Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his Department's contract with Serco for electronic monitoring on the (a) physical and (b) mental wellbeing of people who will be monitored; and what estimate he has made of the number of people monitored under that contract.
Answered by Gareth Bacon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The priority when it comes to electronic monitoring is public protection, hence why they can be accompanied by tough curfews and exclusion zones. However, Serco’s health and safety policy ensures that the physical and mental wellbeing of those subject to electronic monitoring is also regarded. Serco will conduct wellbeing visits, direct those with an electronic monitoring requirement to organisations offering advice and support where necessary and pay due regard to an individual’s health considerations during the installation of equipment and subsequent monitoring of requirements. Serco’s approach was assessed in their tender response and their performance of this will be assessed and reviewed as part of overall contract management.
We have made sufficient funds available to increase the number of defendants and offenders subject to electronic monitoring at any one time to 25,000 by March 2025. This includes doubling the number of GPS tags available to courts for community orders and suspended sentences to support robust community sentences and supervision.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much the Common Platform (a) has already cost, and (b) is expected to cost.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 5 September 2022 to Question 42140: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on which date ministers last met with trade unions to discuss the Common Platform.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Ministers have met with staff to discuss Common Platform.
I have also met with a range of staff users in both Magistrates and Crown Courts in Manchester and Birmingham.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect of industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services union on court backlogs.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Strike action related to the rollout of the Common Platform continues, with Public and Commercial Services mandates in place across 82 Magistrates courts covering 295 legal advisers and court associates.
There have been 33 days of strike action since October 2022. Thanks to the ongoing work of HMCTS, the on-the-day impacts of these strikes have been minimal and well mitigated through case prioritisation, re-listing and use of non-striking staff to cover absences.
Despite the strikes, disposals have remained high. The magistrates’ courts averaged 103,000 disposals per month between January and September 2022. However, October saw 108,500 disposals and November saw 122,700 disposals.
The outstanding caseload in the Magistrates’ Court stood at 337,800 at the end of November 2022, compared to 348,400 the month before.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many court cases have been rescheduled due to industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services union.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice does not hold information on the number of cases that are rescheduled due to industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services Union. More general information is published on the number of trial cases that are rearranged on the day of trial (ineffective trials) in the Trial effectiveness at the criminal courts tool by reason and court type.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2021 to Question 79500 on Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre, whether (a) 30-minute appointments and (b) legal visits subsequent to a 30 minute appointment under the Detained Duty Advice Scheme in all immigration removal centres were been conducted by phone in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) operates free legal advice surgeries in IRCs in England. Individuals who are detained are entitled to receive up to 30 minutes of advice regardless of financial eligibility or the merits of their case. There is no restriction on the number of surgeries an individual may attend. If an individual who is detained requires substantive advice on a matter which is in scope of legal aid, full legal advice can be provided if the statutory legal aid means and merits criteria are met.
In order to provide access to Detention Duty Advice Scheme (DDAS) services for women held at Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) from 1 January 2022, existing providers at Yarl’s Wood IRC were invited to submit expressions of interest to provide services on a contingency basis. As a result, the following providers will be awarded rota slots at Derwentside IRC:
Provider |
All Legal Solicitors |
Caveat Solicitors Limited |
CB Legal Advisory Limited |
CK Solicitors |
Duncan Lewis & Co |
Fadiga & Co |
Immigration Advice Service |
JCWI |
Milestone Solicitors Limited |
NR Legal Solicitors Limited |
The Migrant Law Partnership |
Virgo Consultancy Services Limited |
Woolfe & Co Solicitors Ltd |
In line with Government advice on social distancing, the LAA DDAS is currently operating by phone in IRCs. Remote advice will be made available to women housed at Derwentside IRC on this basis.
In line with Government advice on social distancing, the LAA DDAS has been operating by phone in IRCs, including during the latest period for which figures are available (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2021). Any exceptions to this are at the discretion of individual IRCs, such as if there is a justifiable requirement for a provider to attend in person.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2021 to Question 79500, what plans there are for (a) 30 minute appointments and (b) legal visits subsequent to 30 minute appointments under the Detained Duty Advice Scheme to be conducted (i) in-person or (ii) remotely under the contingency arrangements at Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) operates free legal advice surgeries in IRCs in England. Individuals who are detained are entitled to receive up to 30 minutes of advice regardless of financial eligibility or the merits of their case. There is no restriction on the number of surgeries an individual may attend. If an individual who is detained requires substantive advice on a matter which is in scope of legal aid, full legal advice can be provided if the statutory legal aid means and merits criteria are met.
In order to provide access to Detention Duty Advice Scheme (DDAS) services for women held at Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) from 1 January 2022, existing providers at Yarl’s Wood IRC were invited to submit expressions of interest to provide services on a contingency basis. As a result, the following providers will be awarded rota slots at Derwentside IRC:
Provider |
All Legal Solicitors |
Caveat Solicitors Limited |
CB Legal Advisory Limited |
CK Solicitors |
Duncan Lewis & Co |
Fadiga & Co |
Immigration Advice Service |
JCWI |
Milestone Solicitors Limited |
NR Legal Solicitors Limited |
The Migrant Law Partnership |
Virgo Consultancy Services Limited |
Woolfe & Co Solicitors Ltd |
In line with Government advice on social distancing, the LAA DDAS is currently operating by phone in IRCs. Remote advice will be made available to women housed at Derwentside IRC on this basis.
In line with Government advice on social distancing, the LAA DDAS has been operating by phone in IRCs, including during the latest period for which figures are available (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2021). Any exceptions to this are at the discretion of individual IRCs, such as if there is a justifiable requirement for a provider to attend in person.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to his Answer of 29 November 2021 to Question 79500, which existing providers at Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre have expressed an interest in providing legal advice under the contingency arrangements at Derwentside IRC.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) operates free legal advice surgeries in IRCs in England. Individuals who are detained are entitled to receive up to 30 minutes of advice regardless of financial eligibility or the merits of their case. There is no restriction on the number of surgeries an individual may attend. If an individual who is detained requires substantive advice on a matter which is in scope of legal aid, full legal advice can be provided if the statutory legal aid means and merits criteria are met.
In order to provide access to Detention Duty Advice Scheme (DDAS) services for women held at Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) from 1 January 2022, existing providers at Yarl’s Wood IRC were invited to submit expressions of interest to provide services on a contingency basis. As a result, the following providers will be awarded rota slots at Derwentside IRC:
Provider |
All Legal Solicitors |
Caveat Solicitors Limited |
CB Legal Advisory Limited |
CK Solicitors |
Duncan Lewis & Co |
Fadiga & Co |
Immigration Advice Service |
JCWI |
Milestone Solicitors Limited |
NR Legal Solicitors Limited |
The Migrant Law Partnership |
Virgo Consultancy Services Limited |
Woolfe & Co Solicitors Ltd |
In line with Government advice on social distancing, the LAA DDAS is currently operating by phone in IRCs. Remote advice will be made available to women housed at Derwentside IRC on this basis.
In line with Government advice on social distancing, the LAA DDAS has been operating by phone in IRCs, including during the latest period for which figures are available (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2021). Any exceptions to this are at the discretion of individual IRCs, such as if there is a justifiable requirement for a provider to attend in person.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what contingency arrangements for legal advice provision will be put in place in response to the cancellation of the Detained Duty Advice Scheme procurement process for Derwentside immigration removal centre; which legal aid providers will be delivering advice under those contingency arrangements; and whether legal advice at Derwentside will be delivered in-person or remotely.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) operates free legal advice surgeries in Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) in England. Individuals who are detained are entitled to receive up to 30 minutes of advice regardless of financial eligibility or the merits of their case. There is no restriction on the number of surgeries an individual may attend. If an individual who is detained requires substantive advice on a matter which is in scope of legal aid, full legal advice can be provided if the statutory legal aid means and merits criteria are met.
In order to provide access to the Detention Duty Advice Scheme (DDAS) services for women held at Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) from 1 January 2022, existing Providers at Yarl’s Wood IRC will be invited to express interest in providing an additional 6 months of interim provision at Derwentside.
Under the contingency arrangements, 2 surgeries per week are planned for Derwentside DDAS. Appointments will be available as soon as women are held at the centre.
Following a change of operations in line with Government advice on social distancing, the LAA DDAS is currently operating by phone in IRCs. Detained individuals who wish to access this service are asked to advise centre staff, who will notify the duty solicitor under the scheme. The duty solicitor will contact the individual directly.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many legal advice surgeries will take place per week under the Detained Duty Advice Scheme at Derwentside immigration removal centre; and from what date those services will commence.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Applicants were notified that the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) had cancelled the procurement process for the Detained Duty Advice Scheme (DDAS) at Derwentside in its entirety on 16 November 2021.
This decision was taken as a result of receiving insufficient compliant tenders that met the minimum requirements detailed in the procurement process.
To provide access to DDAS services for Clients at Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) from 1 January 2022, the LAA will seek to continue the existing contingency arrangements, which were established on 18 August 2021 (but which have not yet been used due to the postponement of the IRC opening), for a period of 6 months (until 30 June 2022). During this time the LAA will review the volume of Clients at the IRC and how services are being delivered to inform its approach to procuring these services.
Under the contingency arrangements, 2 surgeries per week are planned for DDAS at Derwentside and appointments will be available as soon as detainees are being held there.