Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has had discussions with representatives of the Greater Manchester Law Centre since the start of this financial year.
Answered by Mike Freer
The Secretary of State for Justice has not had discussions with representatives from the Greater Manchester Law Centre since the start of this financial year.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the impact of the delays in the Office of Public Guardian processing applications for Lasting Power of Attorney on applicants and their families.
Answered by Simon Baynes
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) understand that the delays are frustrating for customers, at a time when applicants and their families are planning for their future, which can already be distressing.
A backlog of applications to register lasting powers of attorney built up during the pandemic and, as restrictions eased, there was a subsequent significant increase in the numbers of applications being received. Customers are currently waiting up to 20 weeks for a lasting powers of attorney to be registered, which includes a four-week statutory notice period.
Lasting powers of attorney are tools for long term financial planning, however, in cases where there is an urgent need e.g. if a customer has a terminal illness, OPG do have a process for expediting the registration.
OPG is working hard to improve the service being offered to customers. Frontline operational staff have worked in the office throughout the pandemic and continue to do so, with OPG’s Birmingham office operating at maximum capacity. Staff are working day and evening shifts to maximise the use of office space. Managers are also encouraging staff to work overtime through the week and at weekends to increase the volume of lasting powers of attorney being registered. Staff are being recruited on a rolling basis and the use of agency staff is being extended.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he plans to take to tackle the recording of breastfeeding in public without consent.
Answered by Alex Chalk
This behaviour may already be captured by existing offences.
However, we are keenly aware of concerns that have been expressed over the changes in technology, including the misuse of photography, social media, imagery, and the opportunities to abuse and upset others that such developments can bring.
We have therefore asked the Law Commission to review the law in this area to ensure victims are properly protected.
It is important that any changes to the law in such sensitive areas, are thoroughly assessed and fully evidenced.
The review has looked at the question of non-consensual photography in public places, including whether recording and sharing images of breastfeeding should be captured as “intimate” imagery for the purposes of any reformed criminal law.
The Government awaits the Law Commission’s findings with interest and shall consider them carefully.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of personal independence payment decisions where claimants were awarded zero points have been overturned at independent tribunals in each of the last five years.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
This information is not held centrally.
HM Courts & Tribunals Service’s statistical records do not include information on the number of points awarded to appellants by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Tribunal outcomes including overturn rates are published at:
www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will ensure that any proposed reforms to the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, will apply equally to (a) same-sex marriages, (b) heterosexual marriages and (c) civil partnerships.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 received Royal Assent on 25 June 2020 and the Government is working to implement its provisions. When implemented, the Act will deliver important reforms to minimise the potential for conflict in the legal process for obtaining a divorce, dissolving a civil partnership or obtaining a separation order.