Asked by: Christina Rees (Labour (Co-op) - Neath)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much funding she plans to allocate from the victim services budget for 2020-21 to police and crime commissioners for restorative justice capacity building.
Answered by Phillip Lee
We have protected the overall level of funding for victims for this spending review period and have announced total funding of around £95m in 2017-18 to fund crucial support services. Police and Crime Commissioners will receive about £68m in 2017-18 to commission and/or provide the majority of emotional and practical support services for victims of crime (including restorative justice services). It will be for Police and Crime Commissioners to determine how to spend this funding within the terms of the grant agreement because they are well placed to know the needs of victims in their areas.
Asked by: Christina Rees (Labour (Co-op) - Neath)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she intends to undertake further consultation on reforming the soft tissue injury (whiplash) claims process.
Answered by Oliver Heald
The Government’s consultation, Reforming the Soft Tissue Injury (‘whiplash’) Claims Process – A Consultation on arrangements concerning personal injury claims in England and Wales, began on 17 November 2016 and closed on 6 January. The Government has undertaken to publish its response to the consultation by 7 April.
Asked by: Christina Rees (Labour (Co-op) - Neath)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many family court users represented themselves as litigants in person in each of the last five years.
Answered by Oliver Heald
This requested information is not held centrally.
Asked by: Christina Rees (Labour (Co-op) - Neath)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that victims of crime are informed of mechanisms available for restorative justice before an offender has been sentenced.
Answered by Phillip Lee
Under the revised Victims’ Code, which came into force in November 2015, victims have a right to be informed about the restorative justice services in their area at the point the crime is reported. We believe that Police and Crime Commissioners are best placed to determine how to meet the needs of victims in their local areas.
We are clear however, that more remains to be done to make sure restorative justice is understood and used appropriately.
My officials have worked closely with forces, Police and Crime Commissioners and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners to raise awareness and understanding.
Asked by: Christina Rees (Labour (Co-op) - Neath)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to ensure that restorative justice is offered to victims of crime.
Answered by Phillip Lee
Under the revised Victims’ Code, which came into force in November 2015, victims have a right to be informed about the restorative justice services in their area at the point the crime is reported. We believe that Police and Crime Commissioners are best placed to determine how to meet the needs of victims in their local areas.
We are clear however, that more remains to be done to make sure restorative justice is understood and used appropriately.
My officials have worked closely with forces, Police and Crime Commissioners and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners to raise awareness and understanding.
Asked by: Christina Rees (Labour (Co-op) - Neath)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will publish a progress report on the Ministry of Justice Action Plan on Restorative Justice.
Answered by Phillip Lee
The MoJ supports the provision of good quality, victim-focussed Restorative Justice as one of a range of measures to help victims cope and, where possible, recover from crime.
We continue to work with Police and Crime Commissioners and the Restorative Justice Council to support effective delivery of RJ services for victims and to assess progress.
We noted in our written evidence to the Justice Select Committee the good progress made against the current action plan. As my Right Honourable and Learned Friend for North Hertfordshire stated at the recent Westminster Hall Debate on Restorative Justice, we will publish the progress report in due course.
Asked by: Christina Rees (Labour (Co-op) - Neath)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what measures her Department will put in place to provide continued access to court services for people who cannot access those services online after the implementation of the proposals outlined in its Transforming our Justice System consultation paper, published in September 2016.
Answered by Oliver Heald
Access to justice is not just about proximity to a court and we are committed to providing alternative ways for our users to access our services that are more efficient and convenient for them.
As we modernise our courts and bring more services online we will replace unfamiliar legal language with more straightforward wording. This will help make our services more accessible for everyone.
All new online services will be developed to ensure users have access to facilities to assist them throughout the process. This will include; step-by-step online guidance to assist people when completing forms online, telephone support and free of charge, face to face support from an HMCTS representative. This will be available at locations across the country, including rural areas.
We want a justice system that works for everyone. That means users who are not comfortable using digital channels will be provided with an alternative and given the support they need in choosing an option which works best for them.
Crucially it will not be compulsory for the public to use digital channels.
Asked by: Christina Rees (Labour (Co-op) - Neath)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 1.5 of her Department's paper on Transforming Our Justice System, published in September 2016, what estimate she has made of the funding required to train and remunerate court staff to make judicial decisions.
Answered by Oliver Heald
HMCTS staff can already be authorised to exercise judicial powers across many jurisdictions. Often these powers form part of a wider role, and it is not possible to separate the funding required for them to make judicial decisions from the rest of their role.
An assessment of the potential costs and benefits across the jurisdictions will be published alongside any forthcoming legislation on this matter and will be subject to decisions made by relevant Procedure Rules Committees
Asked by: Christina Rees (Labour (Co-op) - Neath)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many full-time equivalent staff have been employed in county courts in each year since 2010.
Answered by Oliver Heald
Information on the number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff employed by HMCTS by jurisdiction in each of the last four years is set out in the table below. Information prior to 2013 is not held centrally.
| FTE | ||
Date | Crown | County | Magistrates’ |
31/03/2013 | 2,076 | 4,143 | 5,059 |
31/03/2014 | 2,000 | 4,141 | 4,758 |
31/03/2015 | 2,050 | 3,761 | 4,352 |
31/03/2016 | 2,133 | 3,764 | 4,065 |
Asked by: Christina Rees (Labour (Co-op) - Neath)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what funding her Department provides for dispute resolution within the justice system; what progress her Department has made in its aim to settle more disputes out of court; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Oliver Heald
The government encourages people to use mediation as a way of resolving disputes.
In civil cases, there is an expectation that parties consider alternatives to court before issuing their claim and the court may impose costs sanctions if they do not do so. Where proceedings have been issued, HM Courts and Tribunals Service also offer mediation for small claims with a value under £10,000, where both parties consent.
The government remains committed to promoting family mediation, and legal aid remains available in such cases.