Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

224030

registered interest
date	26/02/2015
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Mediation
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 promote mediation in the resolution of family and other legal disputes; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Thirsk and Malton
tabling member printed	Miss Anne McIntosh
uin	225655
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p /> <p>In order to promote the use of mediation as a first step towards dispute resolution for separating families, as of 22 April 2014 it is now a legislative requirement that anyone considering applying to court for an order about their children or finances is legally obliged to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) first, unless specific exemptions apply (for example domestic violence).</p><p> </p><p>Following this legislative change, attendance at MIAMs increased in consecutive quarters, with 4,023 couples attending a MIAM between Jul-Sept 2014, which is a rise of 11% from the previous quarter and 20% from Jul-Sept 2013. Mediation starts are also rising, with an increase from 1783 in the period Apr-Jun 2014 to 1896 in the period Jul-Sep 2014.</p><p> </p><p>We know that there is a perception by some people that legal aid no longer covers mediation or legal help for mediation. This is not the case, and it is vital that this message is communicated as effectively as possible. Legal aid remains available for family mediation and for legal advice to support family mediation. In addition, as of 3 November 2014, the first single session of mediation is publicly funded in all cases provided one of the people involved is already legally aided. In these cases, both participants will be funded for the MIAM and for the first session of mediation. The combination of the compulsory MIAM and free first mediation session will help to introduce more people to the benefits of mediation, and away from the courts.</p><p> </p><p>A communications campaign - ‘First Stop: Family Mediation’ - has been launched to promote family mediation, and how to access it, and publicising the availability of legal aid for those who are eligible. The campaign went live on 2 January 2015 and includes online advertising, Google key word searches and Google Display adverts that direct people to the Family Mediation Council website and in particular, the find your local mediator tool. Other initiatives included a sponsored Q&amp;A discussion on Mumsnet as well as a social media campaign and media relations in the consumer media. This has resulted in a 320% increase in visitors to the FMC website in the first two months of the year as of 28 February this year compared to the last six months of 2014. The campaign runs until 20 March.</p><p> </p><p>To support the mediation profession, with MoJ assistance and guidance, the Family Mediation Council introduced a new Professional Standards Framework from 1 January 2015. This will provide the basis for a much needed consistent approach in how mediators should operate. It will allow the general public - the clients of mediation – to be confident in the service that is being provided; they will know what it means to go to mediation; they will understand that mediators are to be trusted as properly trained and accredited practitioners; and most importantly, they will know they are protected by a properly regulated profession.</p><p> </p><p>More widely, the Government actively encourages mediation in civil litigation cases through its support of the small-claims mediation service, and the mediation referral website. Signposting literature in the Courts, various provisions in the Civil Procedure Rules and the numerous pre-action protocols promote this. In addition the MoJ has received the Civil Justice Council’s report on Online Dispute Resolution for Low Value Civil Claims, and will respond in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 05/03/2015 15:36:48 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

175585

registered interest
date	26/01/2015
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners: Suicide
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce the number of people committing suicide whilst in prison.
tabling member printed	Lord Condon
uin	HL4428
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Every death in custody is a tragedy, and the Government is committed to reducing the number of self-inflicted deaths in prisons.</p><p> </p><p>All prisons are required to have procedures in place to identify, manage and support people who are at risk of harm to themselves. Building on this, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has put in place additional resources for safer custody work in prisons and at regional level. These staff support safer custody work in prisons and share good practice across establishments. NOMS will be conducting a review of the operation of the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork system (the case management process for prisoners assessed as being at risk) in 2015.</p><p> </p><p>Young adults are a particularly challenging and vulnerable group, and that is why we have commissioned an independent review into the deaths of 18 to 24-year-olds in prison custody. This review will report in the Spring.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to explore the reasons for the recent increase in the number of self-inflicted deaths, but there is no simple explanation for it. Strenuous efforts are made to learn from every self-inflicted death, and we have accepted and acted on the vast majority of recommendations from recent investigations by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.</p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 09/02/2015 16:54:25 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
tabling member	2171 label Biography information for Lord Condon

171354

registered interest
date	16/12/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Criminal Proceedings: Advocacy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is on the future of criminal advocacy and the implementation of the recommendations of the Jeffrey Report.
tabling member constituency	Dewsbury
tabling member printed	Simon Reevell
uin	219359
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The Jeffrey Review clearly identifies a number of challenges for criminal advocacy services. The Government is committed to working with the profession in the first half of 2015 to make progress on reforms that will ensure the legal aid advocacy market operates competitively, sustainably and in such a way as to optimise quality. In particular, the Government proposes to take steps to ensure that defendants in criminal cases always have an informed and effective choice of the advocate who is to represent them. The Government also proposes to take measures to strengthen the current ban by the Legal Aid Agency on the payment or receipt of referral fees and to address any potential conflicts of interest. We want to make sure that defendants are fully aware of the choices available to them and that only advocates who are sufficiently qualified by their training and experience represent defendants in cases in the Crown Court.</p> answering member constituency Epsom and Ewell answering member printed Chris Grayling question first answered 06/01/2015 11:39:17 answering member 1413 label Biography information for Chris Grayling
tabling member	3978 label Biography information for Simon Reevell

170379

registered interest
date	15/12/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Child Rearing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effects of Parental Alienation Syndrome on families; and what plans he has to issue guidance or being forward legislative proposals to deal with those effects.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	218667
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2014 answer text <p>The family courts consider the facts of each case with the welfare of the child as paramount. Parental Alienation Syndrome is not recognised as a 'syndrome' by many professionals in this country<strong>. </strong> The courts do, however, recognise that some resident parents are responsible for alienating their children from non-resident parents and can take this into account when considering their decisions.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes grouped question UIN 218665 question first answered 18/12/2014 15:52:51 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

170512

registered interest
date	15/12/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Child Rearing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effects of Parental Alienation Syndrome on family breakdowns; and what plans he has to issue guidance or bring forward legislative proposals to deal with that syndrome and its effects.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	218665
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The family courts consider the facts of each case with the welfare of the child as paramount. Parental Alienation Syndrome is not recognised as a 'syndrome' by many professionals in this country<strong>. </strong> The courts do, however, recognise that some resident parents are responsible for alienating their children from non-resident parents and can take this into account when considering their decisions.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes grouped question UIN 218667 question first answered 18/12/2014 15:52:51 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

100480

registered interest
date	22/10/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Stalking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what further training is planned for (a) the probation service, (b) magistrates and (c) judges on the new stalking laws.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Nadine Dorries
uin	211540
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p><strong>(a)</strong> The National Probation Service is a new organisation that has only been in existence since June 2014. The Professional Skills Training team are in the process of putting together the national training plan and stalking awareness will be part of this.</p><p> </p><p>(<strong>b</strong>) &amp; <strong>(c)</strong> The responsibility for judicial training for courts judiciary lies with the Lord Chief Justice as head of the judiciary and is exercised through the Judicial College. Magistrates sit with legal advisers in court who advise them on the law.</p><p> </p><p>The new stalking laws came from the amendments made to the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 by the Protection of Freedom Act 2012. The Judicial College provides regular updates to judges and legal advisers on any changes to the law via a jurisdictional electronic internal newsletter, and did so in respect of these provisions in June 2012.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office also issued a circular [Ref: 018/2012] on the new provisions in October 2012. This was issued to the Association Of Chief Police Officers (in England And Wales And Northern Ireland), Association Of Magisterial Officers, Central Council Of Magistrates Courts, Justices Clerks Society, Law Society, Magistrates Association, Ministry of Justice, and the Judicial College.</p><p> </p><p>In addition the Justices Clerks Society also issued a circular to their members outlining the new provisions in December 2012.</p><p> </p><p>The Judicial College regularly assesses judicial training needs and how to meet them. Ultimately, judges use the law to make independent decisions based on the evidence and information provided to them in court.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 03/11/2014 16:40:29 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

100483

registered interest
date	22/10/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Stalking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has to develop programmes for perpetrators of stalking (a) in the community and (b) in custody.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Nadine Dorries
uin	211542
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 21 October 2014 (210680 and 210770).</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 29/10/2014 17:50:22 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

100484

registered interest
date	22/10/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Stalking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has to issue revised sentencing guidelines in respect of the new offences of stalking.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Nadine Dorries
uin	211544
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>Sentencing guidelines are issued by the independent Sentencing Council.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 29/10/2014 11:52:52 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

100487

registered interest
date	22/10/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Stalking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many magistrates in England and Wales have been given training on the new laws on stalking to date.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Nadine Dorries
uin	211545
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The responsibility for the training of Magistrates lies with the Lord Chief Justice as head of the judiciary and is exercised through the Judicial College.</p><p> </p><p>Magistrates sit with legal advisers in court who advise them on the law. The Judicial College is not responsible for teaching and updating Legal Advisers on the law. However, reference to any relevant law will be made at training events for the topics being covered.</p><p> </p><p>The Judicial College provides regular updates to Legal Advisers on any changes to the law via a jurisdictional electronic internal newsletter and did so in respect of these provisions in June 2012. In addition, the Home Office also issued a circular [Ref: 018/2012] on the new provisions in October 2012, and the Justices Clerks Society issued a circular to their members outlining the new provisions in December 2012.</p><p> </p><p>The Judicial College regularly assesses judicial training needs and how to meet them. Ultimately, magistrates use the law to make independent decisions based on the evidence and information provided to them in court.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 03/11/2014 16:34:59 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

100488

registered interest
date	22/10/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Stalking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many judges in England and Wales have been given training on the new laws on stalking to date.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Nadine Dorries
uin	211546
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The responsibility for the training of judges lies with the Lord Chief Justice as head of the judiciary and is exercised through the Judicial College.</p><p> </p><p>The Judicial College is not responsible for teaching and updating judges on the law; judges are professional lawyers and are expected to keep themselves up to date. However, reference to any relevant law will be made at training events for the topics covered. The Judicial College provides regular updates to judges on any changes to the law via a jurisdictional electronic internal newsletter and did so in respect of these provisions in June 2012.</p><p> </p><p>The Judicial College regularly assesses judicial training needs and how to meet them. Ultimately, judges use the law to make independent decisions based on the evidence and information provided to them in court.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 03/11/2014 16:12:46 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries