@prefix rdf: . @prefix nfo: . @prefix xsd: . @prefix dcterms: . @prefix skos: . @prefix rdfs: . @prefix api: . @prefix parl: . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "54" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Ministry of Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Justice" ; parl:hansardHeading "Stephen Port" ; parl:houseId "2" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria were used in the assessment of legal aid support to families involved in the inquests covering the deaths of the victims of Stephen Port." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Lord Bassam of Brighton" ; parl:uin "HL9914" ; dcterms:date "2018-09-04"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answerText "

We have a longstanding relationship with the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT), and we recognise the crucial role that they, and other Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations, carry out in supporting offenders and delivering rehabilitative services. I am pleased to note, too, that PACT have recently been awarded the contract for the provision of family engagement services for the female estate.

We will continue to engage with PACT as we take forward Lord Farmer’s recommendations as part of our wider prison reform agenda.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Lord Keen of Elie" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2018-09-19"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2018-09-19T08:47:47.893Z"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answerText "

The Ministry of Justice is aware that there have been instances of crowdfunding to cover the cost of legal representation at inquest proceedings, for example at the inquests into the deaths of those who died in the Birmingham pub bombings and the inquests of the victims of Stephen Port, but the Department does not routinely collect information on instances of crowdfunding.

We are currently undertaking a review of the provision of legal aid for inquests, due to be published by the end of the year alongside the wider review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Lord Keen of Elie" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2018-09-19"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2018-09-19T08:48:00.937Z"^^xsd:dateTime . rdfs:label "Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook" . parl:answerText "

Whilst the Government does not have operational responsibility for the provision of funeral services, we are aware of funeral delays in some areas and acknowledge that these are often exacerbated by pressures from within the wider death management system.

Government departments are taking a collaborative approach to reforming the death registration system as part of the roll out of the statutory medical examiner scheme which will come into force in April 2024. The doctor who attended the deceased during their last illness has a legal responsibility to complete a Medical Certificate Cause of Death (MCCD) as soon as possible to enable the registration of the death to take place. Guidance for doctors on completing an MCCD, available on Gov.uk, emphasises this point. As part of the work on the statutory medical examiner scheme, the Department of Health and Social Care is looking at expanding the pool of doctors who can sign the MCCD forms. When the demand on civil registration services is high, death registration appointments will always take priority over other registration appointments.

The Government continues to look at wider improvements to the death management system’s capacity and resilience, including mortuary capacity. The shortage of pathologists is a long-standing and cross-cutting issue. The Government is determined to make progress as soon as practicable. To that end, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State is engaging with Ministerial colleagues to implement effective solutions through a cross-government action plan.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Lord Bellamy" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2023-09-19"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2023-09-19T14:22:55.317Z"^^xsd:dateTime . rdfs:label "Biography information for Lord Patten" . parl:answerText "

We are investing more than £20m in supporting prison leavers at risk of homelessness into temporary accommodation. Individuals released from prison will be provided up to 12 weeks of temporary accommodation and will be supported into long-term settled accommodation before the end of that 12-week period. Initially launching in five national probation regions, the service will support around 3,000 offenders in its first year and will be commencing this Summer. It will be in operation during the next financial year 2021-22, with a view to scaling up and rolling out nationally.

The service will take account of the needs of women, including those with complex needs and accommodation provision will be dedicated to single gender usage as required. Community Probation Practitioners, working together with local partners, will be responsible for ensuring that vulnerable female prison leavers receive appropriate support and are provided with housing beyond the 12 weeks emergency accommodation.

HMPPS will work in conjunction with MHCLG’s announced funding to support both male and female prison leavers at risk of homelessness into private rental tenancies. Funded schemes to support women will be developed to recognise their specific needs and will be part of plans to secure settled accommodation by the end of the 12 weeks temporary accommodation provided by HMPPS.

In 2020, Hestia Battersea was changed from a male to female Approved Premises to give better geographic spread of AP provision for women, becoming the first AP for women in London since 2008.

In addition, Eden House, the first new AP in over thirty years, will open in this month supporting female offenders.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Lord Wolfson of Tredegar" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2021-06-23"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2021-06-23T16:52:51.917Z"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "54" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Ministry of Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Justice" ; parl:hansardHeading "Protection: Court Orders" ; parl:houseId "2" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to adopt the European Union Protection Measures Regulation (606/2013) into domestic law." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Lord Taylor of Warwick" ; parl:uin "HL9887" ; dcterms:date "2020-11-02"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "54" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Ministry of Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Justice" ; parl:hansardHeading "Coroners" ; parl:houseId "2" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask Her Majesty's Government how many instances of crowdfunding to cover the cost of legal representation for families involved in inquests have taken place in the last five years." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Lord Bassam of Brighton" ; parl:uin "HL9913" ; dcterms:date "2018-09-04"^^xsd:dateTime . rdfs:label "Biography information for Lord Wolfson of Tredegar" . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "54" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Ministry of Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Justice" ; parl:hansardHeading "Prison Advice and Care Trust" ; parl:houseId "2" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Catholic Prison Advice and Care Trust in the last five years; and what assessment they have made of the work of that charity." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Lord Patten" ; parl:uin "HL9999" ; dcterms:date "2018-09-04"^^xsd:dateTime . rdfs:label "Biography information for Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill" . rdfs:label "Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie" . rdfs:label "Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian" . parl:answerText "

The Withdrawal Agreement negotiated by the Government ensures the EU ‘Protection Measures Regulation’ (606/2013) will continue to apply to protection measures in both the UK and EU Member States where a certificate is issued before the end of the transition period.

In relation to protection measures where certificates are issued after the end of the transition period, the Mutual Recognition of Protection Measures in Civil Matters (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 493 of 2019) provides that an incoming protection measure from an EU Member State shall continue to be recognised and will be enforceable in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.

However, the instrument also removes the ability for the courts of England and Wales and Northern Ireland to issue an outgoing certificate, which is required for recognition and enforcement in an EU Member State under the Protection Measures Regulation. This is because we cannot legislate unilaterally to restore the reciprocity of approach, without which the court of an EU Member State could simply ignore protection measures issued by courts in the UK.

These issues are devolved to Scotland. I understand the Scottish Government is considering its position.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Baroness Scott of Bybrook" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2020-11-12"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2020-11-12T14:33:10.11Z"^^xsd:dateTime . rdfs:label "Biography information for Lord Woolf" . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "54" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Ministry of Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Justice" ; parl:hansardHeading "Prisoners' Release: Females" ; parl:houseId "2" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support vulnerable women leaving prison by ensuring (1) access to housing, (2) access to benefits and employment, and (3) access to health services." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill" ; parl:uin "HL998" ; dcterms:date "2021-06-10"^^xsd:dateTime . skos:prefLabel "House of Lords" . rdfs:label "Biography information for Lord Bassam of Brighton" . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "54" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Ministry of Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Justice" ; parl:hansardHeading "Prisoners' Release: Females" ; parl:houseId "2" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure women prison leavers in accommodation provided through the temporary accommodation scheme of the Ministry of Justice are assisted into permanent accommodation." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Lord Woolf" ; parl:uin "HL983" ; dcterms:date "2021-06-09"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "54" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Ministry of Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Justice" ; parl:hansardHeading "Prisoners on Remand" ; parl:houseId "2" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average time those who enter prison on remand to await trial and sentencing will spend in custody." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Lord Patten" ; parl:uin "HL9815" ; dcterms:date "2023-09-04"^^xsd:dateTime . dcterms:title "HL9935 - table" ; nfo:fileName "HL9935 - table.xlsx" . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "54" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Ministry of Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Justice" ; parl:hansardHeading "Funerals: Standards" ; parl:houseId "2" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of delays in funerals being caused by (1) the existing system for registering a death, (2) the number of available pathologists, (3) delays in completion of Medical Certificate Cause of Death forms and access to local GPs, (4) the availability of mortuary storage at local hospitals and public mortuaries, and (5) any delays by medical examiners." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Lord Rooker" ; parl:uin "HL9990" ; dcterms:date "2023-09-07"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answerText "

The government recognises that citizens and businesses in both the UK and EU Member States rely on the expertise, experience and scale of supply that lawyers currently provide.

The government is seeking to negotiate reciprocal sector-specific provisions in the UK-EU Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement which would allow UK lawyers to provide legal advice on UK and International law in EU member states under their UK legal title on a temporary or permanent basis. These provisions remain subject to ongoing negotiations with the EU. UK lawyers will be subject to each EU Member State’s domestic framework which regulates provision of legal services. The government has posted guidance online at gov.uk and will be updating this once negotiations have concluded.

EU lawyers practising in the UK will no longer be able to provide regulated services under their home state professional title, although they can still become solicitors and barristers through existing transfer tests that are open to all foreign lawyers. The government has signposted on gov.uk that EU lawyers should speak to UK regulators for further information.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Baroness Scott of Bybrook" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2020-11-13"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2020-11-13T13:08:17.33Z"^^xsd:dateTime . rdfs:label "Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick" . parl:answerText "

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is not aware of having received any applications to date for public funding for representation at an inquest from the families of the victims of Stephen Port.

When assessing such applications in general, the Director of Legal Aid Casework (DLAC) must have regard to the Lord Chancellor’s guidance set out under section 4(3) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offender’s Act (LASPO) 2012. The criteria applied by the Legal Aid Agency are outlined under Section 10 of LASPO. The DLAC must also determine whether an applicant meets the financial eligibility test as provided in the Civil Legal Aid (Financial Resources and Payment for Services) Regulations 2013, or decide whether to waive financial eligibility and/or contribution to costs in whole or in part, as well as satisfy the merits criteria set out in the Civil Legal Aid (Merits Criteria) Regulations 2013.

An application for legal aid may be submitted to the LAA in order for such a determination to be made.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Lord Keen of Elie" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2018-09-19"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2018-09-19T08:47:52.94Z"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "54" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Ministry of Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Justice" ; parl:hansardHeading "Courts: Coronavirus" ; parl:houseId "2" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average waiting time for cases to come to trial in England; and what action they are taking to speed up the process." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "The Marquess of Lothian" ; parl:uin "HL9935" ; dcterms:date "2020-11-03"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "54" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Ministry of Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Justice" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Justice" ; parl:hansardHeading "Legal Profession: Brexit" ; parl:houseId "2" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that (1) EU nationals can still access legal services in the UK once the Brexit transition period ends, and (2) British nationals can access legal services in the EU." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Lord Taylor of Warwick" ; parl:uin "HL9885" ; dcterms:date "2020-11-02"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answerText "

Data relating to the waiting time in weeks for cases at the Crown Court in England and Wales can be found in Tables C6 (by case type), C7 (by plea) and C8 (by remand status) of the published National Statistics series ‘Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly’ (latest to June 2020) https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-court-statistics

Waiting times for England alone require a further breakdown from the published data and are provided in the table attached with this response.

On Monday 7 September, the Crime Recovery Plan was published which sets out our comprehensive plan to tackle the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the justice system by boosting capacity across criminal courts.

As one of the first among other comparable jurisdictions globally to resume jury trials, our Crown Courts are currently listing over 200 jury trials and conducting thousands of other hearings every week. The magistrates’ courts have been completing more cases than they receive, dealing with over 21,000 cases each week and tackling the backlog.

We have also installed plexiglass screens into over 200 courtrooms and over 100 jury retiring rooms enabling us to safely open 255 Crown Court rooms for jury trials, roughly the number that were hearing jury trials before Covid.

We’re also investing record amounts - the biggest single investment in court estate maintenance for more than 20 years – and have unlocked vital capacity by opening 16 Nightingale Courts to provide 29 additional court rooms.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Baroness Scott of Bybrook" ; parl:attachment ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2020-11-17"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2020-11-17T17:23:17.583Z"^^xsd:dateTime . rdfs:label "Biography information for Lord Bellamy" . parl:answerText "

We are investing more than £20m in supporting prison leavers at risk of homelessness into temporary accommodation. Individuals released from prison will be provided up to 12 weeks of temporary accommodation and will be supported to secure long-term settled accommodation before the end of that 12-week period. Initially launching in five probation regions, the service will support around 3,000 offenders in its first year and will be commencing this Summer. It will be in operation during the financial year 2021-22, with a view to scaling up and rolling out nationally.

The service will take account of the needs of women, including those with complex needs, and accommodation provision will be dedicated to single gender usage as required. Community Probation Practitioners, working together with local partners, will be responsible for ensuring that vulnerable female prison leavers receive appropriate support and are provided with housing beyond the 12 weeks’ emergency accommodation.

Commissioned Rehabilitation Services are due to start delivery on 26 June 2021 which includes services to assist in accommodation; employment training and education; financial benefit and debt and personal well-being.

These provide a holistic service for all women leaving prison by providers based in the community in to which they are released. The accommodation service and mentoring service both start pre-release. The mentoring service aims to support those who lack social support in making the transition from prison to community and to assist in building social networks.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Lord Wolfson of Tredegar" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2021-06-24"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2021-06-24T16:13:10.983Z"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answerText "

The methodology for calculating the amount of time spent on custodial remand is currently being reviewed and further clarification will be issued in due course.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Lord Bellamy" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2023-09-26"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2023-09-26T11:05:33.937Z"^^xsd:dateTime . rdfs:label "Biography information for Lord Rooker" . a api:ListEndpoint ; dcterms:hasPart ; api:definition . a api:Page ; "10"^^xsd:long ; "1"^^xsd:long ; "13022"^^xsd:long ; dcterms:isPartOf ; api:definition ; api:extendedMetadataVersion ; api:items ( ) ; api:page "0"^^xsd:long ; ; .