Every parliamentary written question tabled by Mark Sewards this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–9 of 9 · Ministry of Justice
What assessment her Department has made of the accessibility of legal redress for small businesses in disputes relating to commercial property holding deposits.
The Ministry of Justice has not conducted a specific assessment of this individual issue.We are aware that holding deposits are a common practice in negotiations for commercial premises. These are a private matter between landlords and businesses. However...
What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of decision making in family court proceedings relating to child arrangements.
Judicial decisions in family court proceedings relating to child arrangements are a matter for the independent judiciary.The Government is, however, committed to ensuring that outcomes in the family justice system prioritise the welfare of children. That ...
Whether his Department has plans to review the operation and effectiveness of the Legal Ombudsman, including the timeliness within which complaints are handled.
The Office for Legal Complaints (OLC), which administers the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) scheme, is undertaking a review and transformation programme to ensure the scheme can respond effectively to increasing demand for its services. This programme builds on it...
What the (a) average and (b) maximum time was between the completion of Section 28 pre-recorded cross-examination and the start of trial in Crown Court cases in each of the last five years.
The Ministry of Justice does not routinely collect the information requested. However, an impact evaluation of section 28, published by the Department in March 2025, provides relevant data for the period January 2019 to September 2022. This evaluation fou...
What steps the Department is taking to reduce delays for court cases involving child or vulnerable witnesses.
The Government inherited a justice system in crisis, with a record and rising caseload. We know that some victims are waiting years for justice – justice delayed is justice denied. This is why the Government asked Sir Brian Leveson to make recommendations...
What guidance is issued on (a) moving cases between Crown Court centres and (b) prioritising cases involving vulnerable complainants or safeguarding risks.
The listing of cases, including decisions as to the court centre at which a case is heard, is a judicial responsibility and function. As things currently stand, the Criminal Practice Directions 2023, made by and under the authority of the Lady Chief Justi...
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Legal Aid Agency in ensuring solicitors use qualified and security‑vetted interpreters in legally‑aided family proceedings.
Interpreters play a crucial role in family court proceedings, ensuring that individuals who do not speak English or have hearing impairments can fully participate and understand the legal process. For most family court proceedings, His Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Services is responsible for securing interpreters for use during hearings. Neither legal aid providers nor the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) are involved in this process. A legal aid solicitor may instruct an interpreter for use outside of hearings. All providers who undertake legal aid work are independent providers of legal aid services and are subject to oversight and regulation by relevant professional bodies rather than the LAA. When instructing interpreters in legal aid cases, legal aid providers must ensure that they adhere to the requirements set out under paragraphs 2.48-2.51 of the 2024 Standard Civil Contract: Specification. This includes provisions regarding the level of qualification that the interpreter must hold and the evidence which must be obtained and retained on file regarding this and the circumstances in which it is permissible to instruct a non-qualified interpreter. The LAA undertakes a range of audit and assurance activity to ensure legal aid providers are complying with their contractual obligations. Clause 24 of the 2024 Standard Civil Contract: Standard Terms empowers the LAA to apply a sanction where breaches of contract are identified. These contractual provisions act as an effective safeguard to ensure the most appropriate interpreter is used having regard to the specific circumstances of the case.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing sentences for offenders guilty of unlawful act manslaughter.
Parliament is responsible for setting the overall legal sentencing framework and the maximum penalty for unlawful act manslaughter is life imprisonment.However, sentencing is entirely a matter for our independent courts. When deciding what sentence to imp...
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation to allow victims of crime to express impact statements to convicted people directly.
As set out in the Victims’ Code, victims and survivors have the right to make a Victim Personal Statement (VPS) to explain in their own words how a crime has affected them. The judge or magistrate will decide whether and what sections of a personal statem...