Lord Benyon: MoJ: All Documents

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 11 Mar 2019
Children Act 1989 (Amendment) (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill [Lords]

"Does my hon. Friend’s work on the all-party group and with campaigners reveal a reluctance on this among groups of people to whom children are presented, for whatever reason? We are all familiar in our constituencies with what happens when a child is discovered to have bruising or possible signs …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 11 Feb 2019
Legislation against Female Genital Mutilation

"My hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith) is delayed elsewhere, on the Committee corridor, but I know that if he were here, he would start by paying tribute to what the Government have done so far and by echoing the dismay being expressed by all Members today …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 23 Jan 2018
Oral Answers to Questions

"Drones are one of the ways in which mobile phones are got into prisons, where they can be used for criminality alongside drugs. What measures are being taken to use technology to limit the use of mobile phones in prison?..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 24 Mar 2016
Court Closures

"If civic areas are to lose their courts as a result of this decision, does the hon. Lady agree that proper provision needs to be made, not least for video conferencing for people giving evidence? For example, local newspapers should be able to send a journalist on a particular day …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 24 Mar 2016
Court Closures

"The hon. Lady makes a powerful point that will resonate with people in a lot of villages in my constituency. The Library document states that just 15% of people in my constituency will be able to reach court by public transport in one hour, and that is of great concern …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 17 Sep 2015
Courts and Tribunal Services (England and Wales)

"About 10 years ago, sitting on the Opposition Benches, I made my stammering first attempt to entertain the House with my thoughts in my maiden speech, in which I mentioned my belief in local facilities, particularly mentioning the magistrates court in Newbury, which was under threat. I spoke—I thought eloquently, …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 17 Sep 2015
Courts and Tribunal Services (England and Wales)

"I entirely understand my hon. Friend’s point, because communities in west Berkshire will have precisely the same problem.

The courts service is run according to very strict boundaries. One does not have to go more than a mile south of Newbury before one is in Hampshire, and any cases that …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 17 Sep 2015
Courts and Tribunal Services (England and Wales)

"It really makes sense. There is a bypass around Newbury, which, as some hon. Members might remember, was quite controversial, and we also have Greenham Common and the Atomic Weapons Establishment. Magistrates, including the Prime Minister’s mother, developed a great expertise in dealing with those situations. I hope that we …..."
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Written Question

CAFCASS

Friday 5th September 2014

Asked by: Lord Benyon (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many complaints have been made against the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in the last three years; and how many such complaints have been upheld.

Answered by Simon Hughes

The following table sets out the number of complaints received by Cafcass in each of the last three years:

Financial Year	Number of complaints
2011-12	1,264
2012-13	1,496
2013-14	1,596

In 2012 Cafcass simplified their complaints process, reducing the number of stages involved from three to one and ending the classification of complaints as ‘upheld’. Figures for the number of upheld complaints during this period do not, therefore, exist. The focus of the complaints system is now on putting things right for service users while their case is ongoing so that any necessary remedial action can be taken.

The rising trend shown by the figures is, in part, a reflection of the increase in the volume of cases which Cafcass dealt with during this period. However, the main factors which have contributed to the rising trend are Cafcass’ focus on raising awareness of the complaints process for service users.