Tag: Philip Davies

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2015-02-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will delay the commencement of regulations on the standardised packaging of tobacco products for 12 months or until any legal challenges have been concluded.

Jane Ellison

Certain parts of the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations implement the European Tobacco Products Directive are required to be brought into force in May 2016. For those regulations that introduce further requirements, it is clear that there are benefits for business if the requirements of the Directive and the further standardised packaging requirements are implemented at the same time.

The Government will keep under close review all legal challenges that are relevant to standardised packaging of tobacco products. If legal challenges are made to the regulations, then it will promote certainty, and be better for all affected parties, that such challenges are determined in courts or tribunals as soon as possible.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the names are of all prisoners who have absconded from prison and currently not been returned; and if he will specify in each such case (a) the offence each absconder originally committed and (b) the length of custodial sentence they were serving when they absconded.

Simon Hughes

I apologise for the delay in replying. The table below provides details of index offence and length of sentence of those absconders who are unlawfully at large having absconded between April 2004 and March 2014 (the most recent period that statistics are available). Information prior to April 2004 could only be collated by performing manual checks across different databases and could only be achieved at disproportionate cost.

In order to disclose the names of absconders who are unlawfully at large, it is necessary to make appropriate checks to ensure that disclosure will not jeopardise ongoing Police operations to recapture the offender, will not place any one else in danger and to ensure that any victim has been informed of both the abscond and release of the name. These checks are still on-going and I will write shortly as soon as the information has been prepared.

The number of absconds has reduced by 80% over the last 10 years.

Table1: Index offence and sentence length of absconders unlawfully at large from April 2004 to March 2014, as at 30 September 2014

OFFENCE	SENTENCE
SUPPLYING DRUGS	3 YRS
GOING EQUIPPED TO CHEAT	2YRS
GOING EQUIPPED TO CHEAT	2YRS
POSSESS DRUGS WITH INTENT	6YRS
AGGRAVATED BURGLARY	4YRS 6MTHS
FALSE INSTRUMENTS	6MTHS
BURGLARY	18MTHS
DEATH BY RECKLESS DRIVING	4YRS
IMPORT/EXPORT DRUG	19YRS
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT THEFT	3YRS 6MTHS
IMPORT/EXPORT DRUG	9YRS
THEFT	8MTHS
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD	7YRS
IMPORT/EXPORT DRUG	12YRS
IMPORT/EXPORT DRUG	7YRS
POSSESS FIREARM WITH INTENT	78MTHS
IMPORT/EXPORT DRUG	12YRS
POSSESS OFFENSIVE WEAPON	23MTHS
BLACKMAIL	3YRS
POSSESS DRUGS WITH INTENT	3YRS 6MTHS
IMPORT/EXPORT DRUG	10YRS
CUSTOMS EVASION (DRUGS RELATED)	7YRS
FINES	6MTHS
DECEPTION	30MTHS
IMPORT/EXPORT DRUG	5YRS
CUSTOMS EVASION (DRUGS RELATED)	8YRS
ASSISTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS	54MTHS
DECEPTION	9MTHS
TRESPASS WITH INTENT	15MTHS
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT THEFT	3YRS
THEFT	15MTHS
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT THEFT	2YRS
DECEPTION	26MTHS
POSSESS OFFENSIVE WEAPON	5YRS
ASSISTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS	6YRS
DECEPTION	12MTHS
CONSPIRACY TO SUPPLY DRUGS	6YRS
POSSESS DRUGS WITH INTENT	6YRS
FALSE INSTRUMENTS	12MTHS
MANSLAUGHTER	5YRS
THEFT	Unknown
CONSPIRACY TO IMPORT DRUGS	8YRS
ROBBERY	LIFE
FALSE INSTRUMENTS	18MTHS
DECEPTION	30MTHS
THEFT	4YRS
CONTEMPT OF COURT	15MTHS
BURGLARY	6MTHS
SUPPLYING DRUGS	42MTHS
GBH	2YRS
FRAUD	5YRS
FRAUD	DETAINEE
CONSPIRACY TO SUPPLY DRUG	40MTHS
POSSESS FIREARM WITH INTENT	LIFE
BURGLARY	112DAYS
POSSESS DRUGS WITH INTENT	7YRS
GOING EQUIPPED TO STEAL	6MTHS
THEFT	2YRS
EXCESS ALCOHOL	112DAYS
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD	6YRS
ROBBERY	ISPP
POSSESS DRUGS WITH INTENT	3YRS
ROBBERY	6Y
CONPIRACY TO COMMIT BURGLARY	3 YRS 3 MTHS
POSSESS FIREARM WITH INTENT	LIFE
BURGLARY	3YRS
ARSON	ISPP
RAPE	LIFE
ROBBERY	9YRS
WOUNDING WITH INTENT	6YRS 8MTHS
ROBBERY	3YRS
GBH	8YRS
ROBBERY	ISPP
BURGLARY	32MTHS
BURGLARY	2Y 6MTHS
POSSESSION OF A FIREARM WITH INTENT	ISPP
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT BURGLARY	64MTHS

Note: Table shows absconds of prisoners and excludes absconds of immigration detainees from NOMS operated establishments and those operated as Immigration Removal Centres by NOMS under contract to the Home Office.

These figures have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2015-01-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners had reached the state pension age (a) on the latest date and (b) during the most recent year for which information is available.

Andrew Selous

The number of prisoners of state pensionable age on 30 September 2014 was 2221. In the year to 30 September 2014, 262 prisoners reached state pensionable age.

Further information can be found in the National Offender Management Service Offender Equalities Annual Report 2013/14 the link to which is below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/380129/noms-offender-equalities-annual-report-2013-14.pdf

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2015-09-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons his Department sought the deemed consent arrangements for grants from HM Treasury under Section 64 of the Health and Public Act 1968; and what the job titles are of the officials in his Department that were involved in those discussions.

Jane Ellison

The Department agreed deemed consent arrangements with HM Treasury to reduce the administrative burden, recognising that newer grant giving legislation did not require similar approvals, and to streamline the grants making process, whilst maintaining the same level of oversight and scrutiny of cases. The decision was made with the agreement of the Director of Group Finance and the Deputy Director – Voluntary Sector Grants.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people are currently employed in prisons to calculate the release date of prisoners.

Jeremy Wright

The number of staff employed in prisons specifically for the purpose of calculating release dates for prisoners is not held on central systems. To obtain the information would involve collecting data from every establishment, which would entail disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2015-01-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners are currently serving sentences in the UK that were (a) handed down by the International Criminal Court or (b) heard at the Hague.

Andrew Selous

One prisoner convicted and sentenced at The Hague by the Special Court for Sierra Leone is serving his sentence in the United Kingdom. There are no prisoners serving sentences in the UK which were handed down by the International Criminal Court.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2015-09-16.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27 July 2015 to Question 7826, what his definition is of a contentious grant; and whether any grants have come into this category since October 2014.

Greg Hands

The principles and guidance for government departments set out in Managing Public Money explain that departments need Treasury consent before undertaking expenditure. Specific Treasury approval is required for any spending outside delegated authorities or which set precedents, are novel, contentious or could cause repercussions elsewhere in the public sector. Managing Public Money does not seek to define these terms beyond their normal meaning, but does include the Treasury’s expectation (in respect of certain payments) that the responsible accounting officers would feel able to justify proposed payments in parliament if challenged.

The scheme described in response to Question 7826 was established in line with these principles.The Treasury was not asked to give specific approval to any of the grants made since 2014 under section 64 of the Health and Public Health Act 1968 mentioned in the Hon. Member’s previous question.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many DNA profiles of current prisoners have not been added to the DNA database.

Karen Bradley

The information requested is not held.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average cost per (a) prison place and (b) prisoner in each category of prison was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jeremy Wright

The Department routinely publishes average costs per prisoner and prison place, based on actual net resource expenditure for each private and public sector prison and in summary form for the whole of the prison estate in England and Wales on an annual basis after the end of each financial year. This includes a breakdown of these costs by prison category and individual prison within each category, and separately by prisoner gender.

The most recently published figures are for financial year 2012-13 which give an average annual Overall cost per place of £36,808 and average annual Overall cost per prisoner of £34,766. An average annual cost per male prisoner of £34,306 and £44,746 per female prisoner, based on Overall resource costs, is also published.

The information for financial year 2012-13 is available in the Cost per Place and Prisoner and Supplementary Information files on the Department’s website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prison-and-probation-trusts-performance-statistics-201213

Figures for 2013-14 will be published alongside the Management Information Addendums to the NOMS Annual Report and Accounts in October 2014.

Continuing to reduce prison unit costs is one of the key targets for the Department. Between 2009/10 and 2012/13 prison unit costs (based on Overall prison costs) have reduced in real terms by 16% per place and 13% per prisoner.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2015-01-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of those convicted of a knife crime offence were sentenced to prison for (a) up to six months, (b) up to and (c) over 12 months in the last 12 months.

Mike Penning

Knives on our streets are a social scourge. Unlawful possession of a knife or offensive weapon is already a serious criminal offence (which carries a maximum 4 year custodial sentence). We are building on that to send a clear and unequivocal message that those who use a knife or offensive weapon to threaten another person are behaving in a wholly unacceptable manner and can expect an automatic custodial sentence.

This Government introduced the offences of threatening with a knife or offensive weapon in public or in a school. And last year, the Government made changes to the Simple Cautions Guidance issued to police to restrict the use of cautions for certain offences, including knife possession, in all but exceptional circumstances. The Ministry of Justice is also legislating on these changes within the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, to make it absolutely clear that cautions should no longer be used for serious offences such as those involving a knife or offensive weapon.

Within the sentencing framework, it is for judges and magistrates to decide the appropriate sentence in individual cases taking account of the harm the offence caused and the culpability of the offender. Under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, there is an obligation on courts, when sentencing for offences, to follow the guidelines issued by the Sentencing Council, unless it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold information disaggregating crimes committed using a knife, as opposed to violent offences committed via other means. However, detailed figures relating to knife and offensive weapon possession are published on a quarterly basis, the latest version of which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/knife-possession-sentencing-quarterly-brief-july-to-september-2014

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