Tag: Philip Davies

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2015-12-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average number of prisoners is per cell in (a) male and (b) female prisons.

Andrew Selous

As at Friday 27^th November 2015 the average number of prisoners per occupied cell in both male and female prisons is one.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-01-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on contingency plans for power cuts; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom

My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has met with my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to discuss contingency plans for disruption of critical services, including power. She has also attended COBR, to take part in discussions that include ensuring an effective strategic response to energy disruptions following recent storms.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff in his Department and non-departmental public bodies receive (a) home to work travel allowance, (b) a car allowance and (c) subsidised health insurance.

Jane Ellison

The Department and its non-Departmental public bodies (NDPBs) can confirm that the numbers of employees receiving: a) home to work travel allowance; b) a car allowance; and c) subsidised health insurance are as follows:

Subsidised health insurance relates to optical and dental services that form part of the terms and conditions of employment by former employees of the Health Development Authority when they joined the NICE.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-02-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in which circumstances magistrates are required to send cases to the Crown Court in cases in which their sentencing powers would be sufficient to deal with the cases in their court.

Mr Shailesh Vara

There are a range of circumstances which would require magistrates to send cases within their sentencing powers to the Crown Court for trial including those involving indictable-only offences; or where the offence concerned is linked to one or more other offences which must be tried in the Crown Court; or where the defendant elects for a jury trial; or, in youth cases, where the offence involves an adult co-defendant who must be tried in the Crown Court.

In accordance with the Allocation Guideline issued by the independent Sentencing Council, magistrates should take account of any potential mitigation and guilty plea, which would bring a case within their jurisdiction. Where they are uncertain about the adequacy of their powers, they should retain a case and commit for sentence if they later take the view that it falls outside their sentencing powers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-03-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department’s tobacco control plan will include future innovations in nicotine delivery.

Jane Ellison

Supporting smokers to quit successfully is an important part of reducing the prevalence of smoking in England today. We know that a large number of smokers have and continue to use nicotine delivery devices to support their quit attempts.

We will consult a range of stakeholders to consider how the use of these products fits with overall tobacco policy as we start to develop the new tobacco control plan.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-03-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to her speech of 18 November 2015, at the Institution of Civil Engineers, when her Department plans to publish the terms of reference and timescales for the consultation on closing all unabated coal-fired power stations.

Andrea Leadsom

My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in her speech that the Department will be launching a consultation in the spring, and that remains the intention.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-04-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what type of (a) indictable and (b) violence against the person offences were committed by offenders who participated in an out-of-court restorative justice resolution in the last year for which information is available.

Mike Penning

The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

It is vital that victims see swift and certain justice delivered to their offender. It is also vital that victims of crime get the help they need to cope with, and recover from, crime.

That is why we have protected the victims’ budget and given Police and Crime Commissioners greater flexibility to decide which services are needed in their local area. Restorative Justice can be a part of a wide range of services offered to victims of crime, and we are providing advice and guidance to help Police and Crime Commissioners deliver it.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-05-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the maximum sentence is a magistrate can hand down when dealing with the breach of the maximum number and length of suspended sentences after the commission of further offences where the maximum number and length of sentences are available for the new offences.

Dominic Raab

Magistrates’ courts have the power to impose a custodial sentence, whether immediate or suspended, of up to six months for a single offence, or up to 12 months where they impose consecutive sentences for one or more offences. A custodial sentence may be suspended for up to two years, and one or more community requirements may also be imposed by the court.

When dealing with a breach of a suspended sentence order, there is a statutory presumption that the custodial sentence will be given effect. The suspended custodial sentence cannot be increased: the original term is given effect either in full, or the court may set a shorter period, for example, by taking into account the extent to which the offender complied with any community requirements of the suspended sentence order.

Where there is a breach of a suspended sentence order which was imposed by the magistrates’ court and the breach is the commission of a further offence, the magistrates’ court deals with both the breach and sentencing for the further offence unless the latter merits a sentence which exceeds its powers. In these circumstance, the case would be sent to the Crown Court for sentencing of the further offence and the higher court would also deal with the breach of the suspended sentence order.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 11 May 2016 to Question 36152, which religious festivals prisoners were released on temporary licence to attend in each year since 2011.

Andrew Selous

My officials are currently working to provide the information requested. I will write to you shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-06-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when her Department plans to publish the terms of reference for its Triennial Review of the Coal Authority; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom

The next review of the Coal Authority will take place towards the end of the current Parliament at a time to be confirmed. It will be based on guidance for tailored reviews of public bodies published in March 2016 that contains the terms of reference and supersedes the Triennial Review guidance. A copy of the guidance can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tailored-reviews-of-public-bodies-guidance

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