Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of rates of pay for criminal legal aid.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
Those who undertake criminal legal aid work play an important role in our justice system. It is right that those who represent people, often at their most vulnerable, are paid appropriately for the work that they do and we continue to liaise with the legal profession on this important issue.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect on assisted prison visits of the system going online.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
‘Help with Prison Visits’ is a new digital service, launched in June 2017, that administers the Assisted Prison Visits Scheme in addition to the paper process. It has been essential to develop an alternative payment method for our most vulnerable claimants as giro cheques have been discontinued.
We have been monitoring and improving the service since it was launched and plan to evaluate implementation more fully in the New Year.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to review sentence levels for driving offences.
Answered by Dominic Raab
Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts working within the legal framework on offences and maximum penalties set by Parliament. A consultation on maximum penalties for driving offences resulting in death or serious injury, issued by the previous government, closed on 1 February 2017. I intend to make an announcement in due course.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many corporate bodies have been prosecuted under the Bribery Act 2010.
Answered by Mike Penning
The Bribery Act came into force on 1 July 2011. To date there has been one corporate prosecution.Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress has been made on establishing a bilateral prisoner transfer agreement with Indonesia.
Answered by Andrew Selous
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have shared a model prisoner transfer agreement with the Indonesian authorities. Unfortunately at present Indonesia does not have the necessary legislation in place to facilitate prisoner transfers, without which it cannot enter into prisoner transfer arrangements.
We are aware that other countries are also seeking prisoner transfer arrangements with Indonesia, and remain open to collaborating with them and with Indonesian authorities to develop their legislation.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average length of time is for appeals for those who have had their benefits sanctioned.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
The First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support), administered by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) decisions on a range of benefits.
HMCTS does not record data specifically relating to appeals against sanctions imposed by DWP and does not therefore hold the information requested.