Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the oral contribution of the Leader of the House of Commons of 25 July 2019, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to increase the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We are focused on getting the law right, to ensure the changes we make are comprehensive, proportionate and, crucially, practical.
We will bring forward proposals for changes in the law to increase the maximum penalties for causing death by dangerous driving and careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs to life imprisonment, and create a new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving as soon as possible. These proposals will take account of other government proposals for safer roads.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish his response to the submissions received in his Department's Call for Evidence on the regulation of enforcement agents, which closed in February 2019.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
As set out in the Secretary of State for Justice’s Written Statement on bailiff reform made on 22 July, we will respond to the Call for Evidence following further engagement with stakeholders over the summer.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the private probation system.
Answered by Rory Stewart
Transforming Rehabilitation opened up probation to a diverse range of providers and extended support and supervision to an additional 40,000 offenders leaving prison.
The NPS is performing well in supervising higher-risk offenders. But I have been clear that the performance of CRCs needs to improve.
That is why we are ending contracts early, investing more money in Through the Gate services and continuing to consult partners and experts on how to achieve the right balance between public, private and voluntary delivery of services.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to increase the number of private prisons.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The Government is committed, as set out on the 26 June at the Justice Select Committee and in the 2017 manifesto, to building up to 10,000 modern and decent prison places to replace old, expensive and unsuitable accommodation. This was reaffirmed by the Chancellor in the 2018 Budget, committing the Government to delivering the first two new prisons at Wellingborough and Glen Parva through public capital. Funding routes will be explored, including through private investment, for the delivery of the remaining prison places. The financing models, timetable and costs for these will be dependent on the relevant value for money and affordability tests, planning permissions and commercial negotiations.
We believe in a balanced approach to custodial services provision, which includes a mix of public, voluntary and private sector involvement. This approach has been shown to work, providing excellent services for the public and value for money for taxpayers.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure access to justice for people facing disability discrimination in (a) employment and (b) education.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Government has a responsibility to make sure that those in the greatest hardship and at the times of greatest need, can secure access to justice. This is a responsibility that we take very seriously.
There are a number of avenues of dispute resolution available to individuals facing disability discrimination to try and resolve issues by agreement. These include the use of Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), judicial or other mediation.
Those facing disability discrimination in an employment or education setting may also seek redress through the tribunal system. Our £1bn court modernisation programme has already started improving the experience of those who use and need our courts and tribunals, by introducing 21st Century technology, online services and digital working, while making sure justice remains accessible. These reformed services will transform how people experience the justice system, with digital services making justice more accessible and straightforward.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time for an employment support allowance appeal hearing was in (a) Barnsley and (b) nationally in (i) each of the last 12 months and (ii) the last 12 months overall in the most recent period for which data is available.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The information requested is set out in the table below:
| Barnsley1 | United Kingdom | ||
Average Clearance Time in weeks2 | ||||
Period | ESA3 | PIP4 | ESA3 | PIP4 |
January 2017 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
February 2017 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 17 |
March 2017 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 |
April 2017 5 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 18 |
May 2017 5 | 17 | 21 | 17 | 19 |
June 2017 5 | 21 | 23 | 18 | 20 |
July 2017 5 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 21 |
August 2017 5 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 22 |
September 2017 5 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 22 |
October 2017 5 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 24 |
November 2017 5 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 25 |
December 2017 5 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 24 |
Jan-Dec 2017 5 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 20 |
1 Social Security and Child Support data are attributed to hearing venue nearest to the appellant’s home address, Barnsley data includes all cases attributed to the Barnsley Venue.
2 Average Waiting Time is interpreted as the Average Clearance Time - the time taken for appeal receipt to outcome. Includes appeals
disposed of and is inclusive of both those cleared at hearing and those cleared without the need of a tribunal hearing.
3 Includes Employment and Support Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Reassessments).
4 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) replaced Disability Living Allowance on 8 April 2013, and also includes Personal Independence Payment Clams (Reassessments).
5 Provisional data subject to change.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and are the best data available.
The data may differ slightly to that of the published statistics as these data were run on a different date.
Clearance times are dependent on several factors, such as hearing capacity at the venue closest to the appellant, or the local availability of Tribunal panel members. Other factors might include the availability of the appellant or their representative, or the provision of further evidence.
Latest figures indicate that since PIP was introduced, more than 3.1 million decisions have been made, and of these under 9% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned. For ESA the figure is only 8% of decisions made were appealed and 4% have been overturned at tribunals.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time for personal independence payment appeal hearing was in (a) Barnsley and (b) nationally in (a) Barnsley and (b) nationally in (i) each of the last 12 months and (ii) the last 12 months overall in the most recent period for which data is available.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The information requested is set out in the table below:
| Barnsley1 | United Kingdom | ||
Average Clearance Time in weeks2 | ||||
Period | ESA3 | PIP4 | ESA3 | PIP4 |
January 2017 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
February 2017 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 17 |
March 2017 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 |
April 2017 5 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 18 |
May 2017 5 | 17 | 21 | 17 | 19 |
June 2017 5 | 21 | 23 | 18 | 20 |
July 2017 5 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 21 |
August 2017 5 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 22 |
September 2017 5 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 22 |
October 2017 5 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 24 |
November 2017 5 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 25 |
December 2017 5 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 24 |
Jan-Dec 2017 5 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 20 |
1 Social Security and Child Support data are attributed to hearing venue nearest to the appellant’s home address, Barnsley data includes all cases attributed to the Barnsley Venue.
2 Average Waiting Time is interpreted as the Average Clearance Time - the time taken for appeal receipt to outcome. Includes appeals
disposed of and is inclusive of both those cleared at hearing and those cleared without the need of a tribunal hearing.
3 Includes Employment and Support Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Reassessments).
4 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) replaced Disability Living Allowance on 8 April 2013, and also includes Personal Independence Payment Clams (Reassessments).
5 Provisional data subject to change.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and are the best data available.
The data may differ slightly to that of the published statistics as these data were run on a different date.
Clearance times are dependent on several factors, such as hearing capacity at the venue closest to the appellant, or the local availability of Tribunal panel members. Other factors might include the availability of the appellant or their representative, or the provision of further evidence.
Latest figures indicate that since PIP was introduced, more than 3.1 million decisions have been made, and of these under 9% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned. For ESA the figure is only 8% of decisions made were appealed and 4% have been overturned at tribunals.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the success rate for appeals against decisions on employment and support allowance entitlement has been in Barnsley in the most recent 12-month period for which data is available.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The table below contains the requested information.
Clearances in Social Security and Child Support in Barnsley1 for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)2 and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) 3
|
| Percentage found in favour of appellant (at hearing)4 |
January - December 20175 | ESA | 65% |
PIP | 63% |
1 Social Security and Child Support data are attributed to hearing venue nearest to the appellant’s home address.
2 Includes Employment and Support Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Reassessments).
3 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) replaced Disability Living Allowance on 8 April 2013, and also includes Personal Independence Payment Clams (Reassessments).
4 Percentage found in favour of appellant, this is based on the number found in favour as a percentage of the appeals cleared at hearing, in line with the published statistics.
5 Data April 2017 to December 2017 are provisional data and subject to change.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and are the best data available.
The data are a subset of official statistics extracted from the case management system on a different date.
A combination of reasons can lead to a decision being overturned on appeal. For example, a hearing may generate additional evidence, in particular oral evidence, provided by the appellant at the hearing.
Latest figures indicate that since PIP was introduced, more than 3.1 million decisions have been made, and of these under 9% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned. For ESA the figure is only 8% of decisions made were appealed and 4% have been overturned at tribunals.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the success rate for appeals against decisions on personal independence payment entitlement has been in Barnsley in the most recent 12-month period for which data is available.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The table below contains the requested information.
Clearances in Social Security and Child Support in Barnsley1 for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)2 and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) 3
|
| Percentage found in favour of appellant (at hearing)4 |
January - December 20175 | ESA | 65% |
PIP | 63% |
1 Social Security and Child Support data are attributed to hearing venue nearest to the appellant’s home address.
2 Includes Employment and Support Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Reassessments).
3 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) replaced Disability Living Allowance on 8 April 2013, and also includes Personal Independence Payment Clams (Reassessments).
4 Percentage found in favour of appellant, this is based on the number found in favour as a percentage of the appeals cleared at hearing, in line with the published statistics.
5 Data April 2017 to December 2017 are provisional data and subject to change.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and are the best data available.
The data are a subset of official statistics extracted from the case management system on a different date.
A combination of reasons can lead to a decision being overturned on appeal. For example, a hearing may generate additional evidence, in particular oral evidence, provided by the appellant at the hearing.
Latest figures indicate that since PIP was introduced, more than 3.1 million decisions have been made, and of these under 9% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned. For ESA the figure is only 8% of decisions made were appealed and 4% have been overturned at tribunals.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many employees of his Department make use of the childcare vouchers scheme.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
As at January 2018, 2,868 employees across the Ministry of Justice make use of the departmental childcare voucher scheme.