Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the time taken to bring forward legislation to amend the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 on the enforcement sector.
Answered by Mike Freer
On 17 July 2023, following a review of the fees that enforcement agents and High Court Enforcement Officers can recover when using the taking control of goods procedure, we announced that we intended to amend the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 to uplift such fees by 5%. We also announced that we would consult on reforms that aimed to encourage earlier and cheaper settlement of debt. We said that we would implement any reforms and the fee uplifts at the same time, in order to balance the need to ensure that there is a sustainable enforcement industry with making sure that those facing enforcement action are treated fairly. That consultation closed on 6 December 2023.
We received detailed feedback from a wide range of stakeholders and the Enforcement Conduct Board have been consulted. A response to the consultation will be published and a timetable for implementation will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will make an assessment with the Enforcement Conduct Board of the potential merits of introducing regulatory changes relating to the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 separately to implementing the uplift to the fees recoverable for (a) High Court and (b) non-High Court enforcement.
Answered by Mike Freer
On 17 July 2023, following a review of the fees that enforcement agents and High Court Enforcement Officers can recover when using the taking control of goods procedure, we announced that we intended to amend the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 to uplift such fees by 5%. We also announced that we would consult on reforms that aimed to encourage earlier and cheaper settlement of debt. We said that we would implement any reforms and the fee uplifts at the same time, in order to balance the need to ensure that there is a sustainable enforcement industry with making sure that those facing enforcement action are treated fairly. That consultation closed on 6 December 2023.
We received detailed feedback from a wide range of stakeholders and the Enforcement Conduct Board have been consulted. A response to the consultation will be published and a timetable for implementation will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his planned timetable is for bringing forward legislative proposals to amend the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014.
Answered by Mike Freer
On 17 July 2023, following a review of the fees that enforcement agents and High Court Enforcement Officers can recover when using the taking control of goods procedure, we announced that we intended to amend the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 to uplift such fees by 5%. We also announced that we would consult on reforms that aimed to encourage earlier and cheaper settlement of debt. We said that we would implement any reforms and the fee uplifts at the same time, in order to balance the need to ensure that there is a sustainable enforcement industry with making sure that those facing enforcement action are treated fairly. That consultation closed on 6 December 2023.
We received detailed feedback from a wide range of stakeholders and the Enforcement Conduct Board have been consulted. A response to the consultation will be published and a timetable for implementation will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment they have made of the impact of the UK's departure from the EU on their ability to deliver successful policy outcomes.
Answered by Mike Freer
Leaving the EU has provided the UK with the freedom to conceive and implement laws and policies that put the UK first. At the start of this year, the Government set out its plans to maximise the benefits of Brexit across each major sector of the economy and transform the UK into the best regulated country in the world.
Leaving the EU has also meant that the UK is free to pursue its own independent trade policy and trade agreements. The Ministry of Justice represents the UK legal sector’s interests overseas by improving and maintaining market access for UK lawyers practicing internationally by securing legal services provisions in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). Since leaving the EU we have secured legal services provisions in a number of FTAs including with Australia and New Zealand. We will continue to seek world leading provisions on legal services in ongoing and upcoming FTA negotiations where this will deliver benefit to the UK legal services sector.
I am also actively engaging with key stakeholders in the sector both at home and abroad, including the Law Society of England and Wales, the Law Society of Scotland, the American Bar Association, and law firms across the UK, to understand the sector’s priorities. This is to ensure that we [HMG] are working effectively with the sector to remove barriers to trade in legal services and to increase UK legal services exports globally.
The UK is a global leader in Private International Law (PIL) and outside the EU we have now regained competence in PIL matters. Private International Law arrangements support the confidence of businesses to trade and invest across borders, underpinning economic growth and access to justice.
That is why we are taking advantage of new freedoms to sign agreements and seek opportunities to strengthen arrangements with our international partners. The government has published a consultation on whether the UK should be party to the Hague 2019 convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgements and in due course we will be publishing the government response to the consultation on whether the UK should sign and ratify the 2018 Singapore Convention on Mediation to support our world-leading mediation sector.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans undertake a review the cases of prisoners serving sentences for imprisonment for public protection.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
Our primary responsibility is to protect the public. Prisoners serving IPP sentences will be released only when the independent Parole Board concludes that the risk to the public is capable of being safely managed in the community under probation supervision.
Many of these prisoners pose a high risk of committing further violent or sexual offences, and it would be wrong to simply release them en masse. For that reason, we have no plans to abolish IPP sentences or make other legislative changes.
We are committed to providing IPP prisoners with opportunities to progress to the point at which they are safe to release. Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) continue to review the cases of post tariff IPP prisoners who have failed to achieve release or progression to open prison conditions, despite two or more parole reviews, as well as those who received a tariff of 2 years or under. These Case File Reviews (CFRs) enable HMPPS Psychology Services to consult with Offender Managers in order to shape their pathway towards progression. To date, over 1,500 CFRs have taken place, with 284 IPP prisoners from this cohort having achieved release, and a further 355 a progressive move to open conditions.
The CFRs are one of the actions in the HMPPS and Parole Board Joint Action Plan, which aims to support prisoners serving IPP sentences. Through the joint Action Plan, HMPPS prioritise post-tariff prisoners in accessing rehabilitative interventions, and deliver a number of initiatives, including the establishment of Progression Regimes at four prisons across the country. Progression Regimes work with prisoners serving indeterminate sentences, who are struggling to achieve release through the usual routes.
There is clear evidence that these measures are working. IPP prisoners are being released in large numbers, and have a high chance of a positive outcome from Parole Board hearings. As of 31 December 2019, the number of unreleased IPP prisoners who have completed their minimum tariff was 1,985. This is down from 2,255 on 31 December 2018.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
What plans he has to increase the use of electronic tagging.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
I am pleased to confirm to the Hon Gentleman that my Department completed the national roll-out across England and Wales of location monitoring GPS tags for adults in September last year. They have been well received by courts as an important additional tool to manage offenders in the community.
Building on this success, in November we began the phased roll out of GPS tags to under 18s. This will complete nationally in March this year.
To tackle offending fuelled by alcohol, we are introducing sobriety tags, increasing our electronic monitoring capabilities and our ability to manage offenders in the community effectively.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on improving educational opportunities for young offenders.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have long worked collaboratively with the Department for Education (DfE) to improve educational and other rehabilitative outcomes for children in the youth justice system.
The DfE has a proactive role in the governance and delivery of many youth justice projects:
Over the longer-term, the DfE, MoJ and other government departments are reviewing the structure and governance of the youth justice system in Wales and the entire youth secure estate to improve alignment, standards and outcomes for children
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what support his Department provides to help prisoners secure employment on release.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
Since we launched our Education and Employment Strategy in May 2018, we have overhauled the prison education system, allowing governors to commission skills-based training and education that meets the needs of the local labour market and helps prison leavers into work.
We have introduced the New Futures Network, a specialist part of the Prison Service which brokers partnerships between prisons and employers in England and Wales to provide job opportunities for prisoners both in custody and on release. Additionally, we have established new rules to allow governors to get offenders out to work earlier on temporary licence. This will increase the opportunities available for prisoners to secure jobs on release and reduce their chances of reoffending.
DWP Prison Work Coaches are in place at many prisons to support prisoners into work on release and our recently published National Partnership Agreement with DWP will further strengthen our collaboration in this area.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
What plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that hon. Members are not prevented from participating in business in the House due to jury service responsibilities.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
Trial by jury is fundamental to our world leading justice system and serving as a juror is one of the most important civic duties that anyone can be asked to perform.
The Jury Manual identifies that MPs who seek excusal on the grounds of parliamentary duties should be deferred in the first instance. This allows them to identify a more convenient time and strikes a sensible balance, ensuring that MPs are able to carry out their crucial role in this place.
If an MP feels that it is inappropriate to serve in his own constituency, he or she should be allowed to serve elsewhere.
Any individual requests for jury service to be deferred would be a matter for our independent judiciary
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of New Clause 23 to the Agriculture Bill which proposes a penalty for eating dogs of imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The consumption of dog meat, animal welfare and amendments to the Agriculture Bill are matters for the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Secretary of State for Justice has not therefore discussed these issues with the Foreign Secretary.
The Ministry of Justice is responsible for general criminal law issues and has frequent discussions on these matters with other Government departments, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.