In accordance with the two stage test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the CPS carefully considered the evidence submitted by the private prosecutor both on its own and in addition to the material already in its possession from the earlier decision. In both cases the CPS concluded that there was no realistic prospect of conviction for the charge selected by the private prosecutor.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
In addition the CPS considered whether both sets evidence taken together might be sufficient to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any<\/em><\/strong> abortion offence. It was concluded that there was sufficient evidence to prosecute an offence of using poison, instruments or any other means with intent to procure an abortion but that this was very finely balanced. It further concluded that the public interest considerations in not pursuing a prosecution outweighed those in favour for the same reasons as in 2013, most importantly the lack of professional guidance on how doctors should approach comparative risk assessments.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Treasury Solicitor\u2019s <\/strong><\/p> Department (TSol) *<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Serious Fraud Office<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Crown Prosecution <\/strong><\/p> Service <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Ethnic Origin<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Total<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Percentage<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Total<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Percentage <\/strong><\/p><\/td> Total<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Percentage <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Asian/Asian British<\/p><\/td> 122<\/p><\/td> 6.1%<\/p><\/td> 29<\/p><\/td> 7.3%<\/p><\/td> 471<\/p><\/td> 7.4%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Black/Black British<\/p><\/td> 97<\/p><\/td> 4.8%<\/p><\/td> 17<\/p><\/td> 4.3%<\/p><\/td> 351<\/p><\/td> 5.5%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Mixed/Multiple Ethnic<\/p><\/td> 53<\/p><\/td> 2.6%<\/p><\/td> 15<\/p><\/td> 3.8%<\/p><\/td> 142<\/p><\/td> 2.2%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> White/White British<\/p><\/td> 883<\/p><\/td> 44.2%<\/p><\/td> 194<\/p><\/td> 48.9%<\/p><\/td> 4478<\/p><\/td> 70.9%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Other Ethnic<\/p> Background<\/p><\/td> 31<\/p><\/td> 1.5%<\/p><\/td> 8<\/p><\/td> 2%<\/p><\/td> 72<\/p><\/td> 1.1%<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> * TSol data also covers the staff of the Attorney General\u2019s Office and Her Majesty\u2019s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.<\/em><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4106", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Swindon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robert Buckland"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-25T14:40:33.367Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Staff"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, how many and what proportion of employees in the Law Officers Departments identify as (a) white or white British, (b) Asian or Asian British, (c) Black or Black British, (d) mixed or multiple ethnic group and (e) another ethnicity.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3915", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Gloria De Piero"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ashfield"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Gloria De Piero"}
], "uin" : "227952"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/227992", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/227992/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The current Director has returned the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to its original role and purpose of tackling the topmost tier of fraud, bribery and corruption cases with a greater emphasis on those that harm the UK\u2019s reputation as a safe place to do business.<\/p> <\/p> The follow-up report to the 2012 inspection carried out by Her Majesty\u2019s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate was published in November 2014. It provides a snapshot of the SFO in 2013 and made clear that a \u201cconsiderable amount of work had been done\u201d to address the recommendations of the inspection, and that \u201cThere has been genuine commitment from managers and staff alike to review and update processes and structures and to improve every aspect of case handling, from intelligence gathering and analysis, to casework management and disclosure handling\u201d.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/630", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Wallace of Tankerness"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Wallace of Tankerness"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-26T13:03:28.427Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Serious Fraud Office"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what assessment they have made of the performance of the Serious Fraud Office.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/565", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Morris of Aberavon"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Morris of Aberavon"}
], "uin" : "HL5807"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/227993", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/227993/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) considers all cases that are referred by investigators according to the same test, as set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors. In 2013/14, the CPS prosecuted 12,445 sexual offence cases, of which 9,104 resulted in a conviction, a conviction rate of 73.2%. This was an increase on the previous year when the conviction rate was 72.4% .<\/p> <\/p> In order to ensure that there are sufficient resources to prosecute sexual offence cases, the CPS continues to work closely with Her Majesty\u2019s Treasury and criminal justice system partners to analyse and manage the impact of increasing volumes. This is in addition to a range of activity to further prioritise sexual offence cases such as the establishment of Rape and Serious Sexual Offence (RASSO) Units in every region and the publication of legal guidance to further support effective prosecutions.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/630", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Wallace of Tankerness"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Wallace of Tankerness"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-26T13:10:44.4Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sexual Offences: Prosecutions"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the performance of the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to prosecutions of high profile sex abuse cases, and (2) the financial resources available to the Crown Prosecution Service to carry out such prosecutions; and what, if any, plans the Crown Prosecution Service has to amend its procedures and practices in relation to such prosecutions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/565", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Morris of Aberavon"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Morris of Aberavon"}
], "uin" : "HL5808"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/227248", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/227248/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested is contained in the following tables.<\/p> The table below shows the average number of staff engaged off-payroll over the past five years by the Attorney General\u2019s Office (AGO), Her Majesty\u2019s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI), and the Treasury Solicitor\u2019s Department (TSol).<\/p> Tsol, AGO and HMCPSI - Average number of staff engaged off-payroll1<\/sup><\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Period<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Average Headcount<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2014 \u2013 February 2015<\/p><\/td> 263<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2013 \u2013 March 2014<\/p><\/td> 197<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2012 \u2013 March 2013<\/p><\/td> 127<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2011 \u2013 March 2012<\/p><\/td> 91<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2010 \u2013 March 2011<\/p><\/td> 103<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> 1 <\/em>Off payroll staff includes temporary (agency) and contract staff, including lawyers, other professionals and administrators. None of the above mentioned staff members are civil servants. The majority are temporary staff engaged through employment agencies to cover short term vacancies and to secure specific specialist legal and support skills.<\/em><\/p> <\/p> Prior to April 2014 the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) did not maintain a centralised record of staff employed off-payroll and it is not possible to provide information at the level of detail requested. The SFO can, however, provide an average number of temporary staff employed since April 2010. These figures are as follows:<\/p> SFO - Average number of temporary staff engaged off-payroll<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Period<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Average Headcount<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2013 \u2013 March 2014<\/p><\/td> 35<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2012 \u2013 March 2013<\/p><\/td> 29<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2011 \u2013 March 2012<\/p><\/td> 51<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2010 \u2013 March 2011<\/p><\/td> 98<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> At the end of December January 2015 there were 86 temporary staff working at the SFO.<\/p> <\/p> The average number of staff in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) who were engaged off-payroll during each of the last five years up to the most recent period for which figures are available is shown in the table below.<\/p> <\/p> CPS - Average number of temporary staff engaged off-payroll1<\/sup><\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Period<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Average Headcount<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2014 \u2013 January 2015<\/p><\/td> 7.7<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2013 \u2013 March 2014<\/p><\/td> 6<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2012 \u2013 March 2013<\/p><\/td> 1.9<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2011 \u2013 March 2012<\/p><\/td> 5.1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2010 \u2013 March 2011<\/p><\/td> 20<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> 1 <\/sup><\/em>The figures in the table have been calculated by taking relevant workforce statistics published each month and deriving an average for each financial year. It is possible, therefore, that the number of unique individuals employed during any financial year was higher than that indicated.<\/em><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4106", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Swindon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robert Buckland"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-26T14:59:23.143Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Attorney General: Off-payroll Working"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, how many staff in the Law Officers' Departments and its executive agencies and associated bodies were engaged off-payroll in each of the last five years up to the most recent period for which figures are available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3909", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Pamela Nash"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Airdrie and Shotts"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Pamela Nash"}
], "uin" : "227541"}
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<\/td>