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

    Margaret Ferrier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice of 26 January 2016, Official Report, column 129, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on lifting the one per cent public sector pay cap.

    Dominic Raab

    The Treasury sets public sector pay policy, which includes the 1% cap, in line with wider government priorities. This policy has been subject to agreement with the Prime Minister and consultation within the government at Ministerial level.

    In line with the pay freeze announced by the Government in the June Budget 2010, the pay of staff employed by the Ministry of Justice in 2011-12 and 2012-13 earning a full time equivalent of £21,000 or less received pay increases of up to £250. MoJ exited the pay freeze on 1 August 2013. Since then MOJ staff received pay awards averaging at 1% each year, in line with the Government policy.

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

    Margaret Ferrier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice of 26 January 2016, Official Report, column 129, how many staff in his Department were given an end-of-year appraisal rating of outstanding in each year since 2010.

    Dominic Raab

    The new Ministry of Justice (MoJ) appraisal system incorporates a guided distribution which sets the parameters for the number of Outstanding, performance markings. MoJ adopted a staggered approach to implementing the new cross government performance management system. Launch dates were as follows:

    • MoJ HQ, agencies Arms Length Bodies (excluding National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and National Probation Service (NPS)) – April 2013
    • NOMS – April 2014
    • NPS – June 2014

    Please note that the term Outstanding was not used across all MoJ business groups prior to the introduction of the new system.

    2010-2011

    2011-12

    2012-13

    2013-14

    2014-15

    Top Performance Management Review Markings Total

    11587

    10892

    9100

    9252

    7580

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to review his Department’s priorities in the next six months.

    Mike Penning

    My Rt Hon friend, the Secretary of State for Justice, has a clear set of priorities for the Ministry of Justice. These priorities are regularly reviewed.

  • Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in how many cases funding has been provided for the first single session of family mediation where one of the participants qualifies for legal aid in the last 12 months.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    This Government wants people to resolve disputes away from court wherever possible, including through mediation which can be less stressful and more efficient. Between 1 October 2014 and 30 September 2015, public funding was provided for the first single session of family mediation where only one of the participants was eligible for legal aid in 6,022 cases. This is the latest 12-month period for which figures are available. Public funding became available on this basis during this period, on 3 November 2014. Figures are only available for cases that have completed and for which the bill has been submitted to the Legal Aid Agency by the mediation provider.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Bridget Phillipson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will place in the Library the improvement plan developed by South Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company in response to the audit conducted by his Department.

    Andrew Selous

    The action plan developed by South Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company in response to the operational assurance audit last year is commercially sensitive.

    We hold providers rigorously to account for their performance and take action wherever they are falling short. Following an audit by the Ministry of Justice, South Yorkshire CRC has now developed an action plan. We will continue to monitor the CRC’s performance closely.

    Our probation reforms are designed to make sure almost all offenders receive support on release, including, for the first time, those sentenced to less than 12 months.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in which prisons the eight apparent homicides referred to in the Safety in Custody Statistics, England and Wales: Deaths in prison custody to December 2015; Assaults and Self-harm to September 2015, published on 28 January 2016, took place.

    Dominic Raab

    The eight apparent homicides occurred at the following prisons: HMP Dartmoor, HMP Doncaster, HMP Long Lartin, HMP Nottingham, HMP Peterborough, HMP Ranby, HMP Swaleside, HMP Wandsworth.

    The classification of these deaths remains provisional until confirmed at inquest.

  • Stephen Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Stephen Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Phillips on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2016 to Question 23485, for what reasons the information sought could only be provided at disproportionate cost; and what discussions his Department has had with other Government departments on holding this information in a way which permits its less costly provision.

    Dominic Raab

    The Ministry of Justice is one of the largest government departments and has responsibility for a number of different parts of the justice system – the courts, tribunals, prisons, legal services, youth justice, probation services, and attendance centres. The Department includes terms and conditions in its contracts that require third parties such as contracted-out services and suppliers (e.g. courier and postal services) to inform us of any data or security breaches that may have taken place. To identify any breaches involving document retention or security policies relating to confidential or secure materials by external consultants or other third parties that may have taken place would require a search across all the Department’s branches, which would incur a disproportionate cost.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the number of weapons confiscated at each UK prison for each of the last five years.

    Andrew Selous

    Data on the confiscation of all types of weapons for the period requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost. I refer the Hon Member to PQ24706, which contains data on firearms, and PQ24558, which contains data on knives.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what costs in each category of expenditure his Department incurred in relation to the proposed tender of criminal legal aid contracts.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  • Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans the Government has to contribute to the funding agreed at the Paris Climate Conference in December 2015 to assist developing countries in adapting to the effects of climate change.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The Government will provide £5.8 billion over the next five years to support developing countries in tackling climate change through the UK International Climate Fund, including at least £1.76 billion in 2020, ensuring that the UK plays its part in achieving the goal of mobilising $100 billion of climate finance a year by 2020. We plan to spend 50% of our climate finance on adaptation and 50% on mitigation.