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1379348

registered interest
date	17/11/2021
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Christianity: Asylum
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether he has had recent discussions with the Church of England on the number of asylum seekers who have converted to Christianity in the last year.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	76650
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2021 answer text <p>Specific discussion on that issue has not taken place. Data are not kept on the nationality or migration status of those who seek Baptism. Baptism is a sacrament ordained by God and must always be open to anyone regardless of race, nationality or status, so long as they meet the requirements set out in Canon law.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 19/11/2021 17:56:35 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1355281

registered interest
date	14/09/2021
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Marriage
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Commissioners will make representations to Church leaders on allowing people to marry in any church of their choosing.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	49099
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2021 answer text <p>Since 2008 a couple can marry in a Church of England church of any parish where either of them resides or is on the church electoral roll, or any parish where either was baptised, prepared for confirmation, or had formerly lived or worshipped. They also qualify if the parents of either of them have lived in the parish of that church, or have worshipped there, or the parents or grandparents of either of them were married there. <br> <br>Being married in a church not only reflects the faith commitment of the couple but their connection to the communities to which they are linked, whether through present circumstances or family histories. This policy of ‘qualifying connections’ allows couples great flexibility in choosing their wedding venues while also maintaining those important community links. <br> <br>There are many positive effects of attending a church in order to get married there and the website yourchurchwedding.org encourages couples to ‘just ask’ to find out how they can get married in church.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 16/09/2021 16:22:55 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1171606

registered interest
date	17/01/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	European Court of Justice: Judgements
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, whether the provisions in the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill will enable the UK to determine the circumstances in which lower courts will have regard to rulings of the European Court of Justice in relation to retained EU case law.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	4725
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2020 answer text <p>Section 26 of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 provides a power for Ministers to make regulations to determine which Courts may depart from judgments handed down by the Court of Justice of the European Union before the end of the implementation period and in what circumstances. This will ensure UK courts are not inappropriately bound by retained EU case law after the UK has left the EU.</p> answering member constituency Torridge and West Devon answering member printed Mr Geoffrey Cox question first answered 27/01/2020 14:12:37 answering member 1508 label Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Cox
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1171605

registered interest
date	17/01/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	European Convention on Human Rights
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, whether the UK will remain a party to the European Convention on Human Rights after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	4724
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2020 answer text <p>The UK will remain party to the ECHR after it has left the EU. The UK has strong human rights protections within a comprehensive and well-established constitutional and legal system and the decision to leave the EU does not change this.</p> answering member constituency Torridge and West Devon answering member printed Mr Geoffrey Cox question first answered 27/01/2020 14:11:29 answering member 1508 label Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Cox
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1171607

registered interest
date	17/01/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Hate Crime: Social Media
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the CPS has adequate resources to tackle hate crime on social media.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	4726
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2020 answer text <p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is committed to robustly prosecuting online hate crime cases, including offline offences with online elements. The CPS works closely with partners across Government under the hate crime action plan.</p><p> </p><p>On 12 August 2019, the Prime Minister announced an investment of an additional £85 million for the CPS. The work carried out by the CPS is changing, and this new funding will provide the increased capacity to enable the CPS to respond effectively to challenging trends, such as an increase in online crime and the volume of digital evidence.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 27/01/2020 16:45:59 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1301912

registered interest
date	11/03/2021
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Administration of Justice: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to increase public understanding of the law during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	167190
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2021 answer text <p>Public understanding of the law is even more essential during this unique time when individuals are facing unprecedented challenges. Public legal education is vital to help people to understand the law, their rights, and their responsibilities, and I am proud to work closely with the legal and third sector as part of my Public Legal Education Committee to support and promote this work.</p><p> </p><p>The Attorney General’s Office has also recently supported Justice Week this year, delivered digitally at the start of March. It is a testament to the sector’s commitment to supporting the public in times of crisis that pro bono support and public legal education across the country has continued in spite of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 17/03/2021 17:46:40 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1010729

registered interest
date	20/11/2018
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Dementia: Prosecutions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what guidance he has published on laying criminal charges against people with dementia.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	193451
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2018 answer text <p>All decisions to prosecute made by the Crown Prosecution Service must meet the Full Code Test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors. The Code makes it clear that there is a balance to be struck between the public interest in diverting a defendant with significant mental illness such as dementia from the criminal justice system and other public interest factors in favour of prosecution, including the need to safeguard the public.</p><p>The eighth edition of the Code for Crown Prosecutors was published in October 2018. Prosecutors are asked to “have regard to whether the suspect is, or was at the time of the offence, affected by any significant mental or physical ill health or disability, as in some circumstances this may mean that it is less likely that a prosecution is required. However, prosecutors will also need to consider how serious the offence was, whether the suspect is likely to re-offend and the need to safeguard the public or those providing care to such persons.”</p><p>The existing CPS legal guidance on prosecuting ‘Mentally Disordered Offenders’ is currently being revised to include specific guidance on prosecuting cases where the suspect suffers from a condition such as dementia. This will be published for public consultation in 2019.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 28/11/2018 09:36:50 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1125154

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Attorney General: Bullying
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what estimate he has made of the number of cases of bullying and harassment that have been recorded against managers in his Department in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	251305
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>There have been no recorded cases of bullying and harassment in the Attorney General’s Office in any of the last five years.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 15/05/2019 09:59:11 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1020576

registered interest
date	06/12/2018
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Hate Crime
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what assessment he has made of trends in the number of cases of alleged hate crimes ending before going to court as a result of such complaints being withdrawn.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	199928
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2018 answer text <p>In 2017-18, the number of non-convictions due to complainant retraction was 188, down from 198 the previous year. This accounted for 1.3% of all completed hate crime prosecutions. The Crown Prosecution Service is working closely with criminal justice partners to ensure the support offered to complainants and witnesses in hate crime cases is tailored to meet their individual needs.</p><p>The majority of hate crime prosecutions (75.4%) result in a guilty plea from defendants, reducing the need for complainants and witnesses to give evidence in court. However, where live evidence is required, the CPS is committed to supporting them to give their best evidence. This includes consideration of whether they would benefit from special measures such as giving evidence behind a screen or via a video link.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 17/12/2018 11:00:21 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1301906

registered interest
date	11/03/2021
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 Departmental oversight is exercised over the decisions of the CPS Complex Casework Units.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	167187
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2021 answer text <p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Complex Casework Units (CCUs) undertake some of the most complex and serious casework handled by the CPS. A recent report published by Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCSPI) found that CCUs are staffed by highly dedicated, skilled and professional teams who deliver high quality casework, often in demanding circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>CCUs are overseen through a structure of experienced legal managers including Unit Heads, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutors and Chief Crown Prosecutors. The Report identified evidence of effective and regular meetings and conversations between lawyers and managers about casework. They also identified evidence of national oversight with the referral of relevant cases being made to Headquarters for consideration.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 17/03/2021 17:44:35 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord