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  • Gavin Shuker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Gavin Shuker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Shuker on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial contribution the Government plans to make to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    The UK is currently the third largest donor to the UNRWA General Fund providing £106.5 million between 2012-2015. In response to the Gaza conflict last summer, the UK also provided an additional £9 million to the UNRWA Gaza Flash Appeal. Future funding decisions for contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) will be informed by an assessment of need.

  • Anas Sarwar – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Anas Sarwar – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anas Sarwar on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to work with the government of Malawi to enhance financial controls and transparency in that country, with a view to restoring bilateral support by the UK.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    General budget support to Malawi was suspended in 2011 due to concerns relating to human rights and public financial management. Tightly managed sector budget support for health and education was continued by all donors but following the Cash-gate scandal in November 2013 this too was suspended. There can be no consideration of putting UK funding through Malawi government systems until the integrity of the Government’s financial management systems has been restored and independently verified. However, the UK is still committed to poverty reduction and supporting poor people in Malawi, through a large programme of ongoing investments delivered, in health, education, agriculture, water and sanitation, economic development and governance.

    In the wake of the Cash-gate corruption scandal in 2013, we have funded a forensic audit as well as technical assistance to the investigation agencies to help bring the culprits to court and continue to support public financial management reforms.

  • Anas Sarwar – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Anas Sarwar – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anas Sarwar on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding has been allocated to NGOs and other non-state actors since bilateral support to Malawi was suspended in November 2013; and what the expected outcomes of that funding are.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    General budget support to Malawi was suspended in 2011 due to concerns relating to human rights and public financial management. Tightly managed sector budget support for health and education was continued by all donors but following the Cashgate scandal in November 2013 this too was suspended. There can be no consideration of putting UK funding through Malawi government systems until the integrity of the Government’s financial management systems has been restored and independently verified. However, the UK is still committed to poverty reduction and supporting poor people in Malawi, through a large programme of ongoing investments delivered outside of government systems, in health, education, agriculture, water and sanitation, economic development and governance.

    Since November 2013 to date the DFID bilateral programme in Malawi has disbursed £ 70.4 million to NGOs, Multilaterals and other non-state channels outside of government systems. Expected outcomes include:

    – An important contribution to meeting contraception needs in a country with a high total fertility rate and increasing population pressure. By 2016, the UK’s Malawi Family Planning Programme is expected to support 800,000 additional women to access and use modern methods of family planning.

    – Improved access to Water and Sanitation. 750,000 people will have access to clean drinking water sources by 2016.

    – Supporting 15,000 girls to benefit from secondary school bursaries by 2016.

    – Supporting improved health outcomes. DFID support is currently supplying the bulk of emergency drugs and medical supplies to Malawi’s hospitals.

    – Helping to strengthen civil society in Malawi to hold their government accountable for the provision of basic services.

    – Supporting 370,000 people to access relief food supplies; provision of emergency water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for 34,000 people; and assisting 54,000 people with seeds and tools to rebuild their lives after recent floods washed their crops away.

    Full details of these outcomes and others are available in DFID’s Operational Plan 2011-2016 accessible online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/389289/Malawi.pdf .

    “

  • Anas Sarwar – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Anas Sarwar – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anas Sarwar on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations her Department has made to the Malawian government on the introduction of user fees for health and education services in that country.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    DFID engages with both the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology on how to best ensure all poor Malawians can access good quality education and health care.

  • Andrew Stephenson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Andrew Stephenson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Stephenson on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is providing for security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    DFID’s Peacebuilding Support Programme supports the provincial Government to deliver improved security and justice to 250,000 citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). It focuses on strengthening civilian security (police, prosecutions, prisons) and the formal and informal justice sectors. DFID also contributes to a Multi Donor Trust Fund supporting areas of KP affected by militancy and conflict. It helps improve state-citizen trust and reduce the root causes of insecurity through improved infrastructure, economic development and service delivery.

    UK aid to Pakistan also addresses the conditions that might breed violent extremism by reducing poverty, meeting basic needs, increasing economic opportunities and promoting inclusion. It supports the government to build an effective state that is more able to respond to violent extremism through strengthening democratic processes and institutions, delivering better services and improving access to justice.

  • John Hemming – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    John Hemming – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Hemming on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer on 12 February 2015 to Question 223311, what calculations were made to determine that to answer the original question would incur disproportionate costs.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    In order to answer 223311 Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) would have to manually check every court log from 1 May 2013 to the present at Birmingham County Court, Birmingham Family Court and the High Court at Birmingham. Birmingham County Court and Birmingham Family Court between them heard in excess of 24,000 cases, each of which would have to be manually checked for any hearings for contempt of court.

    HMCTS have been able to check records of cases heard since November 2014, and identified those where committal orders were made for imprisonment for contempt of court. The contemnors weren’t all present at court and did not necessarily begin their term of imprisonment straight away. There were none at Birmingham Family Court. Details of committal orders made for imprisonment for contempt of court at Birmingham County Court and High Court since 1 November 2014 can be found in the table below. This data has been collated specifically to answer this question and has not been checked to the standard of Official Statistics.

    Court

    Judge

    Date

    Period

    Birmingham High Court

    HHJ Purle QC

    13-2-15

    6 weeks

    Birmingham County Court

    DJ Rich TD

    7-11-14

    8 weeks

    Birmingham County Court

    HHJ McKenna

    19-11-14

    16 weeks

    Birmingham County Court

    HHJ McKenna

    15-1-15

    18 weeks

    Birmingham County Court

    HHJ McKenna

    15-1-15

    25 weeks

    Birmingham County Court

    DJ Ingram

    30-1-15

    24 weeks

    Birmingham County Court

    DJ Shorthose

    13-2-15

    26 weeks

  • Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many domestic violence courts sat at each magistrates’ court in Lancashire in 2014.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    The table below sets out the number of domestic violence courts scheduled to be sat in each magistrates’ court in Lancashire in 2014:

    Magistrates Courts in Lancashire

    Number of half day sessions scheduled to sit on domestic violence during 2014

    Blackpool Magistrates’ Court

    100

    Lancaster Magistrates’ Court

    50

    Preston Magistrates’ Court

    100

    Chorley Magistrates’ Court

    50

    Ormskirk Magistrates’ Court

    50

    Blackburn Magistrates’ Court

    100

    Burnley Magistrates’ Court

    100
  • John Hemming – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    John Hemming – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Hemming on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the contribution by the hon. Member for North West Cambridgeshire of 18 March 2014, Official Report, column 625 and pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2015 to Question 217723, how many (a) ex-parte non-molestation orders were given to (i) women and (ii) men, (b) with notice non-molestation orders were given to (i) women and (ii) men, (c) non-molestation orders were applied for by each firm of solicitors, (d) non-molestation orders were given to (i) women and (ii) men by each judge, (e) ex-parte occupancy orders were given to (i) women and (ii) men, (f) with notice occupancy orders were given to (i) women and (ii) men, (g) occupancy orders were applied for by each firm of solicitors, (h) occupancy orders were given to (i) women and (ii) men by each judge in each quarter from the first quarter of 2011 to the third quarter of 2014 in courts in (A) Sussex and (B) the West Midlands.

    Simon Hughes

    Details of the gender of those receiving non molestation orders (ex-parte and with notice), and occupancy orders (ex-parte and with notice) since 2011 can only be obtained by manually checking every case file at disproportionate costs.

    Figures requested for non molestation and occupancy orders applied for by each firm of solicitors in courts in a) Sussex and b) West Midlands are available and provided as extracted from the central MoJ database on family cases, in the accompanying tables.

    Domestic violence and abuse is unacceptable and no one should have to experience it. It is right that the family court has the power to take swift action to protect families and children from domestic abuse. We are confident that the court procedures for making non-molestation orders are sufficiently robust and in each case the court will make a decision whether to make an order based on the circumstances of the case including the need to secure the health, safety and well-being of the applicant and of any relevant child.

  • John Hemming – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    John Hemming – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Hemming on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the letter sent on 2 February 2015 to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley by HM Courts and Tribunals Service’s Performance, Analysis and Reporting Team, what the (a) name of the judge, (b) date and (c) period of committal was of each court order issued by (i) Birmingham County Court, (ii) Birmingham High Court and (iii) Birmingham Family Court for contempt of court since November 2014.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    In order to answer 223311 Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) would have to manually check every court log from 1 May 2013 to the present at Birmingham County Court, Birmingham Family Court and the High Court at Birmingham. Birmingham County Court and Birmingham Family Court between them heard in excess of 24,000 cases, each of which would have to be manually checked for any hearings for contempt of court.

    HMCTS have been able to check records of cases heard since November 2014, and identified those where committal orders were made for imprisonment for contempt of court. The contemnors weren’t all present at court and did not necessarily begin their term of imprisonment straight away. There were none at Birmingham Family Court. Details of committal orders made for imprisonment for contempt of court at Birmingham County Court and High Court since 1 November 2014 can be found in the table below. This data has been collated specifically to answer this question and has not been checked to the standard of Official Statistics.

    Court

    Judge

    Date

    Period

    Birmingham High Court

    HHJ Purle QC

    13-2-15

    6 weeks

    Birmingham County Court

    DJ Rich TD

    7-11-14

    8 weeks

    Birmingham County Court

    HHJ McKenna

    19-11-14

    16 weeks

    Birmingham County Court

    HHJ McKenna

    15-1-15

    18 weeks

    Birmingham County Court

    HHJ McKenna

    15-1-15

    25 weeks

    Birmingham County Court

    DJ Ingram

    30-1-15

    24 weeks

    Birmingham County Court

    DJ Shorthose

    13-2-15

    26 weeks

  • Roger Godsiff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Roger Godsiff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers have been dismissed (a) in total and (b) through lack of capacity following an employment tribunal hearing in the last three years for which data is available.

    Andrew Selous

    The total number of officers, bands 3-5, dismissed from the public sector prison service in England and Wales, can be found in the table below, broken down into the categories of dismissal used within the National Offender Management Service. Lack of capacity is not one of these categories.

    Table: Headcount of Band 3 to 5 Officers Dismissed from the Public Sector Prison Service in England & Wales, 2011/12 to 2013/14

    Reason

    2011/12

    2012/12

    2013/14

    Breach of Contract

    ~

    ~

    ~

    Conduct

    80

    80

    70

    Medical Inefficiency

    170

    160

    170

    Poor Performance

    ~

    ~

    ~

    Unsatisfactory Attendance

    10

    10

    ~

    Grand Total

    260

    260

    250

    Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 in line with the department’s policy for presenting staffing data.

    ~ denotes suppressed values of 5 or fewer. Low numbers are suppressed in conjunction with the rounding policy to prevent disclosure in accordance with Data Protection Act, 1998.