Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Written Statement of 21 November 2017, HCWS265, on toxicology, if he will provide legal aid to all people affected by alleged malpractice by (a) Trimega and (b) Randox Testing Services.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The Government recognises that individuals may be concerned about alleged malpractice in toxicology testing and how this may impact on any proceedings that they have been involved in.
Individuals will continue to be assessed on a case-by-case basis within the existing legislative provisions as set out in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has to bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit the squatting of premises in the commercial property sector.
Answered by Dominic Raab
We have no current plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit squatting in commercial properties. The investigation of offences committed during squatting in commercial properties is a matter for the police and, where there is sufficient evidence to justify a prosecution, it is for the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether one is required in the public interest. There have been no recent discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service about this.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Crown Prosecution Service on ensuring that prosecutions are brought against people committing crimes whilst squatting premises in the commercial property sector.
Answered by Dominic Raab
We have no current plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit squatting in commercial properties. The investigation of offences committed during squatting in commercial properties is a matter for the police and, where there is sufficient evidence to justify a prosecution, it is for the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether one is required in the public interest. There have been no recent discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service about this.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many claimants have had their tribunal appointment rescheduled due to insufficient time on the day in the last 12 months.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The number of tribunal hearings rescheduled, due to insufficient time on the day, in the last 12 months1, is 1354. This is out of 210937 cases listed, representing less than 1%.
The current average waiting time for Employment and Support Allowance appeals is 17.7 weeks2.
Information on the current average waiting time for rescheduled tribunal hearings is not held centrally.
1 Last 12 months for which data are available, in line with published statistics: July 16 to June 17
2 The most recent period for which data are available, the first quarter of the financial year April 2017 to June 2017
Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the current average waiting time is for an employment and support allowance tribunal appointment.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The number of tribunal hearings rescheduled, due to insufficient time on the day, in the last 12 months1, is 1354. This is out of 210937 cases listed, representing less than 1%.
The current average waiting time for Employment and Support Allowance appeals is 17.7 weeks2.
Information on the current average waiting time for rescheduled tribunal hearings is not held centrally.
1 Last 12 months for which data are available, in line with published statistics: July 16 to June 17
2 The most recent period for which data are available, the first quarter of the financial year April 2017 to June 2017
Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the current average waiting time is for rescheduled tribunal appointments.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The number of tribunal hearings rescheduled, due to insufficient time on the day, in the last 12 months1, is 1354. This is out of 210937 cases listed, representing less than 1%.
The current average waiting time for Employment and Support Allowance appeals is 17.7 weeks2.
Information on the current average waiting time for rescheduled tribunal hearings is not held centrally.
1 Last 12 months for which data are available, in line with published statistics: July 16 to June 17
2 The most recent period for which data are available, the first quarter of the financial year April 2017 to June 2017
Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to bring forward legislation on victims' rights to make clear what level of service they should expect from the police.
Answered by Phillip Lee
On 18 January the previous government announced that it would set out a strategy for victims of crime within 12 months, and that it would take the appropriate action to give effect to the strategy, including bringing forward any appropriate legislation.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley of 15 February 2017 on section 67 of the Serious Crime Act 2015.
Answered by Oliver Heald
A reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley of 15 February 2017 was sent on 30 March 2017.
The Government has repeatedly made clear that it is committed to commencing section 67 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 and the new offence will come into effect on 3 April 2017.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to her Answer to the Topical Question from the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley of 7 March 2017, Official Report, if she will provide a timescale for when she plans to commence Section 67 of the Serious Crime Act 2015.
Answered by Oliver Heald
The Government has repeatedly made clear that it is committed to commencing section 67 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 and will do so imminently.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many unpaid internships there are in her Department.
Answered by Phillip Lee
The MoJ does not offer any unpaid Internships.