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1052182

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Water
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress his Department's Estates Directorate has made in analysing water usage and associated costs on the prison estate.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	215163
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2019 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice undertook a review of water use, and associated costs, on the prison estate, in 2018. This has informed the development and application of good, typical and poor water efficiency benchmarks for prisons; and water reduction targets have now been set for all prisons. In addition, more detailed consumption data is being provided to prison Governors to facilitate improved water management at site level.</p><p>In-depth audits of the ten highest water consuming prisons will be carried out in February 2019; and the Department has developed a Water Strategy which it intends to publish in Spring 2019.</p><p>The Department is also re-procuring water services contract this year. This contract will provide for the installation of automatic meter reading (‘smart meters’) to enable improved monitoring and targeting of excessive water consumption.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 05/02/2019 18:45:09 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1121996

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make it his policy to establish separate legal aid funds for (a) increasing access to justice for people in civil, criminal and legal aid cases and (b) political and human rights cases.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	245758
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>Access to justice is a fundamental right and last year the government spent £1.6bn on legal aid.</p><p> </p><p>Legal aid is available in a wide range of cases across different jurisdictions. This includes crime, family, housing, immigration, and areas where human rights may have been breached. In most of these areas, applicants have to satisfy statutory means and merits tests.</p><p> </p><p>The legal aid fund is administered by the independent Legal Aid Agency, acting according to their statutory duty under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. Decisions on legal aid funding are made by the Director of Legal Aid Casework, who acts independently of Ministers.</p><p> </p><p>We recently published the post-implementation review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO). Alongside this we published the Legal Support Action Plan which outlines the steps the Government will be taking over the next two years to enhance the breadth of support to people experiencing legal problems. This includes delivering £5m in innovation funding to drive change across the sector, and doubling our funding to support litigants in person to £3m for each of the next two years.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 30/04/2019 16:36:09 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1121998

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Rape: Drugs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many convictions there have been for administering date rape drugs in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	245759
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 answer text <p>The number of offenders found guilty of “administering a substance with intent” in England and Wales, from 2013 to 2017 can be found in the Experimental statistics: Principal offence proceedings and outcomes by Home Office offence data tool in the annual criminal justice statistics publication, linked below.</p><p> </p><p>From the detailed offence drop down box, select ‘Administer substance with intent to stupefy or overpower to engage in sexual activity’:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/738814/HO-Code-Tool-2017.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/738814/HO-Code-Tool-2017.xlsx</a></p><p> </p><p>The total number of prosecutions and convictions may be higher as the data only shows the principle offence.</p><p> </p><p>Court proceedings data, including findings of guilt for this offence, for 2018 are planned for publication on 16 May 2019.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 29/04/2019 11:14:00 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1122795

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Rents: Non-payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many county court judgements were issued for non-payment of (a) commercial and (b) residential rents in the last 12 months for which information is available.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	247009
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice does not hold centrally information on the number of county court judgments made in the last 12 months specifically in relation to non-payment of commercial and residential rents. This information can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 01/05/2019 13:50:55 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1125155

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Ministry of Justice: Bullying
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, 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	251306
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>The number of cases<sup>1</sup> of Ministry of Justice (MOJ) managers<sup>2</sup> facing conduct and discipline action<sup>3</sup> for 'Bullying and Harrassment'<sup>4</sup> for each of the years 2013/14 to 2017/18, is as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2013-14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014-15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015-16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016-17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017-18</strong><strong><sup>5</sup></strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Number of cases</strong></p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><ol><li>A case is defined as a unique combination of case and individual member of staff. Where more than one member of staff is involved in a single case these are counted separately in this table. Equally staff involved in more than one case during the year are counted multiple times.</li><li>Managers defined as Civil Service Band B / SEO and above.</li><li>Conduct and discipline cases are defined as where a penalty has been imposed on a member of staff for a reason of conduct.</li><li>This includes 'Bullying and Harassment’ and ‘Abusive language/behaviour towards staff’ in data collected in HM Prison &amp; Probation Service (HMPPS) and 'Offensive, abusive or repeated unwanted behaviour' in the remaining MOJ data.</li><li>The 2017/18 data is provisional for HMPPS.</li></ol><p>Data includes MOJ and its Executive Agencies.</p><p> </p><p>MoJ has an ongoing commitment to ensuring that staff are treated with dignity and respect and that concerns raised by staff are listened to and dealt with appropriately. MoJ has a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of harassment and bullying. Our grievance policy and guidance is published on our intranet and accessible to all staff. We have a network of anti-bullying and harassment advisors that provide peer support to staff. In addition, we have an Employee Assistance Programme that offers advice, support and counselling services to those who have experienced harassment and bullying.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 15/05/2019 16:43:11 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1130367

	registered interest
	date	06/06/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Knives: Crime
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many recorded knife crime offences were disposed of with a conviction in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	261191
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2019 answer text <p>This information is not collated centrally.</p><p> </p><p>We cannot determine from the data we hold on prosecutions whether offences, such as assault and murder, involved a weapon. However, data on offenders who are convicted or cautioned for the possession of a knife or threatening with a knife can be found online at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/knife-possession-sentencing-quarterly" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/knife-possession-sentencing-quarterly</a></p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 12/06/2019 16:55:01 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1168294

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Criminal Proceedings: Interpreters
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether translators in criminal trials are remunerated in cases where the foreign-speaking defendant does not turn up for their trial.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	92
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>If an interpreter has attended a booking, but is no longer required to deliver service, at a minimum they will be paid a cancellation fee. Depending on the circumstances the interpreter may also receive a payment for the time spent waiting to provide a service at the venue.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 07/01/2020 12:45:30 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1169585

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners: Religion
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will collate statistics on the religious affiliations of the prison population.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	1445
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2020 answer text <p>Statistics on the religious affiliations of the prison population are published as part of the department’s <em>Offender Management Statistics Quarterly</em> release.</p><p> </p><p>The most recent data (based on the prison population as at 30 September 2019) can be found in Table 1.5 at the following link: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/842604/Population_Q2_2019.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/842604/Population_Q2_2019.xlsx</a></p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 13/01/2020 14:09:29 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1175574

	registered interest
	date	03/02/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Courts: Social Media
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to change the rules on the use of social media by spectators in criminal court proceedings.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	11486
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2020 answer text <p>Rules on the use of social media by members of the public in the criminal courts are governed by the Criminal Practice Directions, issued by the Lord Chief Justice. Although filming, recording or photographing criminal proceedings is strictly prohibited, an individual may apply to the court to request permission to send live text-based communications, for example through social media platforms. Risks to the administration of justice posed by a member of the public using social media during criminal proceedings would be taken into account by the judge when considering an application. The relevant Practice Direction can be found at CPD 6C: <a href="http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/criminal/docs/2015/crim-practice-directions-I-general-matters-2015.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/criminal/docs/2015/crim-practice-directions-I-general-matters-2015.pdf</a> .</p><p>The government is not aware of proposed amendments to this Direction.</p><p> </p><p>In 2017, the Attorney General’s Office released a call for evidence on the risks posed by social media to the administration of justice following concerns about an increase in the number of individuals breaching Contempt of Court laws on social media. The response, published in March 2019, can be found at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/783627/Call_For_Evidence_05.03.2019_v2.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/783627/Call_For_Evidence_05.03.2019_v2.pdf</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Last year, the government also published its Online Harms White Paper to gather views on the various aspects of the government’s plans for regulation and tackling online harms. It announced that the Law Commission will consider specific recommendations for reform to the criminal law and consultation on this is expected in the Spring.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 10/02/2020 14:46:18 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1175585

	registered interest
	date	03/02/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Acquittals: Legal Costs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reimbursing legal costs for defendants acquitted during legal trials.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	11493
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government has measures in place to reimburse acquitted defendants in the criminal courts. Defendants who have been granted legal aid for representation in the Crown Court are paid back the sum of any income contributions, which they have made, in full upon acquittal.</p><p> </p><p>Acquitted defendants who were financially ineligible for legal aid and who have paid privately for legal representation in the Magistrates’ or Crown Court are entitled to recover their costs at the legal aid rates, via a Defendant’s Cost Order.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 11/02/2020 16:07:46 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord