Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of its proposals to alter the use of jury trials on defendants.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
An impact assessment will accompany our legislative measures, as is usual practice.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing turnover-based penalties for (a) systemic and (b) repeated equality breaches.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
Where a claim under the Equality Act 2010 is upheld, courts and tribunals are able to award an appropriate remedy, including compensation. The Ministry of Justice has no plans to introduce turnover-based penalties for equality breaches.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed amendments to the ECHR on the protection of individual rights.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
This Government is committed to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). However, commitment does not mean complacency, and we need to make sure the Convention evolves to face modern challenges.
We are bringing forward legislation to clarify how Article 8 ECHR (right to a private life) operates domestically in relation to immigration rules to ensure an appropriate balance between the rights of individuals and the national interest. We are also looking at the interpretation of Article 3 ECHR (prohibition against torture and inhuman and degrading treatment) so that varied prison conditions or access to healthcare are not a bar to extradition or deportation.
Our proposals are designed to strike a fair and proportionate balance between individual rights and the national interest. These changes will not weaken protections, but rather ensure that our legal framework remains robust, relevant, and trusted.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs on the standardised 21-week wait for the Information Commissioner’s Office complaints department.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
No discussions have taken place between the former Secretary of State for Justice and the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs on the standardised 21-week wait for the Information Commissioner’s Office complaints department.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs on the adequacy of the staffing of the Information Commissioner’s Office to deal with complaints.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
No discussions have taken place between the former Secretary of State for Justice and the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs regarding the adequacy of the staffing of the Information Commissioner’s Office to deal with complaints.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has had discussions with the Solicitors Regulation Authority on steps to monitor internal employment practices within regulated firms.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice has not held discussions with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) on monitoring internal employment practices within regulated firms. Regulation of the legal profession in England and Wales operates independently of government. Responsibility for regulating the sector sits with the approved regulators, overseen by the Legal Services Board (LSB), as designated under the Legal Services Act 2007.
The SRA is responsible for regulating the professional conduct of solicitors and law firms in England and Wales. Given the sector’s independence, it would not be appropriate for the Ministry of Justice to interfere with the operational matters of regulated firms. However, the Department maintains regular engagement with the SRA on strategic and policy matters affecting the legal services sector.