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1697057

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Civil Proceedings and Family Proceedings: Legal Representation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the document entitled Qualified legal representative appointed by the Court: Statutory guidance, published in July 2022, how many qualified legal representatives have been registered in (a) family and (b) other civil cases since the publication of that guidance.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	19348
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>The Qualified Legal Representative (QLR) scheme was introduced in July 2022, following the Government’s Domestic Abuse Act (2021) which prohibited unrepresented perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of abuse from cross-examining their victims or alleged victims in family and civil proceedings, and vice versa. The prohibition ensures that vulnerable victims and witnesses are not traumatised by being cross-examined directly by their alleged perpetrator.</p><p>As of 20 March 2024, there are currently 366 QLRs registered to undertake work in the family courts and 78 QLRs registered to undertake work in the civil courts. We do not hold central data on total registrations since the publication of the statutory guidance.</p><p>Circumstances under which a QLR is required vary, for example, depending on whether parties have their own representation, and decisions on which cases require QLRs are taken by the courts. We do not collect data centrally on how many cases have required a QLR, or the number of QLRs that have presented cases under the scheme.</p><p>We do not hold central data on how many QLRs have completed training, which they are able to access from a range of external providers. The Government encourages legal professionals to take up this important work to assist in both the family and civil courts, and to complete the required training as early as practicable.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris grouped question UIN 19349 19350 19351 19352 question first answered 22/03/2024 14:43:29 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1697059

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Legal Representation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in how many cases a qualified legal representative was (a) required and (b) available.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	19349
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>The Qualified Legal Representative (QLR) scheme was introduced in July 2022, following the Government’s Domestic Abuse Act (2021) which prohibited unrepresented perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of abuse from cross-examining their victims or alleged victims in family and civil proceedings, and vice versa. The prohibition ensures that vulnerable victims and witnesses are not traumatised by being cross-examined directly by their alleged perpetrator.</p><p>As of 20 March 2024, there are currently 366 QLRs registered to undertake work in the family courts and 78 QLRs registered to undertake work in the civil courts. We do not hold central data on total registrations since the publication of the statutory guidance.</p><p>Circumstances under which a QLR is required vary, for example, depending on whether parties have their own representation, and decisions on which cases require QLRs are taken by the courts. We do not collect data centrally on how many cases have required a QLR, or the number of QLRs that have presented cases under the scheme.</p><p>We do not hold central data on how many QLRs have completed training, which they are able to access from a range of external providers. The Government encourages legal professionals to take up this important work to assist in both the family and civil courts, and to complete the required training as early as practicable.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris grouped question UIN 19348 19350 19351 19352 question first answered 22/03/2024 14:43:29 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1695809

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Civil Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time for a first hearing of a civil justice case was in the latest period for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	18431
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>I refer the honourable Member for Stockton North to the answer I gave on 19 February 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-02-06/13277" target="_blank">13277</a> and the answer I gave on the 23 January 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-01-15/9675" target="_blank">9675</a> in relation to the steps being taken to improve timeliness in civil courts.</p><p>Due to the nature of Civil claims, data relating to the number of people awaiting hearing is not held centrally. The time to hearing in relation to the small proportion of civil claims which are defended and proceed to trial is published quarterly: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-justice-statistics-quarterly" target="_blank">Civil justice statistics quarterly - GOV.UK.</a></p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 18432 18435 question first answered 18/03/2024 17:07:24 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1695810

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Civil Proceedings
	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 reduce the backlog in civil courts; and whether he has set targets to reduce average waiting times by case type.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	18432
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>I refer the honourable Member for Stockton North to the answer I gave on 19 February 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-02-06/13277" target="_blank">13277</a> and the answer I gave on the 23 January 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-01-15/9675" target="_blank">9675</a> in relation to the steps being taken to improve timeliness in civil courts.</p><p>Due to the nature of Civil claims, data relating to the number of people awaiting hearing is not held centrally. The time to hearing in relation to the small proportion of civil claims which are defended and proceed to trial is published quarterly: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-justice-statistics-quarterly" target="_blank">Civil justice statistics quarterly - GOV.UK.</a></p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 18431 18435 question first answered 18/03/2024 17:07:24 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1695811

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Personal Injury: Compensation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average settlement time is for minor injury claims going through the Official Injury Claim portal.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	18433
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>Average settlement time for claims going through the Official Injury Claim (OIC) portal at the end of February 2024 was 239 days. This can be broken down to 259 days for represented claimants and 115 days for unrepresented claimants. Further information and data on OIC can be found here: <a href="https://www.officialinjuryclaim.org.uk/resources-for-professionals/data/" target="_blank">https://www.officialinjuryclaim.org.uk/resources-for-professionals/data/.</a></p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 18/03/2024 17:33:24 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1695812

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Motor Vehicles: Insurance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Over £1 billion savings for motorists as whiplash reforms come into force, published on 31 May 2021, what estimate he has made of the average saving on motor insurance in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	18434
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>Part 3 of the Civil Liability Act 2018 (the Act) requires motor insurers in England and Wales to provide the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with data on savings arising from its provisions and on how they have been passed on to policy holders. The Act also requires that a report on the savings made must be completed and laid before Parliament by no later than 1 April 2025. The data gathering phase has been completed and the FCA are now working with HM Treasury officials to prepare a report which will be published in line with statutory deadlines.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 18/03/2024 17:34:31 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1695813

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Civil Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people are waiting for their civil case to be heard by claim type.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	18435
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>I refer the honourable Member for Stockton North to the answer I gave on 19 February 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-02-06/13277" target="_blank">13277</a> and the answer I gave on the 23 January 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-01-15/9675" target="_blank">9675</a> in relation to the steps being taken to improve timeliness in civil courts.</p><p>Due to the nature of Civil claims, data relating to the number of people awaiting hearing is not held centrally. The time to hearing in relation to the small proportion of civil claims which are defended and proceed to trial is published quarterly: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-justice-statistics-quarterly" target="_blank">Civil justice statistics quarterly - GOV.UK.</a></p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 18431 18432 question first answered 18/03/2024 17:07:24 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1695338

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Helicopters
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Sikorsky-92 model helicopters have been licensed to operate in the UK offshore energy sector in each year since 2013.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	18136
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2024 answer text <p>As of 1 March 2024, there are 26 Sikorsky-92 aircraft licensed to operate in the UK oil and gas offshore sector, with their status being either ‘in service’ or ‘in storage’. Data for previous years has been taken as a snapshot as at 1 March for consistency: 29 (2023), 32 (2022), 29 (2021), 37 (2020), 36 (2019), 38 (2018), 43 (2017), 35 (2016), 32 (2015), 22 (2014) and 17 (2013).</p> answering member constituency South Cambridgeshire answering member printed Anthony Browne question first answered 15/03/2024 13:05:12 answering member 4801 label Biography information for Anthony Browne
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1693283

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Families: Social Workers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to tackle shortages in family social workers.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	16733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2024 answer text <p>Social workers play a valuable role in supporting the most vulnerable in society and the department is committed to ensuring there is an excellent child and family social worker for everyone who needs one. The department recognises the ongoing challenge facing local authorities across the country in recruiting and retaining child and family social workers, with reasons for social workers leaving the profession varied and complex.</p><p>On 2 February 2023, the department published the care reform strategy, ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’, which set out proposals to help stabilise the workforce. This includes supporting the recruitment of up to 461 social worker apprentices, a new Early Career Framework that will set out the development plans for a social worker’s first five years, proposals to reduce the overreliance on agency social workers, and setting up a National Workload Action Group to tackle unnecessary workload drivers which keep social workers away from direct time with children and families.</p><p>Every year, through the department’s fast track and development programmes, the department trains an average of 800 new social workers and provides professional development for around 4,000 others.</p><p>The number of full time equivalent child and family social workers in post at 30 September 2023 was 33,100. This is the highest figure we've seen since gathering this data. The statistics show that the department’s £50 million average yearly investment over this Spending Review on recruitment and training child and family social workers, alongside the hard work of local authorities is generating positive results.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 14/03/2024 11:48:15 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1693288

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Child rearing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve the accessibility of evidence-based parenting support for parents and families residing in local authority areas that do not offer Family Hubs.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	16734
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme aims to improve access to services for parents and families with children 0-19 or up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities. It provides funding for parenting support as part of the Start for Life offer to be used on evidence-based programmes alongside peer support and community outreach activities.</p><p>The department has selected 75 local authorities based on levels of disadvantage. The department would like to see Family Hubs open across the country. The departments initial focus is on delivering well in the local areas that it is currently working with and building a model and evidence base. The department can then look to expand further in the future.</p><p>The published programme guide sets out requirements for local authorities to invest in evidence-based programmes with encouragement to select those that feature in published guidance, which have been rigorously evaluated and demonstrated impact.</p><p>The programme guide can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/family-hubs-and-start-for-life-programme-local-authority-guide" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/family-hubs-and-start-for-life-programme-local-authority-guide</a>. The published guidance is available at: <a href="https://guidebook.eif.org.uk/programme/incredible-years-preschool" target="_blank">https://guidebook.eif.org.uk/programme/incredible-years-preschool</a>.</p><p>The department is working with the local authorities selected for the programme to assess delivery of all funded services in Family Hubs, and evidence-based parenting programmes are included as part of this. A comprehensive external evaluation of the parenting support offer has been commissioned and is due to report in late 2025. This evaluation will explore how well different parenting programmes have been implemented into the Family Hubs model. It will include a quasi-experimental impact evaluation that will assess the outcomes for families and an assessment of the value for money offered by the programme as a whole.</p><p>The department is currently considering options for widening access to parenting support through Family Hubs and as such undertaking assessments of the effectiveness and value for money of evidence-based parenting programmes, as well as other forms of support for parents. As part of this work to inform future fiscal events, the department considers policies from across the world, including Australia, to inform departmental thinking. This scoping work also includes engaging with the Social Mobility Commission following their recent report into family and parenting programmes.</p><p>The department is also investing over £17 million on the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) in order to improve the language skills of reception age children who need it most following the pandemic. This evidence-based programme targets children needing extra support with their speech and language development and is proven to help them make four months of additional progress, and seven months for those on free school meals. Over 500,000 children have had their language screened, with 160,000 reception age children having received extra support with their speech and language development from this proven programme.</p><p>Alongside investing in parenting support and the NELI programme, the department has also launched a national media campaign ‘Little Moments Together’ to encourage parents to chat, play and read with their pre-school children. The campaign, run jointly with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, provides evidence-based advice for parents on the NHS Better Health Start for Life website, and support from national partners on activities for parents. Little Moments Together is based on long-standing evidence on the importance of the home learning environment to providing children the best start to life. The Better Health Start for Life website can be found at: <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/early-learning-development/" target="_blank">https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/early-learning-development/</a>.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston grouped question UIN 16736 16738 16739 question first answered 22/03/2024 11:26:45 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham