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  • Mark Spencer – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Mark Spencer – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Spencer on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to develop a greater level of public understanding of the legal framework for social media.

    Jeremy Wright

    While there is clearly some awareness of the legal framework applicable to social media, I nevertheless publish warnings online reminding people of their responsibilities, where appropriate. My office also on occasions sends tweets, warning social media users of the risks of being in contempt.

    As far as the criminal law is concerned, the Crown Prosecution Service has issued detailed guidelines on prosecuting cases involving communications sent via social media.

  • Huw Merriman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Huw Merriman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Huw Merriman on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Attorney General, how many times the Law Officers have referred a criminal sentence to the Court of Appeal for review because it was felt to be unduly lenient during the last twelve months.

    Jeremy Wright

    In the year to 31st December 2014, the Law Officers personally considered 469 cases and referred 128 offenders to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme. 86% of those offenders had their sentences increased, which included some of the most serious violent and sexual offences, including murder, rape and sexual assault. The full statistics for 2015 will be published early next year.

  • Rebecca Long Bailey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Rebecca Long Bailey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Attorney General, what recent steps the Crown Prosecution Service has taken to improve the conviction rate for violence against women and girls.

    Robert Buckland

    I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the oral questions from the Hon. Member for Redditch and the Hon. Member for Lincoln earlier today.

  • Debbie Abrahams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Debbie Abrahams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Debbie Abrahams on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress the Government has made on developing proposals for reform of the Human Rights Act 1998.

    Dominic Raab

    This Government will fully consult on our proposals, this session, before introducing legislation for a British Bill of Rights. Further details will be announced in due course.

  • Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects (a) all new benefit claims to be treated as claims for universal credit and (b) all existing benefit claims to be transferred to universal credit.

    Priti Patel

    Government financial forecasts published in December 2014 outlined expectations that the transition phase for all new Universal Credit (UC) benefit claims will complete by June 2018.

    The NAO Welfare Reform Report on UC outlined that the bulk of existing benefit claims will be migrated to UC by 2020 with the exception of some tax credit and employment service allowance claims which would be migrated thereafter.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2015 to Question 7643, what estimate he has made of the number of single earner married couples where the earner is a basic rate taxpayer in each parliamentary constituency.

    Priti Patel

    The information requested is not available.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish equality impact assessments for the proposals in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill.

    Priti Patel

    The Government set out its assessment of the impacts of the policies in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on 20th July. These are available on the Parliament website.

    http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/welfarereformandwork/documents.html

  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Government plans to respond to the fifth Report of the Work and Pensions Committee of Session 2014-15, Benefit sanctions policy beyond the Oakley review, HC 814.

    Priti Patel

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 July 2015 to Question 3938

  • Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people applied for mandatory reconsideration following a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) in the last 12 months; and for how many such people the WCA points score was changed.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The information as requested is not available.

    DWP statisticians are looking to include information on Mandatory Reconsiderations in existing regular statistical publications. However, before DWP is able to do this, statisticians need to make sure that the data is accurate and fit for purpose and develop a robust methodology. When a decision has been made, we will pre-announce this in accordance with the UKSA release protocols

  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Government plans to respond to the fourth Report of the Work and Pensions Committee of Session 2013-14, Support for housing costs in the reformed welfare system, HC 479.

    Justin Tomlinson

    Following the General Election the Work and Pensions Select Committee has a new membership and a new Chair. The treatment of any inquiries conducted by the Committee during the last Parliament is a matter for the new Committee to consider.