Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they will ensure in their meeting of international justice ministers in March that (1) practical, and (2) financial, support is provided to ensure perpetrators of alleged war crimes against women and children in Ukraine are brought to justice.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The UK is committed to pursuing accountability for the atrocities being perpetrated by Russian forces against women and children in Ukraine. The £1 million voluntary contribution that the UK provided to the International Criminal Court (ICC) last year will contribute to enhancing capacity with respect to investigations into crimes of sexual and gender-based violence and crimes against children, led by the Prosecutors’ special adviser on crimes against and affecting children. In Ukraine, we are providing personnel from the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Team of Experts to support capacity building amongst prosecutors and the police as well as support to victims, including women and children.
On 20 March 2023, Justice Ministers from around the world will convene in London. The Justice Ministers Conference is focused on enhancing practical and technical support to the ICC for its investigation into the situation in Ukraine.
One of the thematic sessions of the Conference is focused on supporting victims and witnesses of trauma. The session will explore strengthening support for ICC investigations into sexual and gender-based violence in Ukraine, and sharing best practices to be adopted when interviewing children to avoid re-traumatisation during the evidence gathering process.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether more funding for women’s centres could be achieved by a cross departmental fund; and what plans they have, if any, to introduce such a fund.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government understands the vital role that women’s centres play in supporting women in the community with complex needs to address the underlying causes of their offending behaviour, which the report, the Value of Women’s Centres’, sets out. The MoJ is investing up to £24 million in women’s community services through grant competitions that aim to both support the sector in delivering vital services and to promote better local integration in how those services are delivered. The effectiveness of our funding for women’s community services will be evaluated and inform future funding decisions, including whether to establish a cross departmental fund.
It also remains our intention to publish a Delivery Plan for the Female Offender Strategy in the coming months. The Delivery Plan will be accompanied by an Impact Assessment that will include an estimate of the number of women that could be supported through women’s services as a result of our funding, based on the number of interventions that could be provided.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether investing in women’s centres (1) gives a good return on the investment, (2) offers better value and outcomes, and (3) reduces reoffending rates, by comparison with sending women to prison.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government understands the vital role that women’s centres play in supporting women in the community with complex needs to address the underlying causes of their offending behaviour, which the report, the Value of Women’s Centres’, sets out. The MoJ is investing up to £24 million in women’s community services through grant competitions that aim to both support the sector in delivering vital services and to promote better local integration in how those services are delivered. The effectiveness of our funding for women’s community services will be evaluated and inform future funding decisions, including whether to establish a cross departmental fund.
It also remains our intention to publish a Delivery Plan for the Female Offender Strategy in the coming months. The Delivery Plan will be accompanied by an Impact Assessment that will include an estimate of the number of women that could be supported through women’s services as a result of our funding, based on the number of interventions that could be provided.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Women in Prison report The value of Women's Centres, published in September.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government understands the vital role that women’s centres play in supporting women in the community with complex needs to address the underlying causes of their offending behaviour, which the report, the Value of Women’s Centres’, sets out. The MoJ is investing up to £24 million in women’s community services through grant competitions that aim to both support the sector in delivering vital services and to promote better local integration in how those services are delivered. The effectiveness of our funding for women’s community services will be evaluated and inform future funding decisions, including whether to establish a cross departmental fund.
It also remains our intention to publish a Delivery Plan for the Female Offender Strategy in the coming months. The Delivery Plan will be accompanied by an Impact Assessment that will include an estimate of the number of women that could be supported through women’s services as a result of our funding, based on the number of interventions that could be provided.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to implement the recommendations they outlined in The Coroner Service: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report, published on 10 September 2021 (HC 675).
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government continues to work with stakeholders to make inquests more sensitive to the needs of bereaved families, who remain at the heart of the coroner service.
We are therefore committed to implementing the six Justice Committee recommendations which we accepted in our response to its First Report on the Coroner Service. To this end, we have already included in the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 a suite of measures aimed at streamlining processes in the coroner’s courts and supporting the Chief Coroner’s post-pandemic recovery plans. A further provision makes it easier for coroner areas to merge, as recommended by the Justice Committee.
Following the recommendation that we should improve access to the Guide to Coroner Services for Bereaved People, we are assessing how best to ensure availability in light of user needs.
We are also considering ten further recommendations made to Government, as outlined in our response, and will take forward any appropriate action as soon as practicable.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Bellamy on 2 August (HL2019 and HL2022), what assessment they have made of reports that some inquests on the Isle of Wight have been unresolved for over 120 weeks; what support is being provided to any affected relatives; what steps they will take, if any, to clear this backlog; and whether such delays are consistent with their policy that the “bereaved remain at the heart of the coroner system".
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Coroner Statistics 2021: England and Wales indicate that the Isle of Wight coroner area reported 95 cases of more than 12 months’ duration at the end of 2021. However, I understand that a number of these have now concluded but a proportion of the remaining cases were opened over 120 weeks ago.
Coroners are independent judicial office holders and the way in which they conduct their investigations and inquests, including the judicial management of any backlogs, is entirely a matter for them. It would therefore be inappropriate for the Government to comment on the management of inquests in a specific coronial area. However, my officials are considering with the Chief Coroner’s Office what actions can appropriately be taken to support the Senior Coroner in this context.
For these cases, as for all other inquests, I would expect coroners and coroner’s officers to adopt best practice in its ongoing liaison with the bereaved families. This would include providing them with the Guide to Coroner Services for Bereaved People, which I mentioned in my answer to PQs HL2019 - HL2022, and which includes details of other organisations which can provide support.
In addition, the bereaved family has Interested Person status in the context of the inquest. As such, they have certain statutory rights. This includes the right to be told about the dates of hearings and to receive documents from the coroner that may be used in the inquest. They are also able to participate in the inquest by having the right to ask relevant questions of witnesses and to receive disclosure of documents and other evidence. The coroner can ask questions on their behalf to help ensure they get the answers they need.
My previous answer to PQs HL2019 - HL2022 summarised the measures being taken by coroner services across the country to ensure that the bereaved remain at the heart of the coroner system. To this end, the Chief Coroner continues to carefully monitor the national position on inquest backlogs whilst utilising feedback, including from key stakeholders, to develop training and guidance for coroners and their teams.
As I explained in my previous response, the Chief Coroner is undertaking a tour of all coroner areas in England and Wales in order to engage with them on post-pandemic recovery plans. I understand he expects to prioritise a visit the Isle of Wight coroner area by the end of this year.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the experience of families waiting for an inquest to take place; and what bereavement support they are providing to these individuals.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Coroner Statistics 2021: England and Wales, published on 12 May 2022, indicate that, on average in 2021, the time between the report of a death to the coroner and the completion of an inquest increased to 31 weeks (up from 27 weeks in 2020), although almost a third of coroner areas completed inquests within 24 weeks. Figures are also published by coroner area: for the Isle of Wight coroner area, the average time for completion of an inquest was 56 weeks (from 40 weeks in 2020).
Coroner services are locally based and funded and administered by the relevant local authorities. The Government recognises that local authorities have experienced a number of pressures as a result of the pandemic. During 2021, coroners dealt with both the impacts of the early stages of the pandemic and the ongoing effect of Covid, including a second lockdown and continued social distancing measures which, in particular, affected the ability to hold jury and other large and complex inquests.
We have provided £6.15 billion in unringfenced grant funding to local authorities in England to support the cost of pandemic pressures which could include additional costs incurred in the administration of coroner services. Funding for local authorities in Wales is a devolved matter. The Chief Coroner has issued guidance to coroners on how their services can best recover from the pandemic, including engagement with local authorities on any additional resources required. He is also undertaking a tour of all coroner areas to engage with them on their post-pandemic recovery plans.
In addition, we included a package of measures in the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 to streamline coroners’ court processes and support the coronial system with post pandemic recovery plans.
The Government’s priority is to ensure that the bereaved remain at the heart of the coroner system. In January 2020, we published a revised Guide to Coroner Services for Bereaved People which provides support and information for the bereaved about what they should expect from coroners’ investigations and inquests, and includes information on sources of bereavement support. The Guide is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-coroner-services-and-coroner-investigations-a-short-guide.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average time it takes from death to holding an inquest, where necessary.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Coroner Statistics 2021: England and Wales, published on 12 May 2022, indicate that, on average in 2021, the time between the report of a death to the coroner and the completion of an inquest increased to 31 weeks (up from 27 weeks in 2020), although almost a third of coroner areas completed inquests within 24 weeks. Figures are also published by coroner area: for the Isle of Wight coroner area, the average time for completion of an inquest was 56 weeks (from 40 weeks in 2020).
Coroner services are locally based and funded and administered by the relevant local authorities. The Government recognises that local authorities have experienced a number of pressures as a result of the pandemic. During 2021, coroners dealt with both the impacts of the early stages of the pandemic and the ongoing effect of Covid, including a second lockdown and continued social distancing measures which, in particular, affected the ability to hold jury and other large and complex inquests.
We have provided £6.15 billion in unringfenced grant funding to local authorities in England to support the cost of pandemic pressures which could include additional costs incurred in the administration of coroner services. Funding for local authorities in Wales is a devolved matter. The Chief Coroner has issued guidance to coroners on how their services can best recover from the pandemic, including engagement with local authorities on any additional resources required. He is also undertaking a tour of all coroner areas to engage with them on their post-pandemic recovery plans.
In addition, we included a package of measures in the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 to streamline coroners’ court processes and support the coronial system with post pandemic recovery plans.
The Government’s priority is to ensure that the bereaved remain at the heart of the coroner system. In January 2020, we published a revised Guide to Coroner Services for Bereaved People which provides support and information for the bereaved about what they should expect from coroners’ investigations and inquests, and includes information on sources of bereavement support. The Guide is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-coroner-services-and-coroner-investigations-a-short-guide.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is a backlog for inquests in the Isle of Wight; and if so, what steps they are taking to clear that backlog.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Coroner Statistics 2021: England and Wales, published on 12 May 2022, indicate that, on average in 2021, the time between the report of a death to the coroner and the completion of an inquest increased to 31 weeks (up from 27 weeks in 2020), although almost a third of coroner areas completed inquests within 24 weeks. Figures are also published by coroner area: for the Isle of Wight coroner area, the average time for completion of an inquest was 56 weeks (from 40 weeks in 2020).
Coroner services are locally based and funded and administered by the relevant local authorities. The Government recognises that local authorities have experienced a number of pressures as a result of the pandemic. During 2021, coroners dealt with both the impacts of the early stages of the pandemic and the ongoing effect of Covid, including a second lockdown and continued social distancing measures which, in particular, affected the ability to hold jury and other large and complex inquests.
We have provided £6.15 billion in unringfenced grant funding to local authorities in England to support the cost of pandemic pressures which could include additional costs incurred in the administration of coroner services. Funding for local authorities in Wales is a devolved matter. The Chief Coroner has issued guidance to coroners on how their services can best recover from the pandemic, including engagement with local authorities on any additional resources required. He is also undertaking a tour of all coroner areas to engage with them on their post-pandemic recovery plans.
In addition, we included a package of measures in the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 to streamline coroners’ court processes and support the coronial system with post pandemic recovery plans.
The Government’s priority is to ensure that the bereaved remain at the heart of the coroner system. In January 2020, we published a revised Guide to Coroner Services for Bereaved People which provides support and information for the bereaved about what they should expect from coroners’ investigations and inquests, and includes information on sources of bereavement support. The Guide is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-coroner-services-and-coroner-investigations-a-short-guide.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is a backlog for holding inquests as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and if so, how this varies across the regions of the country.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Coroner Statistics 2021: England and Wales, published on 12 May 2022, indicate that, on average in 2021, the time between the report of a death to the coroner and the completion of an inquest increased to 31 weeks (up from 27 weeks in 2020), although almost a third of coroner areas completed inquests within 24 weeks. Figures are also published by coroner area: for the Isle of Wight coroner area, the average time for completion of an inquest was 56 weeks (from 40 weeks in 2020).
Coroner services are locally based and funded and administered by the relevant local authorities. The Government recognises that local authorities have experienced a number of pressures as a result of the pandemic. During 2021, coroners dealt with both the impacts of the early stages of the pandemic and the ongoing effect of Covid, including a second lockdown and continued social distancing measures which, in particular, affected the ability to hold jury and other large and complex inquests.
We have provided £6.15 billion in unringfenced grant funding to local authorities in England to support the cost of pandemic pressures which could include additional costs incurred in the administration of coroner services. Funding for local authorities in Wales is a devolved matter. The Chief Coroner has issued guidance to coroners on how their services can best recover from the pandemic, including engagement with local authorities on any additional resources required. He is also undertaking a tour of all coroner areas to engage with them on their post-pandemic recovery plans.
In addition, we included a package of measures in the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 to streamline coroners’ court processes and support the coronial system with post pandemic recovery plans.
The Government’s priority is to ensure that the bereaved remain at the heart of the coroner system. In January 2020, we published a revised Guide to Coroner Services for Bereaved People which provides support and information for the bereaved about what they should expect from coroners’ investigations and inquests, and includes information on sources of bereavement support. The Guide is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-coroner-services-and-coroner-investigations-a-short-guide.