Asked by: Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the total revenue from taxation levied on e-books, digital magazines and digital newspapers in each of the last three years; and what estimate he has made of the further revenue that will accrue from the forthcoming changes to VAT place of supply rules on those products from 1 January 2015.
Answered by David Gauke
No reliable estimate has been possible for the total revenue from VAT levied on e-books in each of the last three years. HMRC estimates that additional revenues as a result of the change to the VAT place of supply rules for telecommunications, broadcasting and e-services for years 2014-15 and 2015-16 will be £70m and £300m respectively.
Asked by: Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what reports representatives of his Department have received of complaints by the residents of Sark relating to the Sark newsletter which have been lodged with the Guernsey Police; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
My Department is aware that complaints have been made to the Guernsey Police. This is an operational matter for them, and it would be inappropriate to comment further.
Asked by: Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is on use of the Welsh language in civil proceedings relating to a matter in Wales which is being heard in England; what arrangements are made for witnesses who wish to give evidence through the medium of the Welsh language in those proceedings; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
Section 22 of the Welsh Language Act states that in any legal proceedings in Wales, the Welsh language may be spoken by any party, witness or other person who desires to use it. The act does not establish the right to use Welsh in court hearings outside Wales. However, HMCTS’ Welsh Language Scheme allows judicial discretion to decide on whether evidence can be presented in Welsh for hearings taking place in England. If permission is granted HMCTS “will arrange translation facilities as readily and freely as they do in courts in Wales”.
Asked by: Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he next plans to visit (a) the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey and (b) other Crown Dependencies; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
Her Majesty’s Government values its good working relationship with the Crown Dependencies. Ministry of Justice Ministers are in regular contact with representatives of the Crown Dependencies' Governments in furtherance of maintaining that relationship.
Whilst the Justice Secretary has no current plans to visit the Crown Dependencies in the immediate future, he was able to accept an invitation to attend this year’s Tynwald Day Ceremony in the Isle of Man.
Furthermore, my noble Friend, Lord Faulks, Minister with responsibility for the Crown Dependencies, has visited the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey within the last 12 months. He met with the Isle of Man’s Chief Minister this month and plans to visit the Isle of Man in the near future.
Asked by: Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to send an observer to Sark for the Chief Pleas election on 10 December 2014.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
The decision to appoint an observer to monitor the election is a matter for The Chief Pleas, the Island's parliament. The Chief Pleas confirmed to my Department last week that they had decided to appoint an independent external election observer to report on the arrangements made for, and the conduct of, the election and make any recommendations for the conduct of future elections that they see fit.
Asked by: Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Prison Service Reserve Band 4 staff have been employed at each prison establishment in each of the last five years.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
The creation of the Prison Service Reserve was announced in June. Staff information will be published in late November, covering the period up to 30 September.
Recruitment for both the Prison Service Reserves and for permanent officers is progressing well. NOMS is currently aiming to appoint around 100 Reserves (full time equivalents), but with the flexibility to develop the Reserve as required. We will also be recruiting nearly 1,700 Prison Officers on permanent contracts between 1 January 2014 to 31 March 2015.
Asked by: Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether staff employed in the Prison Service Reserve are classed as mobile grades as defined by the Civil Service Management Code.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
Staff employed in the Prison Service Reserve are mobile as a condition of service, and can, therefore, be permanently transferred to any civil service post. All NOMS staff can be required to serve periods of detached duty. Decisions on suitability for redeployment or detached duty will take account of an employee’s individual circumstances.
Asked by: Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether staff employed in the Prison Service Reserve can be ordered to perform detached duty.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
Staff employed in the Prison Service Reserve are mobile as a condition of service, and can, therefore, be permanently transferred to any civil service post. All NOMS staff can be required to serve periods of detached duty. Decisions on suitability for redeployment or detached duty will take account of an employee’s individual circumstances.
Asked by: Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of probation staff have received training in sections 2A and 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 17 June by my predecessor as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kenilworth and Southam (Jeremy Wright) Official Report, column 584W.
Asked by: Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many restraining orders were issued by the courts under the provisions of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013; and how many of those restraining orders were (i) breached or (ii) enforced.
Answered by Mike Penning
The stalking offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, sections 2A (stalking) and 4A (stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress), have been available from 25 November 2012. The two stalking offences provide further options for prosecutors when considering charges relating to harassing behaviour. The section 2A offence has a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and/or a fine, and the section 4A offence has a maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment.
A court dealing with a person convicted of any offence, including those under sections 2, 2A, 4 or 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, may make a restraining order prohibiting the defendant from doing anything described in the order. This order can be made in addition to a custodial sentence or other sentence. The order can be especially useful in preventing continued stalking and harassment by defendants, including those who are given sentences of imprisonment. Breach of a restraining order has a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
Sentencing in individual cases is entirely a matter for our independent courts, taking account of all the circumstances of each case.
The number of restraining orders issued at all courts and those found guilty of breach of a restraining order under the Protection of Harassment Act 1997 in England and Wales from 2011 to 2013 (latest available) can be viewed in table 1.
The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' court, found guilty and sentenced at all courts, with sentencing breakdown, for selected offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, in England & Wales, from 2012 to 2013, can be viewed in table 2. The Ministry of Justice does not hold figures on cases not yet dealt with.