Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - North West Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost of extending legal aid to EEA and Swiss nationals to enable them to apply for rights to enter and remain in the UK after the transition period.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
The legal aid scheme is designed to target legal aid at those who need it most. Publicly-funded immigration legal advice is available to particularly vulnerable individuals such as victims of modern slavery. Legal aid may also be available through the Exceptional Case Funding scheme, subject to the relevant criteria being met.
Therefore, no estimate has been made as to the cost of extending legal aid to EEA and Swiss nationals to apply for rights to enter and remain in the UK after the transition period.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - North West Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to strengthen non-molestation orders to require a police response to evidence of breaches.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Non-molestation orders are important civil orders designed to protect victims of domestic abuse. If the perpetrator breaches an order without reasonable excuse, they will have committed a criminal offence.
We are continuously working to improve the police response to domestic abuse, including recruiting 20,000 additional police officers, delivering more training on domestic abuse to frontline officers and investing in better equipment to strengthen evidence gathering.
The Domestic Abuse Bill, reintroduced on March 3rd, also includes a provision for a new Domestic Abuse Protection Order, which will bring together the strongest elements of the existing protective order regime into a single comprehensive and flexible order.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - North West Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
If he will commission an independent inquiry into the physical and sexual abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
This is a highly emotive issue and I understand how difficult it must be for the survivors of abuse and their families.
These matters remain the subject of a criminal investigation and legal action in the civil courts. Therefore, it would be inappropriate at present to commission an inquiry.