Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, how much his Department spends on on communications staff on average each year.
Answered by Alex Chalk
On average the department spends £348,089.16 on communications staff. We have 7 staff dedicated to communications all of which are full time employees.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, how much her Department spends on communications staff on average each year.
Answered by Alex Chalk
On average the department spends £348,089.16 on communications staff. We have 7 staff dedicated to communications all of which are full time employees.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, how many communications staff in her Department are employed (a) full time, (b) part time and (c) under flexible working arrangements.
Answered by Alex Chalk
On average the department spends £348,089.16 on communications staff. We have 7 staff dedicated to communications all of which are full time employees.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2020 to Question 128184 on Immigration: Prosecutions, if she will publish the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the Crown Prosecution Service and Home Office Immigration Enforcement in 2016.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Home Office Immigration Enforcement in 2016 will be published on the CPS website in January 2021. In the meantime, I will ensure that a copy is placed in the House library.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, how many prosecutions there have been under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 in each of the last 10 years; and how many of those prosecutions related to having control of a vessel on the sea.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the number of offences in which a prosecution commenced, including the offences charged by way of the Immigration Act 1971.
During the last 10 years, up to the end of March 2020, the number of offences charged by way of section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971 is as follows:
| Immigration Act 1971 { 25(1) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(2) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(A)(1) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(B)(1) } |
2010-2011 | 397 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
2011-2012 | 390 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
2012-2013 | 430 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
2013-2014 | 311 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
2014-2015 | 382 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2015-2016 | 321 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
2016-2017 | 440 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
2017-2018 | 330 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
2018-2019 | 295 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
2019-2020 | 273 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System | ||||
There is no indication of the number of individual defendants prosecuted for these offences or the final outcome of the prosecution proceeding or if the charged offence was the substantive charge at the time of finalisation. It is often the case that defendants will be prosecuted for more than one offence in the same set of proceedings.
It is not possible to separately report whether any offences involved the use or control of a vessel at sea other than by manually examining case files at disproportionate cost.
The Law Officers have not issued any guidance, advice or instructions to Crown Prosecution Service lawyers on prosecutions under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 in the last 18 months. However, the CPS has clear and published policy guidance on the prosecution of immigration offences, which reflects the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the CPS and Home Office Immigration Enforcement in 2016. This establishes the agreed approach and public interest factors which prosecutors must consider when reviewing immigration cases. No further recent guidance has been issued to Crown Prosecutors on section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971.
Neither the Attorney General's Office nor the CPS have received representations from the Home Office on prosecutions under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 in the last 18 months. The joint approach between the CPS and Immigration Enforcement is to consider prosecution under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 for anyone who has been involved in organising and planning the offences.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what representations (a) her Department and (b) the CPS has received from the Home Office on prosecutions under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 in the last 18 months.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the number of offences in which a prosecution commenced, including the offences charged by way of the Immigration Act 1971.
During the last 10 years, up to the end of March 2020, the number of offences charged by way of section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971 is as follows:
| Immigration Act 1971 { 25(1) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(2) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(A)(1) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(B)(1) } |
2010-2011 | 397 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
2011-2012 | 390 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
2012-2013 | 430 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
2013-2014 | 311 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
2014-2015 | 382 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2015-2016 | 321 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
2016-2017 | 440 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
2017-2018 | 330 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
2018-2019 | 295 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
2019-2020 | 273 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System | ||||
There is no indication of the number of individual defendants prosecuted for these offences or the final outcome of the prosecution proceeding or if the charged offence was the substantive charge at the time of finalisation. It is often the case that defendants will be prosecuted for more than one offence in the same set of proceedings.
It is not possible to separately report whether any offences involved the use or control of a vessel at sea other than by manually examining case files at disproportionate cost.
The Law Officers have not issued any guidance, advice or instructions to Crown Prosecution Service lawyers on prosecutions under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 in the last 18 months. However, the CPS has clear and published policy guidance on the prosecution of immigration offences, which reflects the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the CPS and Home Office Immigration Enforcement in 2016. This establishes the agreed approach and public interest factors which prosecutors must consider when reviewing immigration cases. No further recent guidance has been issued to Crown Prosecutors on section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971.
Neither the Attorney General's Office nor the CPS have received representations from the Home Office on prosecutions under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 in the last 18 months. The joint approach between the CPS and Immigration Enforcement is to consider prosecution under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 for anyone who has been involved in organising and planning the offences.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, whether she has issued guidance, advice and instructions to Crown prosecution lawyers on prosecutions under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 in the last 18 months; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the number of offences in which a prosecution commenced, including the offences charged by way of the Immigration Act 1971.
During the last 10 years, up to the end of March 2020, the number of offences charged by way of section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971 is as follows:
| Immigration Act 1971 { 25(1) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(2) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(A)(1) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(B)(1) } |
2010-2011 | 397 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
2011-2012 | 390 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
2012-2013 | 430 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
2013-2014 | 311 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
2014-2015 | 382 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2015-2016 | 321 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
2016-2017 | 440 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
2017-2018 | 330 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
2018-2019 | 295 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
2019-2020 | 273 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System | ||||
There is no indication of the number of individual defendants prosecuted for these offences or the final outcome of the prosecution proceeding or if the charged offence was the substantive charge at the time of finalisation. It is often the case that defendants will be prosecuted for more than one offence in the same set of proceedings.
It is not possible to separately report whether any offences involved the use or control of a vessel at sea other than by manually examining case files at disproportionate cost.
The Law Officers have not issued any guidance, advice or instructions to Crown Prosecution Service lawyers on prosecutions under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 in the last 18 months. However, the CPS has clear and published policy guidance on the prosecution of immigration offences, which reflects the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the CPS and Home Office Immigration Enforcement in 2016. This establishes the agreed approach and public interest factors which prosecutors must consider when reviewing immigration cases. No further recent guidance has been issued to Crown Prosecutors on section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971.
Neither the Attorney General's Office nor the CPS have received representations from the Home Office on prosecutions under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 in the last 18 months. The joint approach between the CPS and Immigration Enforcement is to consider prosecution under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 for anyone who has been involved in organising and planning the offences.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what was the cost was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) the Attorney General's Office, (ii) the Crown Prosecution Service, (iii) the Government Legal Department and (iv) the Serious Fraud Office in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The cost of electricity and natural gas used by the Attorney General’s Office and the Law Officers Departments (CPS, SFO, GLD and HMCPSI) is published in the CPS annual report (page 12) which can be found here.
The costs are also shown below.
Financial Year | Electricity Spend (£) | Gas Spend (£) |
2015-16 | 1,080,192 | 113,302 |
2016-17 | 1,008,263 | 96,623 |
2017-18 | 968,829 | 83,167 |
It is not possible to break these figures down any further without incurring disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what the quantity was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) the Attorney General's Office, (ii) the Crown Prosecution Service, (iii) the Government Legal Department and (iv) the Serious Fraud Office in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The quantity of electricity and natural gas used by the Attorney General’s Office and the Law Officers Departments (CPS, SFO, GLD and HMCPSI) is published in the CPS annual report (page 12) and can be found here.
The figures are also shown below.
(MWh) Megawatt hours | |||
FY | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 |
Electricity | 7,844 | 5,412 | 6,993 |
Gas | 3,115 | 3,579 | 5,586 |
It is not possible to break these figures down any further without incurring disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what steps the CPS has taken as a result of the BBC Panorama programme, Undercover: Britain's Immigration Secrets of 4 September 2017.
Answered by Robert Buckland
Sussex Police have sought early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), South East Area, in respect of possible criminal offences. The CPS has received some documentation and had a meeting with the officer in charge of the investigation in February 2018.
The police investigation is still ongoing and CPS will only be in a position to provide advice regarding charging or otherwise once all the papers are received.