The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Rotheram on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average cost to the (a) public purse and (b) prison service is of processing a complaint by a prisoner against a prison officer.
Jeremy Wright
The information requested is not available centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the Supreme Court’s judgment in Summers v Fairclough Homes that exaggerated or fabricated personal injury claims might be struck out in exceptional circumstances; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The Government is committed to reducing the number of fraudulent personal injury claims. To this end, we are considering what specific reforms might be appropriate.
As announced last year, we are working with stakeholders in the industry to tighten the medical evidence process so that only evidence from accredited experts can be considered, and the costs for those reports can be fixed. This will mean people can no longer profit from exaggerated or fraudulent compensation claims but victims with genuine cases can still get the help they deserve. We are introducing these reforms later in the year. We are also working to secure better data on motor accident cases, including the number of fraudulent cases.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Elfyn Llwyd on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance his Department has issued to magistrates on consideration of breach applications following the introduction of the Transforming Rehabilitation agenda in England and Wales.
Jeremy Wright
The Department has engaged regularly with the magistracy on the Transforming Rehabilitation reforms, via the National Sentencer Probation Forum and other meetings, and through the usual communication channels. Our intention is to ensure that the magistracy and sentencers more widely are fully informed of the Transforming Rehabilitation reforms and associated implications, including for breach applications. Training for the magistracy and any sentencing guidelines relating to the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 will be a matter for the independent Judicial College and the Sentencing Council respectively.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 703W, on translation services, how much was spent on interpreters in courts in each court in Lancashire in 2011, 2012 and 2013; which languages were interpreted; and how much was spent on interpreting each language.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The Department does not hold centrally all of the information that has been requested. To provide the information would incur disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adam Afriyie on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she has taken to ensure developing countries can access UK satellite technology to monitor local agricultural land and environmental risks; and if she will make a statement.
Lynne Featherstone
DFID is supporting projects that use satellite data. DFID supports the World Agroforestry Centre to use data to help monitor and assess agriculture land use and environmental risks including land degradation. DFID contributes to the UK Environment Observations Framework Coordinating Climate Observations Group which coordinates Her Majesty’s Government activities supporting the development and use of climate data, including from satellites.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the report of Parliamentary Ombudsman into the complaint raised by a constituent of the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion regarding her Department’s oversight of CDC Group Investments published in February 2014 and her letter of 19 November 2013 to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion stating that she would reply in full after the publication of the Ombudsman’s report, when she plans to make that full reply.
Justine Greening
I have replied to the Hon. Member’s latest correspondence on this issue.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many visits she made to the Jordan Valley in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.
Justine Greening
The former Secretary of State for International Development, my Rt. Hon friend the member for Sutton Coldfield, visited the Jordan Valley in 2011.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many UK construction companies are involved in development projects in the Falkland Islands.
Mr Alan Duncan
The Falkland Islands are not eligible for official development assistance and the UK Government does not fund any development projects on the Falklands.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lucas on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what projects her Department has in Lesotho.
Lynne Featherstone
Lesotho does not receive any direct development funding from the UK, but does benefit through DFID’s Southern Africa Regional programmes. UK support to Lesotho is mainly delivered through Civil Society Organisations such as Gender Links, Commonwealth Business Council and Common Ground Initiative, a joint fund with Comic Relief.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Naomi Long on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of levels of violence against women in Afghanistan.
Justine Greening
The UK Government shares the widespread concern about attacks and intimidation faced by Afghan women, including those who work to defend the rights and fundamental freedoms of others.
Eliminating violence against women and girls is a strategic priority for DFID’s work in Afghanistan and a range of programmes are being implemented to directly tackle women’s violence and support women’s empowerment.