The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Attorney General, when the next inspection of the Services Prosecuting Authority is planned by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.
Oliver Heald
There are currently no plans for HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate to carry out an inspection of the Service Prosecution Authority
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many assets of criminal origin have been repatriated from the UK to jurisdictions overseas in each year since 2008-09.
Karen Bradley
The Serious and Organised Crime Strategy sets out how the Government intends to
improve the tackling of criminal finances both in the UK and overseas. This
includes developing asset sharing agreements with other countries in order to
improve international co-operation on asset recovery. Although no assets have
been repatriated to another country since 2008-09, there are a number of ongoing
investigations, particularly as part of the Arab Spring Asset Recovery
Taskforce, about which it is not possible to comment further at this stage.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Attorney General, how many and what value of asset freezing orders have been enforced in the UK at the request of overseas jurisdictions in each year since 2008-09.
Oliver Heald
The number and estimated value of restraint orders obtained by the CPS and SFO pursuant to requests from overseas jurisdictions since 2008/09 are shown in the tables below.
The value of restrained assets may vary over time due to changes in asset valuations , exchange rates and payments of expenses.
Crown Prosecution Service
|
Year |
Number of overseas restraint orders |
Estimated amount preserved (to nearest 000) |
|
2008/09 |
16 |
£60,504,000 |
|
2009/10 |
15 |
£11,006,000 |
|
2010/11 |
7 |
£2,693,000 |
|
2011/12 |
2 |
£50,074,000 |
|
2012/13 |
6 |
£4,080,000 |
|
2013/14 |
3 |
£409,000 |
Serious Fraud Office
|
Year |
Number of overseas restraint orders |
Estimated amount preserved (to nearest 000) |
|
2008/09 |
2 |
£1,000,000 |
|
2009/10 |
3 |
£69,500,000 |
|
2010/11 |
2 |
£1,500,000 |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to ensure that victims of female genital mutilation whose cases go to trial have access to the full range of support and special measures that are available to victims of other sexual offences.
Oliver Heald
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recognises that appropriate support is vital to ensure that victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) are able to give their evidence effectively in court. The CPS legal guidance advises prosecutors that in all cases of FGM they must ensure that the complainant is aware of the special measures that can be applied for at court, and that applications are made in time. For all child witnesses there is a presumption that they will give their evidence in chief by recorded interview and any further evidence by live link unless the court is satisfied that this will not improve the quality of the child’s evidence. Adult victims of FGM are also eligible for special measures on the grounds that they are likely to be intimidated witnesses in relation to testifying at court. However it is a matter for the court to grant the application.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Attorney General, for how many cases the Serious Fraud Office has sought additional funding from the Exchequer in the last two years; and on how many occasions such funding was granted (a) in part and (b) in full.
Oliver Heald
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has sought additional funding in relation to three cases in the last two years, and this was granted in full on each occasion.
Some additional funding has also been provided in relation to other matters as set out in the recent report of the Justice Committee on the SFO’s Supplementary Estimate for 2013-14.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jake Berry on 2014-03-25.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many cases of child benefit fraud his Department is investigating.
Nicky Morgan
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) approach to Child Benefit error and fraud is to verify all new claims and, on a risk basis, to check existing claims for incorrect information against data from other systems. Where HMRC consider that a claim may not be correct, they open an enquiry. Where the enquiry determines that the claim is incorrect, the claim or part of the claim is terminated.
Child Benefit compliance enquires are carried out continually throughout the year and as at 31 March 2014, HMRC had 3565 ongoing cases.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cathy Jamieson on 2014-03-25.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have utilised their full tax-free ISA allowance in each of the last three years in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) each parliamentary constituency.
Mr David Gauke
Until 1 July 2014 there are two allowances for ISAs: a cash and an overall allowance. This answer assumes you are asking about the overall allowance.
The following table contains the number of individuals who made full use of their (£10,680) ISA allowance in 2011-12 in the UK and in Scotland.
|
Country |
Number of individuals (thousands) |
|
Scotland |
73 |
|
United Kingdom |
1,005 |
A breakdown for 2012-13 and 2013-14 is not yet available. Constituency-level statistics are not available.
As announced at Budget 2014, from 1 July 2014 the overall annual New ISA subscription limit will be increased to £15,000 and can be used for either cash or stocks and shares investments, or any combination of the two, up to this limit.
This measure will reduce income tax on savings for people constrained by the current limits, improving incentives to save and increasing real household disposable incomes. Over 6 million people are expected to benefit from these increases, including over 5 million adults expected to be constrained by the cash ISA limit.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of local authorities which registered for emergency financial assistance under the Bellwin Scheme as a result of recent flooding have received payment within 15 working days.
Brandon Lewis
[Holding Reply: Monday 31 March 2014]
Bellwin provides emergency financial assistance to local authorities to help them meet uninsurable costs they incur when responding to a major emergency in their area. The level of funding over time is casually linked to the scale of flooding or other emergency. It operates by local authorities retrospectively claiming spending back.
As at 27 March 2014, only five local authorities have submitted Bellwin claims in respect of the recent flooding. One of these claims was paid within 15 days. The other four claims have only been received in the last few days and should also be paid within 15 days. Local authorities have until the end of June 2014 to apply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr David Nuttall on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual saving to the defence budget will be from the disbandment of the Second Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
Mr Mark Francois
The annual cost of a Regiment will depend on that Regiment’s size, role and manpower mix and will comprise a combination of personnel, training, infrastructure and equipment. This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However, based on manpower capitation rates, the average annual cost of a Light Infantry Battalion is in the region of £27.5 million.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Julian Huppert on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library a copy of the report, The medical implications of vehicle-mounted water cannon with special reference to the Ziegler Wasserwerfer 9000 (WaWe 9) system, published by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in 2013.
Damian Green
The Home Secretary has now received the request to authorise water cannon for
use by the police in England and Wales. She is considering this request and
will announce her decision in due course and lay the relevant information in
the House Library.