The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many magistrates sat more than 70 half days in the last year.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The latest records for the number of magistrates that sat for more than 70 half days are for 2012/13. 759 magistrates sat for more than 70 half days in that year. It may also assist if I explain that 244 of those magistrates sat on panels, such as youth, family and fine enforcement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total number of sittings was by magistrates who sat more than 70 half days in the last year.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The Department does not keep this information centrally and it could only be collected at a disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many magistrates were recruited in each of the last three years.
Mr Shailesh Vara
Magistrates are recruited locally according to the business needs of the magistrates’ courts. The number of magistrates recruited in each of the last three financial years is shown below:
2011/12 – 442
2012/13 – 414
2013/14 – 162
The downturn in recruitment of new magistrates is a natural consequence of falling workloads in the magistrates’ courts, due to factors such as falling crime. The fall in overall numbers is a consequence of the downturn in recruitment combined with the relatively steady levels of retirements and resignations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the annual cost is of the (a) administration of advisory committees, (b) HM Courts and Tribunals Service staff servicing such committees and (c) training and recruiting members of such committees.
Mr Shailesh Vara
A local advisory committee is responsible for the recruitment of magistrates in a particular area, and for advising on issues relating to the conduct of magistrates following their appointment. The work of the committee is supported by HMCTS staff but the specific costs of administration for the committee and the costs of HMCTS staff supporting its work are not available as these are not recorded separately.
The cost of training advisory committee members in the financial year 2013/14 was £17,401.45
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has issued guidance to Atos on how to prioritise work capability assessments between reassessments and new claimants for employment and support allowance.
Mike Penning
The Department does not issue guidance to Atos Healthcare on how to prioritise Work Capability Assessments.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether Atos staff have been offered any additional retention or performance-related payments since the decision to terminate the contract to carry out work capability assessments was announced.
Mike Penning
The detail of any remuneration of their own staff is an issue for Atos Healthcare and not the Department.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what funding will be provided to local authorities after June 2016 to support former Independent Living Fund users.
Mike Penning
The 2013 Spending Review announced that local authorities and the devolved administrations will be fully funded to meet their additional responsibilities towards former ILF users in 2015/16. Funding in respect of former ILF users from 2016/17 onwards will be decided in the next Spending Review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many work capability assessment reassessments were undertaken by Atos in each of the last 12 months.
Mike Penning
This information for completed functional assessments can be found in tables at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/statistics
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of recipients of the Independent Living Fund who will move into residential care following closure of the Fund.
Mike Penning
The potential implications of closing the Independent Living Fund are set out clearly in the Equality Analysis that was published on 6 March alongside the Written Ministerial Statement announcing the closure.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many work capability assessments for new claims were undertaken by Atos in each of the last 12 months.
Mike Penning
This information for completed functional assessments can be found in tables at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/statistics
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