Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, who is responsible for monitoring developers when they are working in graveyards which are still consecrated ground, such as the Calderstones former hospital cemetery in Ribble Valley constituency; and if he will make an assessment of the need for a statutory body to monitor this activity.
Answered by Edward Argar
The Government has no plans to make such an assessment. The development of former burial grounds, whether or not they are consecrated, is subject to planning regulations and to any conditions placed on the granting of individual planning permissions. Relevant health and safety and environmental legislation would also apply. Monitoring compliance with these requirements is a matter for the relevant local authority in the first instance.
The disturbance of human remains in ground consecrated to the rites of the Church of England must be authorised by the Church of England. For unconsecrated ground, authorisation is required from the Secretary of State for Justice. The unauthorised disturbance of human remains is a criminal offence and, therefore, a matter for the police.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest amount paid in compensation has been for a case of repetitive strain injury in a public sector workplace.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The information requested is not held centrally.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the maximum compensation payment is under the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme for (a) loss of limb and (b) loss of life.
Answered by Phillip Lee
The Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme (the Scheme) is a government funded scheme designed to compensate victims injured in terrorist incidents outside the UK on or after 27 November 2012. The rules of the scheme and the value of the payments awarded are set by Parliament and are calculated by reference to a tariff of injuries. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) administer the Scheme on behalf of the Government and decide the amounts awarded for claims independently of ministers and Parliament.
A copy of the Scheme can be found at the link below and the tariff of injuries can be found at Annex C to the Scheme: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/243508/9780108512124.pdf
There are two categories of payments under the Scheme:
The maximum amount payable under the Scheme for
a) loss of limbs (upper or lower body) is £110,000.
b) loss of life is £11,000 for a single qualifying relative, or £5,500 each where there is more than one qualifying relative.
Where a victim has been injured, additional payments, such as loss of earnings or special expenses incurred as a direct result of the incident, may also be paid to qualifying claimants.
Where there is a loss of life additional payments, such as child payments, dependency payments and funeral payments may also be paid to qualifying relatives.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the prison population was above its operational capacity in the most recent period for which figures are available.
Answered by Andrew Selous
NOMS publishes the Prison Population and Operational Capacity figures every Friday, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prison-population-statistics
We are committed to ensuring that there are enough places for offenders sentenced to custody by the courts and in providing safe, decent and secure places for those held in custody.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people aged (a) 14 to 17 and (b) 18 to 21 have a criminal record in England.
Answered by Andrew Selous
This information is not held by the Ministry of Justice.
The Disclosure and Barring Service are responsible for managing and processing criminal record checks.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people who had been wrongfully released from English prisons were recalled in 2013.
Answered by Andrew Selous
The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. My hon friend has very recently written to me about a specific case and I will reply to him shortly.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people convicted of terrorism offences who were wrongfully released from English prisons were recalled in 2013.
Answered by Andrew Selous
Of those in prison on 1 January 2013 convicted under Terrorism Act (TACT) legislation or those who were convicted during the course of 2013 under such legislation, one prisoner was released in error. He was recaptured and brought back into custody.
NOMs formally investigates every release in error and the majority of prisoners released are quickly returned to custody to continue serving their sentence. Releases in error remain relatively rare occurrences. Less than one in 1000 releases is made in error.