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  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many life sentence prisoners were moved into open prisons in each month between January 2010 and December 2013.

    Jeremy Wright

    Data held centrally on prisoners transferred to open prisons does not distinguish between different types of indeterminate sentenced prisoner. Indeterminate sentences include those serving mandatory, discretionary and automatic life sentences and those serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences.

    Identifying which prisoners were serving life sentences would require a manual trawl of records, which would incur disproportionate cost.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which barristers are employed by the Public Defence Service; and what day rates each such person charges.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    In a joint statement with the Bar Council, the Criminal Bar Association and the Circuit Leaders, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed that normal working relationships have been restored and there is no need to expand the PDS Advocacy Unit further.

    As at 10th July 2014, the following Barristers have commenced employment with the PDS:

    Queens Counsel

    David Aubrey QC

    Gregory Bull QC

    John Burton QC

    Alun Jenkins QC

    Andrew Lamb QC

    Stephen Leslie QC

    Michael Wood QC

    Juniors

    Lisa Hennessey

    Robin Howat

    Tom Mitchell

    Gerald Mohabir

    Emma Nott

    Simon Perkins

    Adam Roxborough

    Martin L. Sharpe

    Peter Woodall

    George Zachary

    As employed Barristers no day rates are charged for work done.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many barristers have been employed by the Public Defence Service in each month since January 2014.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    Since January 2014 the PDS has employed the following number of Barristers (Full Time Equivalent):

    January 2014

    0.5

    February 2014

    2

    March 2014

    2

    April 2014

    4.5

    May 2014

    6.5
  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much has been spent on advertising vacancies in the Public Defence Service in 2014.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    £15,494.72 has been spent on advertising vacancies within the PDS in 2014. This includes vacancies for Accredited Police Station Representatives as well as for Queens Counsel and Higher Courts Advocates.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much has been spent on the Public Defence Service in each month of 2014.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    Jan

    Feb

    Mar

    Apr

    Total Monthly Expenditure

    £174,484

    £229,646

    £362,060

    £268,849

    The rise in cost over the periods January to April is due to the recruitment of advocates in readiness for the PDS Advocacy service, and the inclusion of accruals in March for costs relating to IT enhancements and facilities management.

  • Susan Elan Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Susan Elan Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Susan Elan Jones on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make representations to RBS and all its subsidiaries on making their services available at post offices.

    Jenny Willott

    Since September 2011, the customers of RBS, Ulster Bank, and NatWest have been able to withdraw cash free of charge at all post office branches across the UK. With around 11,700 branches – more branches than all the high street banks and building societies combined – the Post Office is the largest retail network in the UK. It is also the only retail network that meets the Government’s strict access criteria that see, for example, 99% of the national population live within three miles of an outlet. With 95% of all UK debit card holders able to access cash at Post Office counters, the Post Office is in many communities the only source of free to access cash.

    The Post Office is also a major provider of personal financial services. In partnership with its banking partner, the Post Office provides a wide range of financial services including mortgages, credit cards, and savings products. The Post Office is currently trialling its own current account products.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Dudley North of 22 June 2010, Official Report, column 113W, on the Government Car and Dispatch Agency, what the (a) make, (b) model and (c) place of manufacture was of each car (i) purchased and (ii) leased by the Government Car Service since 6 May 2010; and how much each such car cost to purchase or lease.

    Stephen Hammond

    The make, model, place of manufacture and cost of purchase or lease for cars procured formerly by the Government Car and Despatch Agency and latterly by the Government Car Service since the 6 May 2010 are set out in the following table. The current Government Car Service fleet is comprised of 85 cars, reduced from 227 cars as at 31March 2010.

  • Rehman Chishti – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Rehman Chishti – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rehman Chishti on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of prospects for successful negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme.

    Hugh Robertson

    The current negotiations with Iran are the best opportunity in years to resolve the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme. Negotiations so far, which have built on the Geneva interim deal, have been constructive, but challenging: any deal will require Iran to take significant steps to address comprehensively our proliferation concerns. However, there remains commitment on all sides of the table to reach a deal.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will assess the potential effects on (a) industrial relations, (b) rail passenger services and (c) rail franchising policy of London Midland’s staffing proposals.

    Stephen Hammond

    Staffing levels are a matter for the train operator, as long as they continue to deliver services that meet the requirements of the Franchise Agreement.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will assess the potential effect on levels of passenger ticket revenue of London Midland’s proposal to reduce the number of revenue protection staff.

    Stephen Hammond

    London Midland is not currently in receipt of revenue support. Unless revenue was to fall to such an extent that they were to be eligible for such payments, the revenue during this franchise term is entirely its risk. London Midland has assured us that their staff restructuring plans will not prevent them fulfilling their obligations in meeting the requirements of the Franchise Agreement. Therefore, unless revenue was to fall to the extent that London Midland were eligible for revenue support payments, no further assessment is planned.