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179205

registered interest
date	11/02/2015
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Media
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the justification for the Ministry of Justice’s refusal to permit visits to any prisons by a reporter from <i>The Guardian</i>.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL4942
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The External Communications team at the Ministry of Justice receives a significant number of requests by local and national media for access to prisons. For operational reasons and resource implications it is not possible to facilitate all requests.</p><p> </p><p>Each request is considered on its own merit, with careful thought over the subject area, resource and security implications, victim impact, and value to the taxpayer. In a similar way to the police or the NHS, there are operational considerations to be made when filming or reporting in prisons. When facilitating media access we must ensure that the needs of victims are met, which may involve concealing identities, carrying out relevant checks and liaising directly with victims about the access request. We must also ensure that media access does not breach any security restrictions, for example filming keys or locks. Consideration is also given to protecting the identities of prisoners and staff.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to providing open and transparent access to prison and regularly provide access to journalists for news items, features and documentary programmes. We aim to provide a range of access to different journalists covering both print and broadcast media, local, national and online media.</p><p> </p><p>Since the beginning of January 2015 we have provided access to a range of media outlets, a few examples are listed below:</p><p> </p><ul><li>The Guardian were given access to HMP New Hall - http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jan/30/new-hall-womens-prison-inmates-equals</li><li>BBC and the Sun were giving access to HMP Coldingley</li><li>Regional BBC were giving access to HMP Northumberland (Sodexo run prison)</li><li>Telegraph and Heart Radio were giving access to HMP Drake Hall</li><li>Evening Standard and regional BBC were giving access to HMP Thameside (Serco run prison)</li><li>BBC Radio 4 were giving access to HMP Prescoed/HMP Cardiff</li><li>Sky Sports were giving access to HMP Feltham</li><li>National BBC, regional ITV and the Manchester Evening News were giving access to HMP Styal</li><li>Evening Standard and London Live were giving access to HMP Isis</li><li>East Anglia Daily Times and regional BBC radio were giving access to HMP Hollesley Bay</li><li>Sky News were given access to HMP Ranby</li><li>ITV were given access to HMP Norwich</li></ul> answering member printed Lord Faulks grouped question UIN HL4943 question first answered 25/02/2015 17:02:11 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

179206

registered interest
date	11/02/2015
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Media
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government under what circumstances and with what conditions access to any prison by a journalist would be permitted.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL4943
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2015 answer text <p>The External Communications team at the Ministry of Justice receives a significant number of requests by local and national media for access to prisons. For operational reasons and resource implications it is not possible to facilitate all requests.</p><p> </p><p>Each request is considered on its own merit, with careful thought over the subject area, resource and security implications, victim impact, and value to the taxpayer. In a similar way to the police or the NHS, there are operational considerations to be made when filming or reporting in prisons. When facilitating media access we must ensure that the needs of victims are met, which may involve concealing identities, carrying out relevant checks and liaising directly with victims about the access request. We must also ensure that media access does not breach any security restrictions, for example filming keys or locks. Consideration is also given to protecting the identities of prisoners and staff.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to providing open and transparent access to prison and regularly provide access to journalists for news items, features and documentary programmes. We aim to provide a range of access to different journalists covering both print and broadcast media, local, national and online media.</p><p> </p><p>Since the beginning of January 2015 we have provided access to a range of media outlets, a few examples are listed below:</p><p> </p><ul><li>The Guardian were given access to HMP New Hall - http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jan/30/new-hall-womens-prison-inmates-equals</li><li>BBC and the Sun were giving access to HMP Coldingley</li><li>Regional BBC were giving access to HMP Northumberland (Sodexo run prison)</li><li>Telegraph and Heart Radio were giving access to HMP Drake Hall</li><li>Evening Standard and regional BBC were giving access to HMP Thameside (Serco run prison)</li><li>BBC Radio 4 were giving access to HMP Prescoed/HMP Cardiff</li><li>Sky Sports were giving access to HMP Feltham</li><li>National BBC, regional ITV and the Manchester Evening News were giving access to HMP Styal</li><li>Evening Standard and London Live were giving access to HMP Isis</li><li>East Anglia Daily Times and regional BBC radio were giving access to HMP Hollesley Bay</li><li>Sky News were given access to HMP Ranby</li><li>ITV were given access to HMP Norwich</li></ul> answering member printed Lord Faulks grouped question UIN HL4942 question first answered 25/02/2015 17:02:12 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

178892

registered interest
date	10/02/2015
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Driving Offences: Mobile Phones
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people have been prosecuted or cautioned for using a mobile phone whilst driving in each year since 2010.
tabling member printed	Baroness Smith of Basildon
uin	HL4900
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2015 answer text <p>Driving offences can have very serious consequences for victims and their families.</p><p> </p><p>Using a mobile phone while driving is dangerous and irresponsible. That is why in 2013 we increased the fixed penalty notice for this offence from £60 to £100 and we are now looking at the effectiveness of the penalty.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to tackle the minority of drivers who pose a danger to other road users.</p><p> </p><p>The number of offenders cautioned and defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts for offences related to using mobile phones while driving in England and Wales from 2009 to 2013 can be viewed in the table. No cautions have been issued for any summary motoring offence as police practice is to use Fixed Penalty Notices instead.</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="6">Offenders cautioned and defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences related to driving while using a mobile phone <sup>(1)</sup>, England and Wales, 2009 to 2013 <sup>(2)(3)</sup></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>2009</td><td>2010</td><td>2011</td><td>2012</td><td>2013</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Cautioned</td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Proceeded against</td><td>32,571</td><td>35,255</td><td>31,390</td><td>24,414</td><td>19,650</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>'-' = Nil</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="6">(1) Offences under RR 110 (1) - 110 (3) of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="6">(2) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of or been cautrioned for two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="6">(3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Ref: PQ HL 4900</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Cautions and court proceedings data for 2014 are planned for publication in May 2015.</p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 24/02/2015 15:47:55 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
tabling member	4170 label Biography information for Baroness Smith of Basildon

178676

registered interest
date	09/02/2015
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	European Union
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total cost of the Review of the Balance of Competences between the United Kingdom and the European Union to the Ministry of Justice and its associated agencies, broken down by (1) staff time, (2) printing costs, (3) running of engagement events, (4) witness expenses, (5) publicity of the reports, and (6) any and all other associated costs.
tabling member printed	Lord Boswell of Aynho
uin	HL4826
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>As you will be aware, the Balance of Competences Review concluded in December. It was the most comprehensive analysis of the UK’s relationship with the EU ever undertaken. The Review involved a large number of Departments across Whitehall to produce the 32 reports. The Review was based on the evidence and views received through widespread consultation with interested parties from across society.</p><p> </p><p>It was important that what is an unprecedented examination of EU membership was done with appropriate time and care. But the government is also very conscious of the need to ensure value for money in everything that it does.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice produced four reports as part of the Balance of Competences review: Fundamental Rights; Information Rights; Civil Judicial Cooperation (including family matters); and Police and Criminal Justice (jointly with the Home Office). Work on the Review was allocated according to need to existing staff within the Department. Providing a full breakdown of staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The total cost to the Ministry of Justice for printing and publication of the four reports was £10,210.39. The printing and publication costs for the Police and Criminal Justice report were split equally with the Home Office.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice hosted, or jointly hosted, 19 engagement events for the four reports, including events in London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Brussels. We estimate that the total cost incurred by the Ministry of Justice for all of these events was £7,140.</p><p> </p><p>Across the whole of the Balance of Competences Review witness expenses amounted to approximately £2,255.00.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice did not incur any costs in publicising the reports, or any other associated costs as part of the Balance of Competence Review.</p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 24/02/2015 15:49:45 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
tabling member	352 label Biography information for Lord Boswell of Aynho

178357

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Television Licences: Non-payment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people received custodial sentences in the last 10 years, broken down by gender, for the non-payment of fines relating to television licences; for how many of those people this was their sole offence; and how long the average sentence was.
tabling member printed	Lord Bassam of Brighton
uin	HL4745
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2015 answer text <p>Offenders found guilty of TV licence evasion may be sentenced to a fine and there is an expectation that fines are paid immediately where possible. HM Courts and Tribunals Service takes the issue of fine enforcement very seriously and is working to ensure that the recovery of fines is a continued priority nationwide. Failure to pay a fine imposed for TV licence evasion can lead to committal to prison for fine default, but only as a last resort once all other methods of recovering the money have been considered or tried and have failed.</p><p> </p><p>Information about the length of time for which men and women were committed to prison for failing to pay a fine imposed for non-payment of a TV licence, since 2005, is provided in the table. The data relates to the fine defaulter's principal offence: information about whether it was their sole offence is not collected.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="13">Fine defaulter receptions for non-payment of a TV licence, by sex and average sentence length, England and Wales, January 2005- September 2014</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>2005</td><td>2006</td><td>2007</td><td>2008</td><td>2009</td><td>2010<sup>(1)</sup></td><td>2011</td><td>2012</td><td>2013</td><td>Jan-Sep 2014</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Fine defaulter receptions for non-payment of a TV licence</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Males</td><td>21</td><td>21</td><td>17</td><td>19</td><td>11</td><td>..</td><td>10</td><td>25</td><td>15</td><td>10</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Females</td><td>8</td><td>3</td><td>10</td><td>16</td><td>19</td><td>..</td><td>38</td><td>26</td><td>17</td><td>24</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Average sentence length in days</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Males</td><td>14</td><td>14</td><td>11</td><td>20</td><td>17</td><td>..</td><td>20</td><td>19</td><td>25</td><td>19</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Females</td><td>17</td><td>6</td><td>17</td><td>16</td><td>17</td><td>..</td><td>24</td><td>25</td><td>23</td><td>18</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Data Sources and Quality</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="14">These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="10">(1) During 2010 there was a disruption to the supply of the prison receptions data which is used for the purpose of statistical reporting.</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 18/02/2015 16:19:42 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
tabling member	3504 label Biography information for Lord Bassam of Brighton

178358

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Television Licences: Non-payment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance is given to the courts on sentencing for non-payment of fines in relation to failure to pay for television licences.
tabling member printed	Lord Bassam of Brighton
uin	HL4746
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The courts are provided with guidance on sentencing and other ways of dealing with offenders, such as fine enforcement, by sentencing guidelines. These are issued by the Sentencing Council, which is independent of Government. The enforcement of fines imposed for the offence of TV licence evasion, which is non-imprisonable, is dealt with by the magistrates’ courts. The Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines can be found at the link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/MCSG_web_-_October_2014.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/MCSG_web_-_October_2014.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Pages 156 to 159 of the guidelines provide guidance to the courts on the enforcement of fines. This applies to all fines enforced by the magistrates’ courts: there is no specific guidance on dealing with offenders who have failed to pay a fine imposed for the offence of TV licence evasion.</p><p> </p><p>The courts are required by law to follow any relevant sentencing guidelines unless it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.</p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 18/02/2015 14:38:19 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
tabling member	3504 label Biography information for Lord Bassam of Brighton

178234

registered interest
date	05/02/2015
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Approved Premises
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent assessment they have undertaken of approved premises in England.
tabling member printed	Lord Bradley
uin	HL4700
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>We have not made a specific assessment of Approved Premises. As part of the Government’s Transforming Rehabilitation programme, we decided that Approved Premises should remain within the National Probation Service because of their focus on the supervision of high- and very high-risk offenders. That is because, for certain high risk offenders who have completed the custodial part of the sentence, requiring them to reside in an Approved Premises delivers more effective public protection than could be provided in alternative accommodation elsewhere in the community.</p><p> </p><p>A review of Approved Premises operations is now under way. Its aim is to promote greater consistency of practice and improve the efficient use of resources in the Approved Premises estate.</p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 19/02/2015 15:03:29 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
tabling member	452 label Biography information for Lord Bradley

176955

registered interest
date	02/02/2015
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Law: Conferences
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Islamic countries have been invited to participate in the Global Law Summit marking 800 years since Magna Carta; and which Islamic countries will send delegations.
tabling member printed	Lord Lester of Herne Hill
uin	HL4585
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>A large number of delegations have been invited, and will be attending, from around the globe. We are pleased that this will include over 90 Ministers and Attorneys General representing at least 65 governments and that delegates will come from countries of many different religions and many different types of legal system.</p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 12/02/2015 17:53:19 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
tabling member	2037 label Biography information for Lord Lester of Herne Hill

175870

registered interest
date	27/01/2015
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Criminal Proceedings: Vulnerable Adults
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that support is made available for vulnerable defendants by registered intermediaries in the criminal justice system, as currently is the case for vulnerable witnesses.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
uin	HL4450
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that all defendants receive a fair trial. We are currently considering formalising the provision of intermediaries for vulnerable defendants. It should be noted that, as well as a variety of measures currently available to courts to ensure a fair trial, if necessary, the Judiciary can already grant the use of an intermediary to assist vulnerable defendants. <br></p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 10/02/2015 17:56:21 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

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