Improving the use of digital technology is key to modernising our justice system in England and Wales. We are reforming the Criminal Justice System to reduce reliance on paper both in the administration of our courts, and in the courtroom.<\/p>
Our HMCTS Reform Programme will build on this foundation and ensure that the justice system makes better use of technology to provide easier access to a more responsive and swifter system.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1528", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Mike Penning"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hemel Hempstead"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mike Penning"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-23T15:36:50.887Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Courts: ICT"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress he has made on plans for paperless working in the courts.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/69", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hertfordshire"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Oliver Heald"} ], "uin" : "3249"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/381871", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/381871/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Estimates of the UK disability employment rate can be found on the Office for National Statistics website at the following link:<\/p>
<\/p>
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-statistics/may-2015/table-a08.xls<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-22T16:00:22.89Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment: Disability"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of changes in the rate of disability employment in each of the last 10 years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/69", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hertfordshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Oliver Heald"}
], "uin" : "2887"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/381461", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/381461/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Environment Agency is continuing its work with local water companies to improve the quality of rivers in Hertfordshire. In 2014 several watercourses showed improvements in water quality linked to a reduction in polluted surface water outfalls and improved processes at sewage works. Through local engagement with the agriculture sector, the Environment Agency is identifying opportunities to reduce agricultural run-off including fertilizers and pesticides.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Through its Restoring Sustainable Abstraction programme, the Environment Agency is also seeking to improve flows in chalk rivers in Hertfordshire. Affinity Water has committed £5 million and the Environment Agency is also committing significant funds to the project.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Across England, a programme of physical habitat restoration is under way on these rivers (including the 11 chalk river Sites of Special Scientific Interest that need restoration). Led jointly by Natural England and the Environment Agency, this programme involves a range of statutory and voluntary sector partners. Since 2011, some 70 kilometres of chalk stream have been improved.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Water company investment has also contributed to substantial reductions in phosphate pollution, to which chalk streams are particularly sensitive, and additional investment is proposed to secure further improvements.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The Environment Agency has changed 46 abstraction licences for ten chalk streams across England. These returned 9.4 million cubic metres year of water back to chalk streams and removed the risk of another 1.6 million cubic metres per year being taken. This is equivalent to the average annual domestic water use of 200,000 people, or the approximate population of Peterborough.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rory Stewart"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Penrith and The Border"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rory Stewart"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-22T10:32:39.7Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Rivers"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on improving the quality of chalk rivers in (a) Hertfordshire and (b) England.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/69", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hertfordshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Oliver Heald"}
], "uin" : "2734"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349989", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349989/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Spending on social care is a local decision made by individual councils. There is no specific Departmental grant relating to carers and as such funding for carer support is ultimately a local decision. There are however a number of legal duties and non-ring-fenced monies specifically earmarked for carer support that set expectations, as set out below.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> This year, the Better Care Fund will provide £5.3 billion of investment in better integrated care, based on joint plans that have been developed locally and putting resources where the local National Health Service and social services think it is needed. Social care protection is a national condition of the Better Care Fund \u2013 no plan has been approved without clear proof of this. The plans also set out how much will be spent collectively on carer-specific services.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Under the Care Act, local authorities have a duty to assess carers and meet their eligible needs for support, putting them on an equal footing with the people they care for. Local authorities will also be able to meet needs which are not considered eligible. The Department of Health has provided £104 million of funding to local authorities for these rights in 2015/16. The majority of funding for implementation of these and other rights under the Care Act will be in the Better Care Fund (with some coming from a separate grant).<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The Department of Health has also made available additional funding of £400 million to the NHS between 2011 and 2015 to enable carers to take a break from their caring responsibilities to sustain them in their caring role. The carers\u2019 breaks funding of £130 million for 2015 \u2013 16 will also be in the Better Care Fund.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The Department for Education has also separately provided £800 million funding to local authorities to fund short breaks for disabled children and their families.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Funding for adult social care from 2016/17 onwards will be decided at this year\u2019s spending review.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alistair Burt"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Bedfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alistair Burt"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-16T14:45:24.617Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Carers"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will maintain its funding for carers; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/69", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hertfordshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Oliver Heald"}
], "uin" : "2097"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349601", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349601/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I cannot provide an exact start date for construction. However, as stated in Highways England Delivery Plan 2015-2020, construction of the A1(M) Junction 6-8 smart motorway scheme in Hertfordshire is planned to start construction in late in the 2019/20, and complete approximately 12 months later.<\/p> <\/p> The next step is the detailed design and planning of the scheme, plus consultation with the local community to produce the best possible scheme. That work will be taken forward by Highways England and is expected to start shortly.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3996", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Jones"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrogate and Knaresborough"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Jones"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-15T11:26:16.4Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "A1(M): Hertfordshire"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the widening of the A1(M) in Hertfordshire.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/69", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hertfordshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Oliver Heald"}
], "uin" : "2065"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349602", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349602/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " At a time of difficult financial decisions for the country, we have made a conscious choice to prioritise spending on education. We will continue to protect the schools budget, and will ensure that the funding schools receive increases as pupil numbers increase. In 2015-16, we added £390million to the budgets of 69 local authorities considered to have been unfairly funded in previous years, including £11.3million of additional funding for Hertfordshire.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3980", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Surrey"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Sam Gyimah"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-15T16:23:34.15Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Schools: Hertfordshire"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if the Government will take steps to maintain the schools budget and per-pupil spending in Hertfordshire.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/69", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hertfordshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Oliver Heald"}
], "uin" : "2066"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348900", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348900/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport announced on 23 December 2014 funding allocations for local highway authorities in England between 2015/16 and 2020/21. This includes over £92 million for Hertfordshire. This funding can be used to reduce the number of potholes on the local road network.<\/p> <\/p> It is for each local highway authority to improve the condition of the local road network through planned preventative maintenance. The Department for Transport\u2019s role is to support local authorities through the provision of funding and by sharing good practice.<\/p> <\/p>