Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, whether there is a legislative basis for the 28-day limit on appealing an unduly lenient sentence meaning something other than 28 days.
Answered by Michael Ellis
A referral to the Court of Appeal for consideration of a sentence as unduly lenient must be made within 28 days of the date of the sentence as set out in Schedule 3, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. The 28 day statutory time limit is absolute; the statute provides no power to extend the time limit or to apply for leave to refer out of time.
An unduly lenient sentence case can only be taken forward if either myself or the Attorney General has approved action (on the basis of a complete prosecution file and proper legal advice) and an application has been filed with the Court of Appeal before the expiry of the statutory 28 day deadline. Tracey Hanson emailed the Attorney General’s office, requesting a review of a potentially unduly lenient sentence. The email was received by my office at 8.41pm on the 28th day and therefore was received after the close of court business. By the time my office received the email it was impossible to act on it and it was too late to file a referral with The Court of Appeal.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what the basis was for his authority to refuse the application of Tracey Hanson in relation to a potentially unduly lenient sentence; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Michael Ellis
A referral to the Court of Appeal for consideration of a sentence as unduly lenient must be made within 28 days of the date of the sentence as set out in Schedule 3, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. The 28 day statutory time limit is absolute; the statute provides no power to extend the time limit or to apply for leave to refer out of time.
An unduly lenient sentence case can only be taken forward if either myself or the Attorney General has approved action (on the basis of a complete prosecution file and proper legal advice) and an application has been filed with the Court of Appeal before the expiry of the statutory 28 day deadline. Tracey Hanson emailed the Attorney General’s office, requesting a review of a potentially unduly lenient sentence. The email was received by my office at 8.41pm on the 28th day and therefore was received after the close of court business. By the time my office received the email it was impossible to act on it and it was too late to file a referral with The Court of Appeal.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, if he will extend the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme to include additional offences.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme is an important avenue for victims, family members and the public to ensure justice is delivered in the most serious cases.
This is why the Government has extended the scheme to cover further child sexual abuse offences, as well as some domestic abuse offences, including controlling and coercive behavior.
The remit of the scheme remains under constant review. We work closely with stakeholders to ensure it appropriately reflects the needs of victims, family members and the public.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what plans his Department has to mark International Men's Day on 19 November 2019.
Answered by Michael Ellis
As part of the Diversity and Inclusion programme of work run in the department, the AGO will be hosting an internal bake sale on International Men’s Day 2019. This event will raise awareness both of the contributions men make to society, and the challenges that they face. It will also be an opportunity for the department to raise money in support of Prostate Cancer UK.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 7 June 2018 to Question 146799 on procurement, how long that contractor has been employed by his Department at that daily rate.
Answered by Robert Buckland
With reference to the previous question 146799 the Crown Prosecution Service currently has one contractor engaged whose fees exceed £1,000. The contract commencement date was 25th May 2018 with an estimated duration of 40 days in total to be carried out on an ad-hoc basis.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2018 to Question 146172 on procurement, what the daily rate of pay is of each of those contractors who have been employed by his Department for five years or more.
Answered by Jeremy Wright
The answer of 6 June 2018 stated there were 8 contractors in the Government Legal Department (GLD) who had worked in GLD for five or more years at 30 April 2018. Their daily rates of pay are: £167.20, £254.45, £285, £369.08, £375, £380, £389.50, and £418.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what the main policy priority is for his Department for 2018; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Wright
The priorities I have set for my Department include:
Helping deliver Government policy in the context of the Law Officers’ constitutional role in relation to the Rule of Law.
Defining and delivering the Law Officers’ public interest functions in the interests of the administration of justice.
Performing a visible and effective role as a leader in the domestic and international legal community.
Sponsoring the Law Officers’ Departments and connecting the work of the prosecutors with wider criminal justice policy.
Ensuring a high performing and efficient Attorney General’s Office which meets its legal and performance obligations.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, how many contractors currently employed by his Department are paid £1,000 or more per day.
Answered by Robert Buckland
Contractors Data as of 30th May, 2018 | ||||
CPS | SFO | HMCPSI | AGO | GLD |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, how many contractors have been employed by his Department for (a) up to one year, (b) between one and five years, (c) between five and 10 years and (d) over 10 years.
Answered by Jeremy Wright
Contractors Duration Data | |||||
Duration | CPS | SFO | HMCPSI | AGO | GLD |
Up to 1 year | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Between 1-5 Years | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
Between 5 -10 Years | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Over 10 Years | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |