Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the safety of the family court estate for victims of domestic abuse during cases involving child contact.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
HMCTS takes the issue of security within its courts extremely seriously and has in place a robust security and safety system to protect all court users, and the judiciary, in every family court. Risk assessments are carried out regularly by court managers and assured by security and safety professionals to ensure adequate protection measures are in place. These measures include inter-agency agreements to ensure the safety and security of victims and witnesses when attending court, such as support and escorts into the building and - where possible - alternative entry and exit routes and separate waiting rooms.
There are also court security officers in place who have legislative powers to protect all those in the court building. Security measures include mandatory bag searches, the use of modern security searching equipment and surveillance cameras, and panic alarms in hearing rooms. Our security standards are continually reviewed to ensure they are effective, proportionate and effectively mitigate against the risks posed to court users, including victims of domestic abuse.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2016 to Question 23948, what the names are of the seven community rehabilitation companies referred to.
Answered by Andrew Selous
The information requested is commercially sensitive. It is normal Government practice not to release commercially sensitive information.
The use of action plans is part of an ongoing standard contract management process used routinely with all 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) to promptly and proactively address issues which have been identified.
We have robust contract management in place to monitor these plans, including commercial and financial specialists to ensure that providers deliver effective services and value for money. Robust performance management systems and audit arrangements are in place to manage the contracts. This approach is in line with National Audit Office contract management standards.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2016 to Question 24848, on the South Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company, what areas of that company's activities the action plan referred to covers; in what way his Department plans to monitor the implementation of that plan; and what steps his Department can take if a community rehabilitation company fails to implement such a plan in the agreed timescale.
Answered by Andrew Selous
The information requested is commercially sensitive. It is normal Government practice not to release commercially sensitive information.
The use of action plans is part of an ongoing standard contract management process used routinely with all 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) to promptly and proactively address issues which have been identified.
We have robust contract management in place to monitor these plans, including commercial and financial specialists to ensure that providers deliver effective services and value for money. Robust performance management systems and audit arrangements are in place to manage the contracts. This approach is in line with National Audit Office contract management standards.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answers of 2 February 2016 to Questions 23949 and 24848, for what reasons the action plans and operational assurance audit referred to are commercially sensitive.
Answered by Andrew Selous
The MoJ determines that information is commercially sensitive including when documents contain information that if released, would be likely to prejudice someone’s commercial interests. The Ministry of Justice has robust contract management processes aligned with National Audit Office Guidelines and will manage the plan strictly in accordance with the contract.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2016 to Question 21777, if he will publish or summarise the outcome of the operational assurance audit of Northumbria Community Rehabilitation Company completed in June 2015 and any remedial actions required as a result of that audit.
Answered by Andrew Selous
Northumbria Community Rehabilitation Company has put in place an action plan to remedy shortcomings identified. We monitor the performance of all Community Rehabilitation Companies closely, to make sure they fulfil their contractual commitments to maintain service delivery, reduce reoffending, protect the public and deliver value for money to the tax payer. Operational assurance audit results are commercially sensitive, so will not be published.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2016 to Question 22251, which (a) community rehabilitation companies have been issued with informal remedial action plans and (b) companies contracted to run probation services have failed an audit in each year since 2010; and what remedial action was required in each such case.
Answered by Andrew Selous
We hold providers rigorously to account for their performance and take action wherever they are falling short.
Following operational assurance audits by the MoJ, seven CRCs have developed action plans. We will continue to monitor CRC performance closely. No CRC has been put on a formal Remedial Plan.
Our probation reforms are designed to make sure that almost all offenders receive support on release, including, for the first time, those sentenced to less than 12 months.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will place in the Library the improvement plan developed by South Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company in response to the audit conducted by his Department.
Answered by Andrew Selous
The action plan developed by South Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company in response to the operational assurance audit last year is commercially sensitive.
We hold providers rigorously to account for their performance and take action wherever they are falling short. Following an audit by the Ministry of Justice, South Yorkshire CRC has now developed an action plan. We will continue to monitor the CRC’s performance closely.
Our probation reforms are designed to make sure almost all offenders receive support on release, including, for the first time, those sentenced to less than 12 months.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department last audited the management of Northumbria Probation Service by Sodexo.
Answered by Andrew Selous
We regularly review the operations of each Community Rehabilitation Company to make sure they fulfil their contractual commitments to maintain service delivery, reduce reoffending, protect the public and deliver value for money to the taxpayer. An operational assurance audit of Northumbria Community Rehabilitation Company was completed in June 2015.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which community rehabilitation companies have been placed on a formal remedial plan under their contract in each year since 2010; and what the outcome of those plans was in each case.
Answered by Andrew Selous
We monitor the performance of Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) closely, to make sure they fulfil their contractual commitments to maintain service delivery, reduce reoffending, protect the public and deliver value for money to the taxpayer. No CRC has been placed on a formal Remedial Plan under the contract.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if the Minister for Courts and Legal Aid will visit Sunderland Court with the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South and Sunderland Central.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
I will seek an opportunity to discuss these important issues at a mutually convenient time and location.