The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-05-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she plans to endorse the (a) commitment on explosive weapons at the World Humanitarian Summit and (b) other core commitments on protecting civilians in armed conflict.
Mr Desmond Swayne
The UK is working through the 32 Core Commitments proposed by the World Humanitarian Summit and will make a decision shortly on which we can align with.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-05-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to improve its ability to efficiently shift its involvement from providing short-term humanitarian assistance to long-term development projects in regions experiencing protracted crises.
Mr Desmond Swayne
We are increasing our capacity to deal with protracted and multiple crises. We have set up a new team to develop thinking on our overall approach to protracted crises, and are working across the department to share lessons and build on best practice.
We are also working with international partners to develop solutions for protracted crises – and more appropriate medium term financing. The UK co-hosted the “Supporting Syria and the Region” conference in London on 4 February 2016 which raised over $12bn in pledges, of which $6.1 billion has been committed for 2017-20 to enable partners to plan ahead. We are approaching the UN World Humanitarian Summit 2016 with an ambitious set of objectives to secure commitment to implementing a new approach to protracted displacement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-05-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the recommendations of the report of the Public Accounts Committee, Department for International Development: responding to crises, published on 20 April 2016, what steps she is taking to ensure that her Department improves its system of accounting for ODA spend on humanitarian emergencies.
Justine Greening
The Government will respond to the Committee’s recommendations in the usual way in a Treasury Minute which will be laid before Parliament.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-05-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much in interest was paid on legal aid repayments in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has received the following in interest repayments on outstanding civil interest bearing debt over the last ten years:
|
Financial year |
Interest Repayments (£000s) |
|
2014-15 |
6,236 |
|
2013-14 |
6,624 |
|
2012-13 |
5,985 |
|
2011-12 |
7,052 |
|
2010-11 |
5,212 |
|
2009-10 |
5,709 |
|
2008-09 |
5,615 |
|
2007-08 |
7,760 |
|
2006-07 |
9,450 |
|
2005-06 |
9,182 |
There is no interest charged on criminal debt.
The statutory charge has existed since the inception of the legal aid scheme and the Government believes it is right for those who are funded through legal aid and recover property to repay their costs. The current level of simple interest is appropriate in discouraging vexatious or unnecessary legal action and encourages early repayment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-05-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of first-time offenders (a) of each ethnic group and (b) for each offence were sentenced to immediate custody in the latest year for which figures are available.
Dominic Raab
This information is published routinely in the Criminal Justice Statistics quarterly bulletin, and can be accessed from the Offending History data tool from the following web link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-september-2015
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-05-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of (a) male and (b) female offenders were found guilty in (i) magistrates’ courts and (ii) Crown courts for each category of offence in the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The number of offenders found guilty at magistrates’ courts and in the Crown Courts, by offence category and sex, in England and Wales, in 2014 (the latest available), is available on the Ministry of Justice website at the below link, from which the percentage of male and female offender can be calculated.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2014
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-05-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the maximum sentence is a magistrate can hand down when dealing with the breach of the maximum number and length of suspended sentences after the commission of further offences where the maximum number and length of sentences are available for the new offences.
Dominic Raab
Magistrates’ courts have the power to impose a custodial sentence, whether immediate or suspended, of up to six months for a single offence, or up to 12 months where they impose consecutive sentences for one or more offences. A custodial sentence may be suspended for up to two years, and one or more community requirements may also be imposed by the court.
When dealing with a breach of a suspended sentence order, there is a statutory presumption that the custodial sentence will be given effect. The suspended custodial sentence cannot be increased: the original term is given effect either in full, or the court may set a shorter period, for example, by taking into account the extent to which the offender complied with any community requirements of the suspended sentence order.
Where there is a breach of a suspended sentence order which was imposed by the magistrates’ court and the breach is the commission of a further offence, the magistrates’ court deals with both the breach and sentencing for the further offence unless the latter merits a sentence which exceeds its powers. In these circumstance, the case would be sent to the Crown Court for sentencing of the further offence and the higher court would also deal with the breach of the suspended sentence order.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-05-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) offenders and (b) victims of each religious belief involved in religiously aggravated offences in the last 12 months.
Mike Penning
It is not possible to separately identify from the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings database the religious belief of an offender. This information can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Information on the ethnicity of victims is not held.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-05-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average length of time is from first appearance to trial in magistrates’ courts.
Mr Shailesh Vara
In 2015, of defendants whose cases were completed in the magistrates’ courts, 14% went on to have a trial after first listing. Of those cases, the mean duration from date of first listing to date of trial was 67 days and the median duration was 61 days.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-05-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average cost to the public purse was of (a) a district judge and (b) bench of magistrates hearing (i) a guilty plea case, (ii) a summary trial and (iii) an either-way trial in the last year for which figures are available.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The requested information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.