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  • Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Attorney General, for how many cases the Serious Fraud Office has sought additional funding from the Exchequer in the last two years; and on how many occasions such funding was granted (a) in part and (b) in full.

    Oliver Heald

    The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has sought additional funding in relation to three cases in the last two years, and this was granted in full on each occasion.

    Some additional funding has also been provided in relation to other matters as set out in the recent report of the Justice Committee on the SFO’s Supplementary Estimate for 2013-14.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to ensure that victims of female genital mutilation whose cases go to trial have access to the full range of support and special measures that are available to victims of other sexual offences.

    Oliver Heald

    The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recognises that appropriate support is vital to ensure that victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) are able to give their evidence effectively in court. The CPS legal guidance advises prosecutors that in all cases of FGM they must ensure that the complainant is aware of the special measures that can be applied for at court, and that applications are made in time. For all child witnesses there is a presumption that they will give their evidence in chief by recorded interview and any further evidence by live link unless the court is satisfied that this will not improve the quality of the child’s evidence. Adult victims of FGM are also eligible for special measures on the grounds that they are likely to be intimidated witnesses in relation to testifying at court. However it is a matter for the court to grant the application.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Attorney General, how many and what value of asset freezing orders have been enforced in the UK at the request of overseas jurisdictions in each year since 2008-09.

    Oliver Heald

    The number and estimated value of restraint orders obtained by the CPS and SFO pursuant to requests from overseas jurisdictions since 2008/09 are shown in the tables below.

    The value of restrained assets may vary over time due to changes in asset valuations , exchange rates and payments of expenses.

    Crown Prosecution Service

    Year

    Number of overseas restraint orders

    Estimated amount preserved (to nearest 000)

    2008/09

    16

    £60,504,000

    2009/10

    15

    £11,006,000

    2010/11

    7

    £2,693,000

    2011/12

    2

    £50,074,000

    2012/13

    6

    £4,080,000

    2013/14

    3

    £409,000

    Serious Fraud Office

    Year

    Number of overseas restraint orders

    Estimated amount preserved (to nearest 000)

    2008/09

    2

    £1,000,000

    2009/10

    3

    £69,500,000

    2010/11

    2

    £1,500,000
  • Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many assets of criminal origin have been repatriated from the UK to jurisdictions overseas in each year since 2008-09.

    Karen Bradley

    The Serious and Organised Crime Strategy sets out how the Government intends to
    improve the tackling of criminal finances both in the UK and overseas. This
    includes developing asset sharing agreements with other countries in order to
    improve international co-operation on asset recovery. Although no assets have
    been repatriated to another country since 2008-09, there are a number of ongoing
    investigations, particularly as part of the Arab Spring Asset Recovery
    Taskforce, about which it is not possible to comment further at this stage.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Attorney General, when the next inspection of the Services Prosecuting Authority is planned by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

    Oliver Heald

    There are currently no plans for HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate to carry out an inspection of the Service Prosecution Authority

  • Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Attorney General, if he will make it his policy to introduce the option of anonymity for victims of female genital mutilation in court trials.

    Oliver Heald

    The Crown Prosecution Service recognises that more needs to be done to encourage victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) to come forward. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has said that the introduction of anonymity for victims of FGM should be considered to encourage more victims to come forward as, given the very personal nature of the offence, very few do so. However, any change of law on anonymity is a matter for the Ministry of Justice.

  • Lord Jopling – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Lord Jopling – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jopling on 2014-03-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 24 March (WA 74), which, if any, department investigates the issues about nutrition asked about in the original question; and whether that department will answer the original question.

    Lord Freud

    The Government does not collect nutrition and health data in the way described.

  • Lord Hylton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Lord Hylton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2014-03-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 24 March (WA 74), whether they will consider monitoring the nutrition and health of children in families when benefit sanctions are imposed on a primary care-giver; and if not, why not.

    Lord Freud

    The Government does not collect nutrition and health data in the way described and has no plans to do so.

    Claimants are expected to take reasonable steps to prepare for or find work. Safeguards are in place to ensure claimants are capable of achieving these steps, that they are appropriate to helping them towards or into work. These safeguards include claimants and their advisers agreeing what the actions will be, claimants being asked to give their reason for complying with the agreed actions before a sanction is imposed, the right to request a reconsideration of a decision and to lodge an appeal with Her Majesty’s Court & Tribunal Service.

    Claimants whose benefit is sanctioned can apply for hardship payments

  • Lord Pearson of Rannoch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lord Pearson of Rannoch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 2014-03-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the Law Society’s practice note on drawing up wills which are compliant with Sharia law.

    Lord Faulks

    Sharia law has no jurisdiction in England and Wales and the Government has no intention to change this position.

    The Law Society’s practice note gives guidance to solicitors preparing wills under the law of England and Wales. It is a fundamental principle of this law that testators are, by making a valid will, able to leave their property to whomsoever they wish, subject only to the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. The practice note does not and cannot change the law.

  • Lord Avebury – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Avebury – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Avebury on 2014-03-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government by how much they expect overall alcohol consumption to rise or fall across the United Kingdom as a result of the changes in alcohol duty announced in the Budget.

    Lord Newby

    The Government expects that there will be a small increase in alcohol consumption as a result of the changes to alcohol duty announced at Budget 2014. The tables below provide estimates of changes in consumption in both percentage and volume terms for each type of alcohol consumed, relative to the previous alcohol duty rates policy.

    Estimated increase in consumption (%):

    2014-15

    2015-16

    2016-17

    2017-18

    2018-19

    Beer

    1.5%

    1.5%

    1.6%

    1.7%

    1.8%

    Spirits

    1.1%

    1.2%

    1.2%

    1.3%

    1.4%

    Alcopops

    0.1%

    0.1%

    0.1%

    0.1%

    0.2%

    Cider

    0.9%

    0.9%

    1.0%

    1.0%

    1.1%

    Wine

    0.0%

    0.0%

    0.0%

    0.0%

    0.0%

    Total

    0.8%

    0.9%

    0.9%

    0.9%

    0.9%

    Estimated increase in consumption (thousand hectolitres of alcohol):

    2014-15

    2015-16

    2016-17

    2017-18

    2018-19

    Beer

    25

    25

    26

    28

    29

    Spirits

    12

    12

    13

    14

    15

    Alcopops

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    Cider

    4

    4

    4

    5

    5

    Wine

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    Total

    40

    42

    44

    46

    48