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1608529

	registered interest
	date	29/03/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Reparation by Offenders
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress he has made on establishing a pilot programme to understand where there are gaps in provision of restorative justice.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Elliot Colburn
	uin	176712
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>We are committed to supporting restorative justice as a way to help victims cope and, as far as possible, recover from the impact of crime. That is why, under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (‘the Victims’ Code’), all adult victims must be told about the option of restorative justice and how to access it. We also provide Police and Crime Commissioners with grant funding for victim support services, including restorative justice services. They are best placed to assess local need and commission services based on the needs of the population in the local area. Restorative justice services should be targeted to the most appropriate cases, where we have clear evidence for the benefits of that approach and should only take place when both the victim and the offender agree, and it is considered safe.</p><p> </p><p>HMPPS has work underway to look at how to better support MoJ funded restorative justice. This work is aimed at identifying the factors supporting quality practice and to test effective, evidence-based access to, and delivery of RJ services.  HMPPS will also work with PCC areas to improve referrals to RJ services. Once complete HMPPS will share the lessons learned more widely.</p><p> </p><p>We do not currently plan to publish a restorative justice action plan because it is not clear that this is necessary or an appropriate fit with the existing activity to improve the consistent and targeted provision of restorative justice services at a local level.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 176713 question first answered 17/04/2023 08:18:31 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4775 label Biography information for Elliot Colburn

1608531

	registered interest
	date	29/03/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Reparation by Offenders
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the report of the APPG on Restorative Justice entitled Restorative Justice Inquiry Report, published in 2022, whether his Department plans to publish an updated Restorative Justice Action Plan for the Criminal Justice System.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Elliot Colburn
	uin	176713
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>We are committed to supporting restorative justice as a way to help victims cope and, as far as possible, recover from the impact of crime. That is why, under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (‘the Victims’ Code’), all adult victims must be told about the option of restorative justice and how to access it. We also provide Police and Crime Commissioners with grant funding for victim support services, including restorative justice services. They are best placed to assess local need and commission services based on the needs of the population in the local area. Restorative justice services should be targeted to the most appropriate cases, where we have clear evidence for the benefits of that approach and should only take place when both the victim and the offender agree, and it is considered safe.</p><p> </p><p>HMPPS has work underway to look at how to better support MoJ funded restorative justice. This work is aimed at identifying the factors supporting quality practice and to test effective, evidence-based access to, and delivery of RJ services.  HMPPS will also work with PCC areas to improve referrals to RJ services. Once complete HMPPS will share the lessons learned more widely.</p><p> </p><p>We do not currently plan to publish a restorative justice action plan because it is not clear that this is necessary or an appropriate fit with the existing activity to improve the consistent and targeted provision of restorative justice services at a local level.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 176712 question first answered 17/04/2023 08:18:31 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4775 label Biography information for Elliot Colburn

1608558

	registered interest
	date	29/03/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Offences against the Administration of Justice
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the effectiveness of provisions available to the police in respect of dealing with potential false accusations.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	176731
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>The Government’s policies on crime are designed to deliver better justice for all be that for victims, witnesses or defendants. The police are required to investigate all cases that are referred to them – and all cases should be treated equally in terms of their approach to investigation.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s policies should not, therefore, have a negative impact on the ability of the police to investigate, or for the courts to deal with, such false accusations.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 17/04/2023 08:20:19 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1608569

	registered interest
	date	29/03/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Damages
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Government Response to the Twenty-first Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights of Session 2017-19, Proposal for a draft Fatal Accidents Act 1976 (Remedial) Order 2019, HC 2225, what progress has been made on extending eligibility for bereavement damages under Section 1A of the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 to fathers of illegitimate children.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
	tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
	uin	176607
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>The Government’s position remains that it believes the existing legal framework, involving a fixed level of award and clear eligibility criteria, represents a reasonable, proportionate and practical approach.</p><p> </p><p>Changes to extend availability to other family members (including fathers of illegitimate children) whose relationship to the deceased person may be less close may require a fundamentally different approach which would permit enquiries into the nature of the relationship in individual cases. This could lead in some cases to intrusive and upsetting investigation of the claimant’s relationship with the deceased person and could also increase the cost and complexity of the proceedings.</p><p> </p><p>The context is important - bereavement damages are widely recognised and accepted as a fixed payment in acknowledgment of grief and are in no way intended to try to reflect the value of the life lost in monetary terms. They are only one element of the damages that may be awarded in a particular case, which for example can also include damages for dependency.</p><p> </p><p>The statutory sum for bereavement damages was increased in 2020 (to £15,120).</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 176608 176609 question first answered 17/04/2023 08:10:09 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1608570

	registered interest
	date	29/03/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Fatal Accidents Act 1976
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for what reason fathers of illegitimate children are not eligible for bereavement damages under Section 1A of the Fatal Accidents Act 1976.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
	tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
	uin	176608
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>The Government’s position remains that it believes the existing legal framework, involving a fixed level of award and clear eligibility criteria, represents a reasonable, proportionate and practical approach.</p><p> </p><p>Changes to extend availability to other family members (including fathers of illegitimate children) whose relationship to the deceased person may be less close may require a fundamentally different approach which would permit enquiries into the nature of the relationship in individual cases. This could lead in some cases to intrusive and upsetting investigation of the claimant’s relationship with the deceased person and could also increase the cost and complexity of the proceedings.</p><p> </p><p>The context is important - bereavement damages are widely recognised and accepted as a fixed payment in acknowledgment of grief and are in no way intended to try to reflect the value of the life lost in monetary terms. They are only one element of the damages that may be awarded in a particular case, which for example can also include damages for dependency.</p><p> </p><p>The statutory sum for bereavement damages was increased in 2020 (to £15,120).</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 176607 176609 question first answered 17/04/2023 08:10:09 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1608571

	registered interest
	date	29/03/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Fatal Accidents Act 1976
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to take steps to increase the statutory amount of bereavement damages in Section 1A of the Fatal Accidents Act 1976.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
	tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
	uin	176609
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>The Government’s position remains that it believes the existing legal framework, involving a fixed level of award and clear eligibility criteria, represents a reasonable, proportionate and practical approach.</p><p> </p><p>Changes to extend availability to other family members (including fathers of illegitimate children) whose relationship to the deceased person may be less close may require a fundamentally different approach which would permit enquiries into the nature of the relationship in individual cases. This could lead in some cases to intrusive and upsetting investigation of the claimant’s relationship with the deceased person and could also increase the cost and complexity of the proceedings.</p><p> </p><p>The context is important - bereavement damages are widely recognised and accepted as a fixed payment in acknowledgment of grief and are in no way intended to try to reflect the value of the life lost in monetary terms. They are only one element of the damages that may be awarded in a particular case, which for example can also include damages for dependency.</p><p> </p><p>The statutory sum for bereavement damages was increased in 2020 (to £15,120).</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 176607 176608 question first answered 17/04/2023 08:10:09 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1608608

	registered interest
	date	29/03/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Offences against Children
	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 enable child victims of sexual violence to (a) provide video evidence ahead of a trial and (b) receive counselling immediately.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	176631
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>Child victims of sexual violence are eligible for special measures, including pre-recording their evidence, under Section 16 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (YJCEA), which considers all children as vulnerable witnesses. This enables the recording to be presented during the trial without the witness needing to attend, which helps them give their best evidence to the court and mitigate some of the stress associated with giving evidence. The aim is to enhance the quality and reliability of evidence by improving experiences of cross-examination and enhancing event recall by reducing the time between complaint and cross-examination.</p><p>Under the Victims’ Code, all victims, including children, have the right to receive information about and be referred to support services, including therapy and counselling, regardless of whether anyone has been charged or convicted of a criminal offence, or whether they decide to report the crime to the police or do not wish to cooperate with the investigation.</p><p>The Ministry of Justice is more than quadrupling funding for victims and witness support services by 2024/25, up from £41m in 2009/10. This includes funding for Police and Crime Commissioners to commission services supporting victims of sexual violence, including services providing counselling to children.</p><p>The Ministry of Justice is currently recommissioning the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund, to make sure it meets the needs of all victims in the most effective way, including child victims of sexual violence. This funding is available to specialist, community-based sexual abuse support services to deliver a range of help, including counselling, to child and adult victims to cope, recover, build resilience and move forward with daily life.</p><p>Additionally, NHS England commissions 48 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across England with at least one in each county/region to ensure equitable spread. SARCs offer medical, practical and emotional support to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused, including child victims of sexual violence.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 17/04/2023 08:13:48 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1608609

	registered interest
	date	29/03/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Victims: Children and Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Victims Bill will include provisions on (a) mental and emotional wellbeing and (b) other support for children and young people.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	176632
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>Victims are likely to experience a range of impacts following a crime and may require advice, recovery and support services, which could be medical, therapeutic, practical and/or emotional. The Victims and Prisoners Bill will improve the support offered to children and young people. Child victims are covered by the definition of victim in Part 1 of the Bill and are already covered in the current Victims’ Code. The Bill’s definition of a victim has been amended to align with the full Part 1 definition of domestic abuse as it appears in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which will also be set out in the new Victims’ Code. This clearly defines child victims who see, hear or experience the effects of domestic abuse as victims in their own right. Child victims will continue to be covered in the new Victims’ Code as well as being covered from the full suite of measures in Part 1 of the Bill. For example:</p><p>The Bill recognises the role that ISVAs (Independent Sexual Violence Advisors) and IDVAs (Independent Domestic Violence Advisors) have in working with children, young people, and their families.</p><p>The Bill will place a duty on Police and Crime Commissioners, local authorities and Integrated Care Boards in England to collaborate when commissioning victim services. This includes a range of services which may support victims with a range of emotional mental health support.</p><p>In response to pre-legislative scrutiny, we emphasised where the needs of children should be considered by requiring commissioners to specifically have regard to any assessments they have carried out that reflect the needs of child victims, as distinct from adult victims.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 17/04/2023 08:15:25 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell