Asked by: Lord Lisvane (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the introduction to the latest edition of the Ministerial Code, they will amend the Prime Minister's reference to "my Ministers" to "Her Majesty's Ministers".
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
It is customary for the foreword of the Ministerial Code to be refreshed when the Code is re-issued from time to time. The current Ministerial Code was issued only recently on 27 May 2022. As such, there are no plans for a further update.
The code begins in section one with an appropriate reference to Ministers of the Crown and continues in that style.
Asked by: Lord Lisvane (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the maximum distance a defendant, solicitor or member of administrative staff might need to travel within the West Mercia Police area to attend remand cases following the relocation of all such cases to Kidderminster Magistrates Court.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie
The travel times and average mileage were thoroughly researched and taken into account when considering the centralisation of the remand courts in Kidderminster. The detail is provided in the consultation document (page 9) and the response document.
The distance and journey time of a prisoner travelling to attend the remand court from a police station in West Mercia is included in the consultation document. Travel from each of the police stations show a maximum journey time of 58.8 minutes each way (using a route planner).
In addition to the above, prisoners can be transported from anywhere in England or Wales if arrested on a warrant.
HMCTS is unable to provide a maximum travel time for solicitors since it will depend upon where they reside or are based.
There are 6 HMCTS ushers travelling to Kidderminster once or twice per week by train which is a 30-minute train journey.
Asked by: Lord Lisvane (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what account they took of (1) time, (2) travel, and (3) cost implications for defendants, solicitors and administrative staff when deciding to relocate all remand cases from the West Mercia Police area to Kidderminster.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie
The consultation for the proposed implementation of the centralised remand court began on 28th June 2017 and ended on 23rd August 2017.
A total of 62 responses were received from various bodies including defence solicitors, Magistrates, partner agencies and two Members of Parliament.
Prior to the consultation being published; the proposal to centralise the remand court was discussed at Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJBs) which are attended by all local partner agencies.
Following the public consultation that ran between June and August 2017, the local Judicial Business Group (JBG) decided to centralise hearings for all those defendants held in custody by the police for new offences or arrested on warrant for failing to appear at court.
The centralisation of these custody case hearings was principally to allow the more flexible listing of cases, to improve efficiency for victims and witnesses and to provide earlier trial dates. Trial performance information demonstrated that, prior to the new arrangements, victims and witnesses in West Mercia faced significant delays in coming to trial
As a result of the listing changes introduced, HMCTS can now provide earlier trial dates serving the needs of victims and witnesses better.
Asked by: Lord Lisvane (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation they undertook before deciding to relocate all remand cases from the West Mercia Police area to Kidderminster.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie
The method of travel and travel times and average mileage were thoroughly researched and taken into account when considering the centralisation of the remand courts in Kidderminster. The detail is provided in the consultation document (page 9) and is also discussed in the response document.
HMCTS also provided detail of the average each way journey distance for prisoners in miles, along with the time in minutes and the number of prisoners who would be required to travel to that venue from police stations.
Asked by: Lord Lisvane (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the maximum acceptable (1) distance, and (2) travel time, for witnesses and parties to get to their nearest (a) Magistrates' Court, (b) County Court, and (c) Crown Court.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie
On 18 January 2018, HM Courts & Tribunals Service published a consultation document, Fit for the future: transforming the Court and Tribunal Estate (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fit-for-the-future-transforming-the-court-and-tribunal-estate) inviting views on the proposed future strategy and approach to court and tribunal estate reform in England and Wales. The consultation contains the proposal that nearly all users should be able to attend a hearing on time and return within in a day, by public transport if necessary. The document also includes a national assessment of journey times for court users travelling to Magistrates’, County and Crown courts. The consultation is open until 29 March 2018.
Ongoing investment in the transformation and modernisation of our courts and tribunals will enable the use of technology, such as video links and online services. These will improve access to justice by reducing the need to attend court in person.
Asked by: Lord Lisvane (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the timing of their consultation on means to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic straws; and when policy proposals are expected to follow.
Answered by Lord Bates
The government’s proposed call for evidence will explore whether changes to the tax system or charges could help reduce single-use plastic waste. This will look at all single-use plastics, not just plastic straws.
The call for evidence will be launched next month. The government will outline how it plans to proceed once we have analysed the responses to this call for evidence.
Asked by: Lord Lisvane (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 15 November (HL3019) regarding the ongoing assessment of the UK's sea-based patrol capability, what assumptions have been made in relation to the total sea area that will need to be patrolled.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The responsibility for patrolling the UK’s Exclusive Economic Area (which is just under 300,000 square miles) is shared between a number of Departments, Agencies and Authorities who have different roles.
In relation to fisheries, it is also a devolved matter. In England, the Marine Management Organisation and the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities have a good understanding of the areas where fishing activity takes place and this is kept under regular review.
Asked by: Lord Lisvane (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether funding will be made available to prevent Post Office closures and to maintain the network at its present size.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Government recognises the importance of Post Offices to communities, which is why the Government committed in its manifesto to safeguard the Post Office network. Since 2010, due to the Government’s significant investment of nearly £2 billion, the network has been at its most stable for decades with over 11,600 branches.
The Government accepts that the Post Office will require additional funding in the future.
We are still in discussions on this and will make an announcement in due course.
Asked by: Lord Lisvane (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 3 November (HL2523), when the assessment of sea-based patrol capability is expected to be completed.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The assessment of the scale and volume of sea-based patrol capability required after we leave the EU is currently in its initial stages. We will be able to provide an update next year.
Asked by: Lord Lisvane (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what fishery protection vessels they plan to have in service in UK territorial waters in April 2019.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Defra is making a full assessment of the scale and volume of sea-based patrol capability required after we leave the EU with the Marine Management Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Royal Navy and other agencies.
The Government has established a Joint Maritime Operational Coordination Centre to coordinate all sea-based patrol activity across marine agencies to derive maximum surveillance benefit.