venue in Hamilton which serves appellants living in the Motherwell and Wishaw constituency and other nearby locations.</p><p> </p><p>Between June 2012 and June 2013 966 appeals against decisions made by DWP on claims for DLA were lodged at the Hamilton venue.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 12/01/2015 15:31:16 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
	tabling member	626 label Biography information for Mr Frank Roy

155535

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners: LGBT+ People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate he has made of the number of prisoners declaring themselves to be lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered.
	tabling member constituency	Hackney North and Stoke Newington
	tabling member printed	Ms Diane Abbott
	uin	214231
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The number of prisoners in England and Wales broken down by sexual orientation as at 26 September 2014 is shown in the table below:</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table: Headcount of prisoners by Sexual Orientation as at 26 September 2014</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Sexual Orientation</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Headcount</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other</p></td><td><p>1779</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Heterosexual / Straight</p></td><td><p>63738</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Not Asked/Refused to State</p></td><td><p>20117</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Grand Total</p></td><td><p>85634</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Transgender Prisoners with a Gender Recognition Certificate are recorded on administrative systems as their legal gender. In accordance with the Gender Recognition Act of 2004 and the Equality Act 2010, transgender individuals are not identified as being transgender on administrative systems.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 02/12/2014 10:20:51 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	172 label Biography information for Ms Diane Abbott

155549

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Travel
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what total amount his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) the Government Car and Despatch Agency and (b) other car hire in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10.
	tabling member constituency	Salisbury
	tabling member printed	John Glen
	uin	214279
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>(a) This information has already been published and can be found at:</p><p> </p><p>(i) <a title="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080722/wmstext/80722m0008.htm" href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080722/wmstext/80722m0008.htm" target="_blank">http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080722/wmstext/80722m0008.htm</a></p><p>(ii) <a title="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090716/wmstext/90716m0009.htm" href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090716/wmstext/90716m0009.htm" target="_blank">http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090716/wmstext/90716m0009.htm</a></p><p>(iii) <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101028/wmstext/101028m0001.htm#10102827000372" target="_blank">http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101028/wmstext/101028m0001.htm#10102827000372</a></p><p> </p><p>(b) To provide the ministerial spend for the other car hire will incur disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><p>Under this Government the number of ministerial cars in the Department has fallen from four to one and the cost to the taxpayer reduced by 91%.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 10/02/2015 13:02:33 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4051 label Biography information for John Glen

156058

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Reoffenders
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of all recalls to prison have been fixed term recalls in each year since their introduction.
	tabling member constituency	Shipley
	tabling member printed	Philip Davies
	uin	214735
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>A fixed-term recall is one where an offender on licence is recalled for a 28 day period before being automatically re-released. It is available only to those offenders on licence who are not assessed as presenting a high risk of harm to the public. Offenders who are assessed as presenting a high risk of harm are not eligible to receive a fixed-term recall and will be given a standard recall, under which they can remain in custody, potentially, until the end of their sentence. They will be released before the end of their sentence only if the Parole Board or Secretary of State is satisfied they no longer need to be detained to protect the public.</p><p> </p><p>The statutory provisions for fixed-term recalls were included in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 and commenced in July 2008. The provisions were amended by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and commenced in December 2012. The amendments were designed to provide offender managers with additional flexibility to determine whether a fixed-term recall was the appropriate way to respond to an offender’s breach of his licence conditions, notwithstanding that he had been given a fixed-term recall on a previous occasion.</p><p> </p><p>This Government is introducing a new test, in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, which must be applied to determine the type of recall given to an offender and to decide whether to re-release a recalled offender. The new test will ensure that any offender who has abused a fixed-term recall previously and persistently and wilfully refused to comply with his licence conditions will not receive a further fixed-term recall. The test will guide offender managers, so that all relevant considerations are taken into account before a decision is taken on the type of recall appropriate to deal with the breach of licence conditions. It will also ensure that a fixed-term recall is given only where we can be satisfied that the offender can be effectively managed when released after 28 days.</p><p> </p><p>The proportion of all recalls to prison that were fixed term given in the calendar years from 2008 is as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Calendar year</p></td><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>Fixed Term Recall (FTR)</p></td><td><p>Proportion of Total Recalls which were FTRs</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014 (to June)</p></td><td><p>8412</p></td><td><p>3569</p></td><td><p>42%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>17330</p></td><td><p>7280</p></td><td><p>42%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>16481</p></td><td><p>5124</p></td><td><p>31%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>16227</p></td><td><p>4532</p></td><td><p>28%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>15479<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>4293<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>28%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>14,719<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>3,979<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>27%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008<sup>2</sup></p></td><td><p>13,554<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>1,722<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>13%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><sup>1</sup> denotes data that has not been published. It has been taken from a live database and as such, it is subject to change.</p><p> </p><p><sup>2</sup> the proportion of recalls which were FTRs in 2008 reflects that the FTR was available only from July 2008.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 19/01/2015 18:11:48 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

157084

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	CAFCASS
	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 Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service staff dealing with child protection cases involving children from minority religious faiths, such as the Charedim, have the necessary expertise to assess the impact of faith on those children when they advise the courts.
	tabling member printed	Lord Warner
	uin	HL3029
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>All Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) practitioners are qualified social workers with experience of working with children and families to represent the best interests of children within family proceedings. It is the practitioner's responsibility to identify any diversity issues, including a child or family’s faith, in any case and to assess any safeguarding or welfare issues. Practitioners will analyse each individual child's circumstances, taking account of relevant aspects of the Welfare Checklist in section 1 of the Children Act 1989, when assessing their needs and how these are best met.</p><p> </p><p>Each Cafcass service area has a responsibility to identify the diversity needs of groups of children living in their area who they are working with, and to take action accordingly. Cafcass’ Equality and Diversity Strategy (2013-15) explains how it shares best practice across teams and service areas, collating lessons learnt from a range of sources. Where staff attend training courses, the learning is shared with the rest of the service area and communicated to Cafcass’ group of Diversity Ambassadors. Representatives from local groups are invited to team meetings to discuss the work that they do and practitioners are encouraged to use these groups as a resource when considering casework decisions.</p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 04/12/2014 16:02:53 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
	tabling member	1732 label Biography information for Lord Warner

156094

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure effective joint working between his Department and relevant partners before introducing universal credit in new areas.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds West
	tabling member printed	Rachel Reeves
	uin	214530
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>As part of our planning process we carry out a thorough internal and external assessment to ensure that Universal Credit can be rolled out safely and securely, and a strong delivery model exists between the department and local partners.</p><p>For example, internal delivery milestones must be checked and agreed to ensure that Jobcentres and their staff are ready to roll out Universal Credit. As part of this process external delivery partners will need to sign and agree a Delivery Partnership Agreement (DPA) to outline what services they will provide and to make available funded support for those who need extra help. In addition local authorities will need to sign and agree a Readiness Certificate to confirm that they are ready to roll out Universal Credit.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 14/01/2015 16:29:49 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper previous answer version 29122 answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4031 label Biography information for Rachel Reeves

156652

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Sexual Offences: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people under 16 have been convicted of a sexual offence in each police authority in the most recent year available.
	tabling member constituency	Isle of Wight
	tabling member printed	Mr Andrew Turner
	uin	215366
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Ministry of Justice</p><p> </p><p>Serious sexual offending by under 16s is unacceptable. As part of the consideration of each young person’s case, the court will look at their background, their reasons for offending, the welfare of the child and any relevant history including time spent in care. It may not always be in the young persons’ interest to severely criminalise low level first time sexual offending, but rather to address the offending behaviour which reduces the risk of reoffending. This is why all youth sentences have a strong rehabilitative element in recognition of a child and young persons’ age and maturity.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The number of offenders aged under 16 found guilty at all courts of sexual offences, in England and Wales, by police force area, in 2013 (latest available) can be viewed in the table below.<br></p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2">Offenders under 16 found guilty at all courts of sexual offences, England and Wales, 2013 <sup>(1)(2)</sup></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Metropolitan Police</td><td>31</td></tr><tr><td>Cumbria</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Lancashire</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Merseyside</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Greater Manchester</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>Cheshire</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Northumbria</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Durham</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>West Yorkshire</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>South Yorkshire</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Humberside</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Cleveland</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>West Midlands</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>Staffordshire</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>West Mercia</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Warwickshire</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Derbyshire</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Nottinghamshire</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Lincolnshire</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Leicestershire</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Northamptonshire</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Cambridgeshire</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Norfolk</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Suffolk</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Bedfordshire</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Hertfordshire</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Essex</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Thames Valley</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Hampshire</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Kent</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Devon and Cornwall</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Avon and Somerset</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Gloucestershire</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Dorset</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>North Wales</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Gwent</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>South Wales</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Dyfed-Powys</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">(1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">(2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.</td></tr><tr><td>Ref: PQ 215366</td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 10/02/2015 10:28:21 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	1426 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Turner

156397

	registered interest
	date	18/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners' Release
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners were transferred from open conditions to closed conditions who had previously (a) absconded or escaped from prison and (b) breached a licence condition whilst released on temporary licence following the recent review of release on temporary licence.
	tabling member constituency	Shipley
	tabling member printed	Philip Davies
	uin	214968
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>In March, we announced a package of measures to ensure that the public was properly protected with respect to the offenders being held in open conditions. Absconds and escapes have reached record lows under this Government, and we take each incident seriously. As a result of a comprehensive review, we have made major changes to tighten the eligibility criteria for open prisons. Prisoners may no longer be transferred to open conditions or allowed out on temporary release if they have previously absconded, escaped, attempted to escape, or if they have failed to return or have re-offended whilst released on temporary licence, unless there are exceptional circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>A total of 115 cases were assessed centrally by a panel comprised of NOMS senior managers, including representation from both prisons and probation. Cases were reviewed where there was a history, on the current sentence, of abscond; escape or attempted escape; or an offence committed whilst on temporary release. 9 of these prisoners were returned to closed conditions as a result. Local risk reviews were directed on a further 14 offenders, with 2 returned to closed conditions following review.</p><p> </p><p>As part of business as usual, open prisons return prisoners to closed conditions where they judge that they can no longer be managed safely in open conditions. Figures for this ongoing process are not included here.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 10/02/2015 13:21:19 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

156410

	registered interest
	date	18/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoner Escapes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners who escaped or absconded from prison in the last year for which figures are available had previously escaped or absconded from prison.
	tabling member constituency	Shipley
	tabling member printed	Philip Davies
	uin	214939
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>In March, we announced a package of measures to ensure that the public was properly protected. Absconds and escapes have reached record lows under this Government, but we take each incident seriously. As a result of a comprehensive review, we have made major changes to tighten the eligibility for open prisons. Prisoners may no longer be transferred to open conditions or allowed out on temporary release if they have previously absconded, escaped, attempted to escape, or if they have failed to return or have re-offended whilst released on temporary licence, unless there are exceptional circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>The change in policy for eligibility for open conditions was not applied retrospectively: the majority of these offenders who were already in open conditions were allowed to remain. However, any prisoners who were assessed to present an unacceptable risk in such conditions in light of their previous non-compliance were returned to closed prisons.</p><p> </p><p>Progression to open prison is never automatic. All prisoners undergo regular, mandatory assessment of their risk of escape or abscond and risk of harm to the public. Only those who are assessed as having an acceptable level of risk for conditions of lower security can be allocated to open prison.</p><p> </p><p>As at 31 March 2014, there were no prisoners held in open prisons who had absconded or escaped on more than one occasion between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2014.</p><p> </p><p>There were 13 prisoners who, in the year ending 31 March 2014, either escaped or absconded from prison, having previously done so between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Data on escapes and absconds, prior to 1 April 2010 could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost due to changes in recording practice.</p><p> </p><p>As part of business as usual, open prisons return prisoners to closed conditions where they judge that they can no longer be managed safely in open conditions. Figures for this ongoing process are not included here.</p><p> </p><p>These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 03/02/2015 10:01:35 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

155537

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Wales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will ensure that as much of the construction and fitting-out work as possible at the new North Wales prison is carried out by locally-based contractors.
	tabling member constituency	Clwyd West
	tabling member printed	Mr David Jones
	uin	214292
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Lend Lease has committed to spending £30 million with local businesses and that at least 50% of the entire workforce will be recruited from within a 50 mile radius, with a target of 70%. Under the contractual arrangements in place, Lend Lease are required to report to the MoJ how much of the contract is being spent with companies within a 25 and 50 mile radius of the prison site.</p><p> </p><p>A number of supplier engagement events have been held where local businesses were able to meet constructors. Opportunities have been advertised on Business Wales and Sell2Wales using a dedicated North Wales project page.</p><p> </p><p>The North Wales Prison Employment, Skills and Engagement Committee is being created to focus on enabling the delivery of apprenticeships, training and local employment and work placement days. A Learning and Development Academy for supply chain, SME’s and local businesses and local people is also being set up to improve skills and secure tenders.</p><p> </p><p>To date over £1.1m has been spent with local businesses as part of the early works at the prison site.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 02/12/2014 10:59:08 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1502 label Biography information for Mr David Jones