Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the financial impact of the ending of the DVLA contract with post offices of those businesses.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Post Office Ltd currently provides a limited range of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) services and an extension to the current contract has been agreed, ensuring that DVLA services will be available at post offices until the end of March 2024.
The DVLA wants its customers to be able to access its services as quickly and as easily as possible and the role of front office counter services will form part of the considerations of future service offerings, utilising government agreements if necessary.
The Department for Transport and DVLA are unable to comment on the financial position of post offices.
Asked by: Gary Streeter (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of implications for her policies of the Post Office Ltd policy to reclassify some main post office branches as Local Plus; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
While publicly owned, the Post Office operates at arm’s length from Government. Government sets the high-level parameters for the Post Office, but it is the Post Office Chief Executive, together with the Board of Directors, who are responsible for running Post Office day-to-day and the company has the commercial freedom to deliver the branch network within the parameters set by Government.
Government continues to protect the branch network by setting minimum access criteria, and protects services by setting minimum services to be provided at post offices across the country. Decisions about individual branches are made by Post Office Limited.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what were the overseas operational theatres in respect of which the UK has made payments as a result of (1) civilian death or injury, or (2) property damage, since 1 January 2003.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The first payments were made by the Area Claims Office in Iraq in June 2003.
The overseas operational theatres concerned were Iraq and Afghanistan.
There are two categories of claims for compensation - Category 1 those brought before the UK Courts and handled by officials in the MOD and Category 2 those handled by the Area Claims Offices staffed by UK personnel based in the overseas operational theatre.
Iraq
Category 1 - civil litigation
(1) Compensation payments have been made on 738 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury.
(2) In terms of property claims, no payments have been made
Category 2 - Area Claims Office - Iraq
Information has been extracted from the register that was compiled by staff in the Area Claims Office in Iraq who held the post between 2003 and 2009. Compensation payments have been made on over 1,000 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury and or property.
Afghanistan
Category 1 - civil litigation
(1) Compensation payments have been made on 17 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury.
(2) Compensation payments have been made on 1 individual claim in respect of property damage since 1 January 2003.
Category 2 - Area Claims Office Afghanistan
Information has been extracted from the register that was compiled by the staff in the Area Claims Office in Afghanistan who held the post between 2006 and 2014. Compensation payments have been made on over 4,000 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury and or property.
In respect of civilian death or injury £27.3 million has been paid relating to claims brought in the UK and £2,245 in respect of property damage claims. These payments include Human Rights Act elements.
Some £7.3 million has been made in ex gratia payments for civilian death or injury and property damage by the Area Claims Offices in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The lowest payment for (a) civilian death or injury is $50 paid by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan and the lowest payment for (b) property damage is $10.27 paid by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan.
The highest individual payment for civilian injury or death is £1.5 million and includes ongoing annual periodic payments.
The highest payment for property damage is $232,400 by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government when, since 1 January 2003, the UK first made a payment in response to (1) civilian death or injury, or (2) property damage, resulting from overseas operations.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The first payments were made by the Area Claims Office in Iraq in June 2003.
The overseas operational theatres concerned were Iraq and Afghanistan.
There are two categories of claims for compensation - Category 1 those brought before the UK Courts and handled by officials in the MOD and Category 2 those handled by the Area Claims Offices staffed by UK personnel based in the overseas operational theatre.
Iraq
Category 1 - civil litigation
(1) Compensation payments have been made on 738 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury.
(2) In terms of property claims, no payments have been made
Category 2 - Area Claims Office - Iraq
Information has been extracted from the register that was compiled by staff in the Area Claims Office in Iraq who held the post between 2003 and 2009. Compensation payments have been made on over 1,000 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury and or property.
Afghanistan
Category 1 - civil litigation
(1) Compensation payments have been made on 17 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury.
(2) Compensation payments have been made on 1 individual claim in respect of property damage since 1 January 2003.
Category 2 - Area Claims Office Afghanistan
Information has been extracted from the register that was compiled by the staff in the Area Claims Office in Afghanistan who held the post between 2006 and 2014. Compensation payments have been made on over 4,000 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury and or property.
In respect of civilian death or injury £27.3 million has been paid relating to claims brought in the UK and £2,245 in respect of property damage claims. These payments include Human Rights Act elements.
Some £7.3 million has been made in ex gratia payments for civilian death or injury and property damage by the Area Claims Offices in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The lowest payment for (a) civilian death or injury is $50 paid by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan and the lowest payment for (b) property damage is $10.27 paid by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan.
The highest individual payment for civilian injury or death is £1.5 million and includes ongoing annual periodic payments.
The highest payment for property damage is $232,400 by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total monetary amount of financial payments made by the UK in response to (1) civilian death or injury, or (2) property damage, which resulted from acts carried out by UK Armed Forces during overseas operations since 1 January 2003, including (a) formal compensation claims under the Human Right Act 1998, and (b) condolence or ex gratia payments to affected family members or next of kin.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The first payments were made by the Area Claims Office in Iraq in June 2003.
The overseas operational theatres concerned were Iraq and Afghanistan.
There are two categories of claims for compensation - Category 1 those brought before the UK Courts and handled by officials in the MOD and Category 2 those handled by the Area Claims Offices staffed by UK personnel based in the overseas operational theatre.
Iraq
Category 1 - civil litigation
(1) Compensation payments have been made on 738 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury.
(2) In terms of property claims, no payments have been made
Category 2 - Area Claims Office - Iraq
Information has been extracted from the register that was compiled by staff in the Area Claims Office in Iraq who held the post between 2003 and 2009. Compensation payments have been made on over 1,000 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury and or property.
Afghanistan
Category 1 - civil litigation
(1) Compensation payments have been made on 17 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury.
(2) Compensation payments have been made on 1 individual claim in respect of property damage since 1 January 2003.
Category 2 - Area Claims Office Afghanistan
Information has been extracted from the register that was compiled by the staff in the Area Claims Office in Afghanistan who held the post between 2006 and 2014. Compensation payments have been made on over 4,000 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury and or property.
In respect of civilian death or injury £27.3 million has been paid relating to claims brought in the UK and £2,245 in respect of property damage claims. These payments include Human Rights Act elements.
Some £7.3 million has been made in ex gratia payments for civilian death or injury and property damage by the Area Claims Offices in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The lowest payment for (a) civilian death or injury is $50 paid by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan and the lowest payment for (b) property damage is $10.27 paid by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan.
The highest individual payment for civilian injury or death is £1.5 million and includes ongoing annual periodic payments.
The highest payment for property damage is $232,400 by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many individual payments the UK has made as a result of (1) civilian death or injury, or (2) property damage, in respect of each overseas operational theatre in which it was engaged since 1 January 2003.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The first payments were made by the Area Claims Office in Iraq in June 2003.
The overseas operational theatres concerned were Iraq and Afghanistan.
There are two categories of claims for compensation - Category 1 those brought before the UK Courts and handled by officials in the MOD and Category 2 those handled by the Area Claims Offices staffed by UK personnel based in the overseas operational theatre.
Iraq
Category 1 - civil litigation
(1) Compensation payments have been made on 738 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury.
(2) In terms of property claims, no payments have been made
Category 2 - Area Claims Office - Iraq
Information has been extracted from the register that was compiled by staff in the Area Claims Office in Iraq who held the post between 2003 and 2009. Compensation payments have been made on over 1,000 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury and or property.
Afghanistan
Category 1 - civil litigation
(1) Compensation payments have been made on 17 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury.
(2) Compensation payments have been made on 1 individual claim in respect of property damage since 1 January 2003.
Category 2 - Area Claims Office Afghanistan
Information has been extracted from the register that was compiled by the staff in the Area Claims Office in Afghanistan who held the post between 2006 and 2014. Compensation payments have been made on over 4,000 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury and or property.
In respect of civilian death or injury £27.3 million has been paid relating to claims brought in the UK and £2,245 in respect of property damage claims. These payments include Human Rights Act elements.
Some £7.3 million has been made in ex gratia payments for civilian death or injury and property damage by the Area Claims Offices in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The lowest payment for (a) civilian death or injury is $50 paid by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan and the lowest payment for (b) property damage is $10.27 paid by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan.
The highest individual payment for civilian injury or death is £1.5 million and includes ongoing annual periodic payments.
The highest payment for property damage is $232,400 by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the (1) lowest, and (2) highest, individual payments made by the UK as a result of (a) civilian death or injury, and (2) property damage, resulting from overseas operations since 1 January 2003.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The first payments were made by the Area Claims Office in Iraq in June 2003.
The overseas operational theatres concerned were Iraq and Afghanistan.
There are two categories of claims for compensation - Category 1 those brought before the UK Courts and handled by officials in the MOD and Category 2 those handled by the Area Claims Offices staffed by UK personnel based in the overseas operational theatre.
Iraq
Category 1 - civil litigation
(1) Compensation payments have been made on 738 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury.
(2) In terms of property claims, no payments have been made
Category 2 - Area Claims Office - Iraq
Information has been extracted from the register that was compiled by staff in the Area Claims Office in Iraq who held the post between 2003 and 2009. Compensation payments have been made on over 1,000 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury and or property.
Afghanistan
Category 1 - civil litigation
(1) Compensation payments have been made on 17 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury.
(2) Compensation payments have been made on 1 individual claim in respect of property damage since 1 January 2003.
Category 2 - Area Claims Office Afghanistan
Information has been extracted from the register that was compiled by the staff in the Area Claims Office in Afghanistan who held the post between 2006 and 2014. Compensation payments have been made on over 4,000 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury and or property.
In respect of civilian death or injury £27.3 million has been paid relating to claims brought in the UK and £2,245 in respect of property damage claims. These payments include Human Rights Act elements.
Some £7.3 million has been made in ex gratia payments for civilian death or injury and property damage by the Area Claims Offices in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The lowest payment for (a) civilian death or injury is $50 paid by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan and the lowest payment for (b) property damage is $10.27 paid by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan.
The highest individual payment for civilian injury or death is £1.5 million and includes ongoing annual periodic payments.
The highest payment for property damage is $232,400 by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on renewing the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency contract with the Post Office to provide over the counter services.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Post Office Ltd currently provides a limited range of DVLA services and an extension to the current contract has been agreed, ensuring that DVLA services will remain available at post offices.
Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what her Department's planned timescale is for paying compensation to sub-postmasters that are eligible for the Group Litigation Order Compensation Scheme.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
To date, interim payments totalling £19.2m have been paid to 467 Group Litigation Order (GLO) postmasters. The full GLO scheme opened for registrations on 10 February 2023 and opened for full applications on 23 March. We are already making good progress: over 85% of claimants are now registered.
The Government remains committed to paying fair compensation to all eligible GLO scheme claimants by August 2024. That is why we have committed to publish a timeline for delivering the scheme following discussion with the claimants’ legal representatives.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of people able to apply to become a judge.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice, as a member of the Judicial Diversity Forum (JDF), works closely with the judiciary, the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), the Legal Services Board (LSB) and the three legal professions on actions to expand the pool of candidates ready to apply for a judicial career.
The JDF published its priorities and actions for 2023 in December 2022: https://judicialappointments.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/JDF-Priorities.pdf which includes actions we are taking as a Department. This includes support for lawyers from groups under-represented in the judiciary through the Pre-Application Judicial Education programme and reviewing the application processes and barriers for non-traditional lawyers, such as legal academics and in-house lawyers. On 11 May, a Statutory Instrument was laid, which subject to parliamentary approval, will extend the eligibility of Chartered Institute of Legal Executive (CILEX) lawyers, with seven years’ post qualification experience to apply directly to the judicial offices of Upper Tribunal Judge, Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal and Recorder.