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  • Margaret Ritchie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Margaret Ritchie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to consult on proposals to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998.

    Dominic Raab

    We will bring forward proposals for a Bill of Rights, which will replace the Human Rights Act. Our Bill will protect fundamental human rights, but also prevent their abuse and restore some common sense to the system. We will fully consult on our proposals before introducing legislation and will publish our proposals in due course.

  • Margaret Ritchie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Margaret Ritchie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has held with his counterparts in the devolved administrations on proposals to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998.

    Dominic Raab

    The Government has discussed human rights reform with a range of stakeholders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including ministers in the Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive.

    We will continue to engage fully with the devolved administrations as we develop our proposals.

  • David Burrowes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    David Burrowes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Burrowes on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many online sellers of knives have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted under section 141A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 for selling knives to people under 18 since that section came into force; and what sentences were handed down to people so convicted.

    Andrew Selous

    This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  • Sarah Champion – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Sarah Champion – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Champion on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of child deaths (a) by people who have been found guilty of and (b) related to domestic violence.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The family courts take the issue of domestic violence extremely seriously. The Child Arrangement Programme and Practice Direction 12J set out a strong and clear framework where domestic violence is alleged and all judges receive specific training on this framework.

    In prisons the National Offenders Management Service accredited programmes are a proven way of tackling intimate partner violence and reducing reoffending in custody and the community. All programmes are based on the latest theory base and are regularly updated to make sure they continue to be as effective as possible. Provision of these services is widely available and provides an effective response to the causes of intimate partner violence.

  • Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many claims for underpayment of the national minimum wage have been brought before employment tribunals since 1 July 2015; and how many such claims referred to underpayment of the national minimum wage for a period of more than (a) two and (b) six years.

    Andrew Selous

    The number of National Minimum Wage claims accepted by the Employment Tribunal in each of the last five years, including those accepted by the Tribunal since 1 July 2015, are published in the Tribunal and Gender Recognition Certificate Statistics Quarterly. The number of successful National Minimum Wage claims are also published in the quarterly statistics. The most recent report, for the period October to December 2015, published on 10 March 2016, can be viewed at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunal-and-gender-recognition-statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2015

    The Tribunal only records and publishes awards made to claimants in discrimination cases. The amount awarded in National Minimum Wage claims in each of the last five years can only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

    Information relating to the period of time an Employment Tribunal claim refers to underpayment of the National Minimum Wage for a period of more than (a) two and (b) six years is not recorded by the Tribunal and can only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

    “

  • Jo Stevens – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Jo Stevens – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jo Stevens on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Court of Appeal’s decision on domestic violence evidential requirements for legal aid, what interim steps his Department plans to make to allow victims of domestic violence with evidence of financial abuse access to legal aid.

    Andrew Selous

    We are pleased the court confirmed that the Lord Chancellor did have the power to set domestic violence evidence requirements. We are carefully considering the judgment as we decide how best to respond to the court’s concerns and will make a further announcement in due course.

  • Edward Garnier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Edward Garnier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Garnier on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is on (a) support for independent monitoring boards and (b) consideration of the recommendations which those boards make in their annual reports to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

    Dominic Raab

    The Independent Monitoring Boards are supported by the IMB Secretariat, which is a small team of civil servants based in the Ministry of Justice. The Secretariat staff are involved in supporting the work of IMBs, the National Council and the IMB President, mainly through providing back-office administrative support. Funding for the IMBs is made from within the MoJ budget.

    The Prisons Minister considers each report and responds directly to the Chair of the relevant Board within the agreed eight week timeframe, providing comprehensive answers to any concerns raised for the Minister or the Justice Secretary’s specific attention.

  • Edward Garnier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Edward Garnier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Garnier on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the number of times that lawyers have not been able to meet their clients in custody in England and Wales at less than 12 hours’ notice due to staff shortages, staff disputes or other administrative reasons in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many Crown or magistrates’ court hearings have been adjourned or delayed as a result in each of those years.

    Mike Penning

    The specific information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. We are committed to ensuring that prisoners have appropriate and early access to their legal representatives. Guidance to both prisons and legal practitioners on facilitating legal visits is published in Prison Service Instruction 16/2011.

  • Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the (a) effect of lower-than predicted growth rates on the Overseas Development Assistance budget and (b) implications of such rates on the budget for her Department.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The Budget document set out reductions to the Official Development Assistance budget of £650m in 2019/20 to reflect revised economic forecasts published by the Office for Budget Responsibility. As in the last Parliament, the government has and will continue to adapt spending plans to ensure the 0.7% target is met.

    The allocation of ODA will be decided by HMG in due course, in line with the UK Aid Strategy, and taking into account the relative value for money of ODA programmes and strategic fit with HMG objectives.

  • Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans the Government has to support efforts to achieve goal 6 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on water and sanitation.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    In the manifesto in April 2015 and in the UK Aid Strategy published in November 2015, we committed to help 60 million people get access to clean water and sanitation in support of goal 6 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    We will achieve this target through projects managed by our Country Offices, through projects managed from the UK and through our contributions to multilateral organisations such as the World Bank. We will continue to invest in country and regional programmes to improve water resources management, water efficiency and improve water quality, as well as drive value for money.