Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with his Czech Republic counterpart on the criminal justice system in that country.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Whilst the Lord Chancellor and UK Justice Ministers regularly meet counterparts from around the world, there has been no recent bilateral meeting or discussion with the Czech Republic Justice Ministers.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to make it easier for litigants to bring civil money claims.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Government is committed to investing over £1bn to modernise the courts and tribunals system, including improvements to the civil Justice system.
The Online Civil Money Service, which went live in March 2018, is designed to offer a digital service allowing people to resolve money disputes up to £10k where a person or business owes money in a simple, accessible and proportionate way.
The public can easily and swiftly make their claim and establish clear information about what to do next at each stage. The system is designed to be clear and intuitive and to date, the overall user satisfaction rate is 89%.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many posts at which levels are vacant in the London Community Rehabilitation Company.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
Since they transitioned to new owners on 1 February 2015, Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) have been contractually required to maintain a professional and appropriately skilled workforce to deliver the services set out in their contracts. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) does not currently maintain data relating to posts and staffing levels in CRCs
CRCs are responsible for their own staff training needs, such as for managing female offenders. As part of their bids, the new owners were required to put forward plans to ensure female offenders are properly supported. Similarly, it is for CRCs to decide on appropriate job titles for their staff
The MoJ closely monitors the performance of CRCs, in line with government standards, to make sure they fulfil their contractual commitments to maintain service delivery, reduce reoffending and deliver value for money to the taxpayer.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many weeks training is provided by each community rehabilitation company to new employees who will be responsible for a caseload.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
Since they transitioned to new owners on 1 February 2015, Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) have been contractually required to maintain a professional and appropriately skilled workforce to deliver the services set out in their contracts. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) does not currently maintain data relating to posts and staffing levels in CRCs
CRCs are responsible for their own staff training needs, such as for managing female offenders. As part of their bids, the new owners were required to put forward plans to ensure female offenders are properly supported. Similarly, it is for CRCs to decide on appropriate job titles for their staff
The MoJ closely monitors the performance of CRCs, in line with government standards, to make sure they fulfil their contractual commitments to maintain service delivery, reduce reoffending and deliver value for money to the taxpayer.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance has been provided to community rehabilitation companies on job titles for employees who are not qualified probation officers who are managing offenders.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
Since they transitioned to new owners on 1 February 2015, Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) have been contractually required to maintain a professional and appropriately skilled workforce to deliver the services set out in their contracts. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) does not currently maintain data relating to posts and staffing levels in CRCs
CRCs are responsible for their own staff training needs, such as for managing female offenders. As part of their bids, the new owners were required to put forward plans to ensure female offenders are properly supported. Similarly, it is for CRCs to decide on appropriate job titles for their staff
The MoJ closely monitors the performance of CRCs, in line with government standards, to make sure they fulfil their contractual commitments to maintain service delivery, reduce reoffending and deliver value for money to the taxpayer.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what training is provided by each community rehabilitation company to new employees who will be managing female offenders.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
Since they transitioned to new owners on 1 February 2015, Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) have been contractually required to maintain a professional and appropriately skilled workforce to deliver the services set out in their contracts. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) does not currently maintain data relating to posts and staffing levels in CRCs
CRCs are responsible for their own staff training needs, such as for managing female offenders. As part of their bids, the new owners were required to put forward plans to ensure female offenders are properly supported. Similarly, it is for CRCs to decide on appropriate job titles for their staff
The MoJ closely monitors the performance of CRCs, in line with government standards, to make sure they fulfil their contractual commitments to maintain service delivery, reduce reoffending and deliver value for money to the taxpayer.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance on recruitment of officials (a) he, (b) Ministers of his Department and (c) officials of his Department (i) have issued since January 2015 and (ii) plan to issue within the next six months to Essex Community Rehabilitation Company; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
On 1 February 2015, ownership of the 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) transitioned to new providers. CRCs are now separate, private entities, contracted by the Department to provide specific services and as such are responsible for determining their budgets, staffing levels and staff salaries. As they are autonomous organisations, the MoJ no longer holds details of their budgeted annual expenditure.
In terms of staffing, while CRCs are contractually required to have sufficient suitably qualified and competent staff, they are responsible for determining their own staffing levels and recruitment. No Chief Executives and only a small number of staff at Paybands A-D left their CRC posts during January 2015 while CRCs were still under public ownership. Since 1 February 2015, staffing has been a matter for CRC owners. The Department has not issued guidance to CRCs on recruitment.
Following the transfer of ownership in February 2015, staff remuneration is now a matter for CRC providers. The salary of the Chief Executive of Essex CRC during the period 1 June 2014 to 31 January 2015 was in the range £90,000-£95,000. The governance structure of the Community Rehabilitation Companies did not include a position of Chairman during that period.
The National Probation Service (NPS) may use agency staff to fill business-critical posts and essential frontline services where they can provide a fast, flexible and efficient way to obtain necessary skills that are not currently available in-house. The Department has issued a range of guidance (for example Probation Instructions) on the use of agency staff by the National Probation Service.
Since January 2015, official discussions continue with CRCs as part of the contract management process.
Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers of his Department and (c) officials of his Department have had with the Chief Executive of the Essex Community Rehabilitation Company; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
On 1 February 2015, ownership of the 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) transitioned to new providers. CRCs are now separate, private entities, contracted by the Department to provide specific services and as such are responsible for determining their budgets, staffing levels and staff salaries. As they are autonomous organisations, the MoJ no longer holds details of their budgeted annual expenditure.
In terms of staffing, while CRCs are contractually required to have sufficient suitably qualified and competent staff, they are responsible for determining their own staffing levels and recruitment. No Chief Executives and only a small number of staff at Paybands A-D left their CRC posts during January 2015 while CRCs were still under public ownership. Since 1 February 2015, staffing has been a matter for CRC owners. The Department has not issued guidance to CRCs on recruitment.
Following the transfer of ownership in February 2015, staff remuneration is now a matter for CRC providers. The salary of the Chief Executive of Essex CRC during the period 1 June 2014 to 31 January 2015 was in the range £90,000-£95,000. The governance structure of the Community Rehabilitation Companies did not include a position of Chairman during that period.
The National Probation Service (NPS) may use agency staff to fill business-critical posts and essential frontline services where they can provide a fast, flexible and efficient way to obtain necessary skills that are not currently available in-house. The Department has issued a range of guidance (for example Probation Instructions) on the use of agency staff by the National Probation Service.
Since January 2015, official discussions continue with CRCs as part of the contract management process.
Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the salary was of the (a) Chief Executive and (b) Chairman of Essex Community Rehabilitation Company in 2014; what each such salary will be in 2015; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
On 1 February 2015, ownership of the 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) transitioned to new providers. CRCs are now separate, private entities, contracted by the Department to provide specific services and as such are responsible for determining their budgets, staffing levels and staff salaries. As they are autonomous organisations, the MoJ no longer holds details of their budgeted annual expenditure.
In terms of staffing, while CRCs are contractually required to have sufficient suitably qualified and competent staff, they are responsible for determining their own staffing levels and recruitment. No Chief Executives and only a small number of staff at Paybands A-D left their CRC posts during January 2015 while CRCs were still under public ownership. Since 1 February 2015, staffing has been a matter for CRC owners. The Department has not issued guidance to CRCs on recruitment.
Following the transfer of ownership in February 2015, staff remuneration is now a matter for CRC providers. The salary of the Chief Executive of Essex CRC during the period 1 June 2014 to 31 January 2015 was in the range £90,000-£95,000. The governance structure of the Community Rehabilitation Companies did not include a position of Chairman during that period.
The National Probation Service (NPS) may use agency staff to fill business-critical posts and essential frontline services where they can provide a fast, flexible and efficient way to obtain necessary skills that are not currently available in-house. The Department has issued a range of guidance (for example Probation Instructions) on the use of agency staff by the National Probation Service.
Since January 2015, official discussions continue with CRCs as part of the contract management process.
Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on how many safety officers are employed by Essex Community Rehabilitation Company to help (a) female and (b) male victims of domestic violence.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
On 1 February 2015, ownership of the 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) transitioned to new providers. CRCs are now separate, private entities, contracted by the Department to provide specific services and as such are responsible for determining their budgets, staffing levels and staff salaries. As they are autonomous organisations, the MoJ no longer holds details of their budgeted annual expenditure.
In terms of staffing, while CRCs are contractually required to have sufficient suitably qualified and competent staff, they are responsible for determining their own staffing levels and recruitment. No Chief Executives and only a small number of staff at Paybands A-D left their CRC posts during January 2015 while CRCs were still under public ownership. Since 1 February 2015, staffing has been a matter for CRC owners. The Department has not issued guidance to CRCs on recruitment.
Following the transfer of ownership in February 2015, staff remuneration is now a matter for CRC providers. The salary of the Chief Executive of Essex CRC during the period 1 June 2014 to 31 January 2015 was in the range £90,000-£95,000. The governance structure of the Community Rehabilitation Companies did not include a position of Chairman during that period.
The National Probation Service (NPS) may use agency staff to fill business-critical posts and essential frontline services where they can provide a fast, flexible and efficient way to obtain necessary skills that are not currently available in-house. The Department has issued a range of guidance (for example Probation Instructions) on the use of agency staff by the National Probation Service.
Since January 2015, official discussions continue with CRCs as part of the contract management process.
Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly.