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Public Service Agreement

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the public service agreement target in respect of the national cycling strategy was removed in the 2002 Comprehensive Spending Review; and what impact he estimates the removal will have on the implementation of the strategy. [71736]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 22 July 2002]: Although no target for cycling was included in either the 2000 or 2002 public service agreements, the target set out in the 10-year plan for Transport to treble the number of cycling trips from 2000 levels by 2010 remains in place, as does the strategy aimed at delivering it.

Mersey Passenger Transport Authority

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the extent to which his officials consult the Mersey Passenger Transport Authority on questions about the authority. [72155]

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Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 23 July 2002]: Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority is consulted from time to time in relation to aspects of Government business in which it may have an interest

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Members of Parliament (Personal Data)

Mr. Forth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what information is held by her Department on each hon. Member in relation to (a) personal relationships, both current and past, (b) financial status and dealings, (c) connections with companies and interest groups, (d) connections with Governments and (e) published works; and what was held in January 2002. [61829]

Yvette Cooper: Ministers and officials in this Department have access to published reference sources, as well as to the information about hon. Members made publicly available by the House authorities, for the purpose of parliamentary business.

The Department may also hold information in connection with applications for judicial appointments or Queen's Counsel and information that relates to court proceedings.

Any request to the Department for the disclosure of information relating to individuals are handled in accordance with the principles laid down in the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998.

EU Committees

(Scottish Executive Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the EU Committee on the service in the member state of judicial and extrajudicial documents and on co-operation between the courts of the member states in the taking of evidence in civil or commercial matters is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [70926]

Ms Rosie Winterton: There are two separate committees, one relating to the regulation on the service in the member states of judicial and extrajudicial documents and the other relating to the regulation on co-operation between the courts of the member states in the taking of evidence in civil and commercial matters. No meetings are scheduled for the former. The latter will not meet until after the regulation applies from 1 January 2004. It will meet only when it is necessary to review the standard forms in the annexe to the regulation. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in, discussions at official and Ministerial level, with the Lord Chancellor's Department on the formulation of EU policy which touches on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive. A representative of the Scottish Executive attended the one previous meeting of the former committee and a representative is likely to attend further meetings as well as any meetings of the latter committee.

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Angus Robertson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the EU Committee on the jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility for children of both spouses and on the jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (Brussels I and II) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [70927]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Consideration of the draft 'Brussels I' and 'Brussels II' Regulations was concluded by the end of 2000 and both Regulations are now in force. The Scottish Executive was fully represented throughout. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved with discussions on the formulation of EU policy by the Lord Chancellor's Department which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.

Parliamentary Answers

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for how long she retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on her Department's website. [72230]

Ms Rosie Winterton: My Department aims to be as helpful as possible in responding to hon. Members' questions. Where it is helpful to refer hon. Members to other documents as part of the substantive reply this may be done by making hard copies of documents available in the Libraries of the House, or by reference to material available on our Departmental website.

My Department aims to ensure that it follows guidance issued by the Office of the e-Envoy "Guidelines for UK Government Websites" and that records are kept for a period appropriate to their use.

The website does not have any local policies which go beyond the requirement set out in the e-Envoy's guidelines but aims to follow Departmental policy on record management, namely that policy documents are subject to first review after five years after the last-dated correspondence, and second review 25 years after first-dated correspondence.

Bonded Legal Assistance

Mr. Watts: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans she has to regulate and control solicitors and companies who provide bonded legal assistance; and what plans she has to review her policy on protection for parties to civil actions by bonds. [73360]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Solicitors and companies providing legal assistance are regulated by a range of bodies, including the Law Society, the Financial Services Authority and the General Insurance Standards Council. The possibility of further regulation is kept under review.

Parties to civil actions have a range of methods by which they may fund their litigation. These include public funding, conditional fee agreements, trade union support or the purchase of insurance against the risk of losing and paying costs. Bonds are not one of these methods, as far as the Government are aware.

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Insurance cover is available to protect against the risk of losing and paying costs. The cost of the premium is dependent on the extent of cover, the complexity and type of case and any inherent risk. With effect from 1 April 2000 it has been possible to recover the premium from the losing party as an item of costs, subject to the normal rules of court. Where the court is called on to assess those costs the court will allow only such costs as are reasonable and proportionate.

Rape Trials

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will set up a Thematic inquiry into the way rape trials are dealt with by the judiciary; and if she will make a statement. [65209]

Yvette Cooper: The Lord Chancellor has no proposal to set up a Thematic inquiry into the way rape trials are dealt with by the judiciary. The conduct of a rape trial is a matter for the judge in the exercise of his or her judicial discretion.

To assist those who have to give evidence the Government will be introducing special measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses in the Crown court from today. These will be subject to judicial discretion but they will, for example, allow witnesses to give evidence over a live television link from outside the courtroom.

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what procedure there is for removing the authorisation to judges to hear rape trials; and to whom the procedure is available; [70680]

Yvette Cooper: My noble and learned Friend, the Lord Chancellor, is concerned that only those Judges with the appropriate experience and sensitivity hear rape cases.

Section 75 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 states that the Lord Chief Justice, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, can, by means of a practice direction, determine the cases or classes of cases suitable for allocation to High Court Judges, Circuit Judges and Recorders. From time to time successive Lord Chief Justices have issued such practice directions. In October 2001 the current Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, issued a practice direction which, again, determined that all High Court Judges and those Circuit Judges and Recorders, approved for that purpose by the Senior Presiding Judge, with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice can hear rape cases.

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In practice, primarily those High Court Judges assigned to the Queen's Bench Division hear rape cases. Authorisations of Circuit Judges and Recorders are sought by the Presiding Judge of each Circuit in consultation with the Resident Judge of the relevant Crown court. The Senior Presiding Judge then makes the decision on the basis that the Judge is suitable to try sensitive cases.

Those Judges selected for authorisation have to attend a Judicial Studies Board seminar on serious sexual offences before they are formally authorised. They also have to attend further seminars from time-to-time. The names of Circuit Judges currently authorised to hear rape cases are listed.

There is no "outside inspection" of a Judges' conduct prior to authorisation. If he thinks it appropriate, the Lord Chief Justice can remove an authorisation.

All 35 Judges of the Court of Appeal were formerly Justices of the High Court and could hear rape cases when they held that office. All Judges of the Court of Appeal can hear rape appeals without any further authorisation.


Midland circuit
His Honour Judge Alexander QC
His Honour Judge Appleby QC
His Honour Judge Dudley Bennett
His Honour Judge Richard Benson
His Honour Judge Brunning
Her Honour Judge Butler QC
His Honour Judge Cavell
His Honour Judge Chapman
His Honour Judge Paul Clark
His Honour Judge Marten Coates
His Honour Judge Richard Cole DL
His Honour Judge Corrie
His Honour Judge Eades
His Honour Judge Eccles QC
His Honour Judge Trevor Faber
Her Honour Judge Elizabeth Fisher
His Honour Judge Fletcher
His Honour Judge Geddes
His Honour Judge Griffith-Jones
His Honour Judge Julian Hall
His Honour Judge Simon Hammond
His Honour Judge Charles Harris QC
His Honour Judge Heath
Her Honour Judge Hindley QC
His Honour Judge Christopher Hodson
His Honour Judge Inglis
His Honour Judge Richard Jenkins
His Honour Judge Macduff QC
His Honour Judge Marshall
His Honour Judge Matthews
His Honour Judge Mayor QC
His Honour Judge McCarthy
His Honour Judge McCreath
His Honour Judge David McEvoy QC
His Honour Judge Metcalf
His Honour Judge Morrell
His Honour Judge Morris
His Honour Judge Mott
His Honour Judge Oliver-Jones QC

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His Honour Judge Orme
His Honour Judge Orrell
His Honour Judge Perrett QC
His Honour Judge Pollard
His Honour Judge Pugsley
His Honour Judge Pyke
His Honour Judge Rubery
His Honour Judge Shand
His Honour Judge Stanley
His Honour Judge Michael Stokes QC
His Honour Judge Stretton
His Honour Judge Styler
His Honour Judge Alan Taylor
His Honour Judge Teare
His Honour Judge Tonking
His Honour Judge Wait
His Honour Judge Richard Wakerley QC
His Honour Judge Warner
His Honour Judge Wide QC
North eastern circuit
His Honour Judge Adams
His Honour Judge Armstrong
His Honour Judge Barber
His Honour Judge Barr-Young
His Honour Judge Bartfield
His Honour Judge Bentley QC
Her Honour Judge Bolton
His Honour Judge Bowers
His Honour Judge Briggs
His Honour Judge Bryant
His Honour Judge Bullimore
His Honour Judge Bush
Her Honour Judge Annabel Carr QC
His Honour Judge Carr
His Honour Judge Cartlidge
His Honour Judge Charlesworth
His Honour Judge Cockroft
His Honour Judge Crabtree
His Honour Judge Cracknell
Her Honour Judge Davies
His Honour Judge Dobkin
His Honour Judge Faulks QC
His Honour Judge Fox QC
His Honour Judge Goldsack
His Honour Judge Grant
His Honour Judge Grenfell
His Honour Judge Gullick
His Honour Judge Hawkesworth QC
His Honour Judge Heppel QC
His Honour Judge Hewitt
His Honour Judge Hodson
His Honour Judge Hoffman
His Honour Judge Norman Jones QC

24 Jul 2002 : Column 1283W


His Honour Judge Kamil
His Honour Judge Keen QC
His Honour Judge Langan QC
His Honour Judge Lawler QC
His Honour Judge Lowden
His Honour Judge McCallum
His Honour Judge Mettyear
His Honour Judge Milford QC
His Honour Judge Murphy QC
His Honour Judge Reddihough
His Honour Judge Robertshaw
His Honour Judge Scott
His Honour Judge Spencer QC
His Honour Judge Shaun Spencer QC
His Honour Judge Spittle
His Honour Judge Stewart QC
Her Honour Judge Sutcliffe
His Honour Judge Michael Taylor
His Honour Judge Robert Taylor
His Honour Judge Walford
His Honour Judge Walton
His Honour Judge Whitburn QC
His Honour Judge Wolstenholme
His Honour Judge Wood
Northern circuit
His Honour Judge Appleton
His Honour Judge Atherton
Her Honour Judge Badley
His Honour Judge Stuart Baker
His Honour Judge Raymond Bennett
His Honour Judge Blake
His Honour Judge Boulton
His Honour Judge Mark Brown
His Honour Judge Robert Brown
His Honour Judge Burke QC
His Honour Judge Ian Campbell
His Honour Judge David Clarke QC
His Honour Judge Denis Clark
His Honour Judge Clifton
His Honour Judge Crompton
His Honour Judge Sir Rhys Davies QC
His Honour Judge Duckworth
His Honour Judge Duncan
His Honour Judge Ensor
His Honour Judge Fawcus
His Honour Judge Fish
His Honour Judge Geake
His Honour Judge George
His Honour Judge Gilmour QC

24 Jul 2002 : Column 1284W


His Honour Judge Hammond
His Honour Judge Henshell
His Honour Judge Holloway
His Honour Judge Humphries
Her Honour Judge Kusher QC
His Honour Judge Lakin
His Honour Judge Lewis
His Honour Judge Lynch
His Honour Judge Lyon
His Honour Judge Maddison
His Honour Judge Mahon
His Honour Judge Morgan
His Honour Judge William Morris
His Honour Judge Mort
His Honour Judge Openshaw QC
His Honour Judge Phillips
His Honour Judge Phipps
His Honour Judge Roberts
Her Honour Judge Ruaux
His Honour Judge Singer
His Honour Judge Slinger
His Honour Judge Adrian Smith
His Honour Judge Peter Smith
Her Honour Judge Elizabeth Steel
His Honour Judge Steiger QC
His Honour Judge Swift
Her Honour Judge Watson
His Honour Judge Woodward
South eastern circuit
His Honour Judge Addison
His Honour Judge Ader
His Honour Judge Ansell
His Honour Judge Anthony
Her Honour Judge Anwyl QC
His Honour Judge Findlay Baker QC
His Honour Judge Balston
His Honour Judge Barham
His Honour Judge Barker QC
His Honour Judge Christopher Barnett QC
His Honour Judge Bassingthwaighte
His Honour Judge Bathurst-Norman
His Honour Judge Beaumont QC
His Honour Judge Beddard
His Honour Judge Binning
His Honour Judge Black
His Honour Judge Blacksell QC
His Honour Judge Boal QC
His Honour Judge Brown
His Honour Judge Bull QC DL

24 Jul 2002 : Column 1285W


His Honour Judge Byers
His Honour Judge Campbell
His Honour Judge Carroll
His Honour Judge Clegg
His Honour Judge Coleman
His Honour Judge Colgan
His Honour Judge Collins
His Honour Judge Colston QC
His Honour Judge Coltart
His Honour Judge Jeremy Connor
His Honour Judge Roger Connor
His Honour Judge Coombe
His Honour Judge Copley
His Honour Judge Crocker
His Honour Judge Crawford QC
His Honour Judge Croft QC
His Honour Judge Curl
His Honour Judge De Mille
His Honour Judge Devaux
His Honour Judge Downes
His Honour Judge Dunn QC
His Honour Judge Ellis
His Honour Judge Elwen
His Honour Judge Fabyan Evans
His Honour Judge Fingret
His Honour Judge Focke QC
His Honour Judge Forrester
His Honour Judge Freedman
His Honour Judge Gerber
Her Honour Judge Goddard QC
His Honour Judge Goldstein
His Honour Judge Gordon
His Honour Judge Gosschalk
His Honour Judge Goymer
His Honour Judge Hardy
His Honour Judge Charles Harris QC
His Honour Judge Michael Harris
Her Honour Judge Hamilton QC
His Honour Judge Hawkesworth
His Honour Judge Hawkins QC
His Honour Judge Jonathan Haworth
His Honour Judge Richard Haworth
His Honour Judge Hayward
His Honour Judge Hitching
His Honour Judge Holt
His Honour Judge Hordern QC
His Honour Judge Hucker
His Honour Judge Hyam
His Honour Judge Inman
His Honour Judge Issard-Davies
His Honour Judge Jacobs
His Honour Judge Joseph
His Honour Judge Katkhuda
His Honour Judge Kemp
His Honour Judge Anthony King
His Honour Judge Lait
His Honour Judge Langdon
His Honour Judge Laurie
His Honour Judge Lawrence

24 Jul 2002 : Column 1286W


His Honour Judge Lindsay QC
His Honour Judge Lockhart
His Honour Judge Lyons
His Honour Judge MacRae
His Honour Judge Maher
His Honour Judge Martineau
His Honour Judge McDowall
His Honour Judge Rodney McKinnon
His Honour Judge Warwick McKinnon
His Honour Judge Medawar QC
His Honour Judge Meier
His Honour Judge Mellor
His Honour Judge Mercer
His Honour Judge Fergus Mitchell
Her Honour Judge Agelica Mitchell
His Honour Judge Moss
Her Honour Judge Mowat
His Honour Judge Nash
His Honour Judge Norris OBE
His Honour Judge Paget QC
His Honour Judge Patience QC
Her Honour Judge Pearlman
His Honour Judge Pearson
His Honour Judge Philpot
His Honour Judge Pitman
His Honour Judge Pollock
His Honour Judge Pontius
His Honour Judge Pratt
His Honour Judge Radford
His Honour Judge Rant QC
His Honour Judge Reid QC
His Honour Judge Rivlin QC
His Honour Judge Robbins
His Honour Judge Roberts
His Honour Judge Jeremy Roberts QC
His Honour Judge Samuels QC
His Honour Judge Sanders
His Honour Judge Scott-Gall
His Honour Judge Sessions
His Honour Judge Simpson
His Honour Judge Simon Smith
His Honour Judge Colin Smith QC
Her Honour Judge Zoe Smith
His Honour Judge Spence
His Honour Judge Stephens QC
His Honour Judge Stokes QC
His Honour Judge Thomas
His Honour Judge Thorpe
His Honour Judge Thompson
His Honour Judge Tilling
His Honour Judge Tyrer
His Honour Judge van der Werff
His Honour Judge Wadsworth QC
His Honour Judge Walker
His Honour Judge Waller
His Honour Judge Webb
His Honour Judge Welchman
His Honour Judge Wilkie QC
His Honour Judge Wilkinson
His Honour Judge Winstanley

24 Jul 2002 : Column 1287W


His Honour Judge Yelton
His Honour Judge Zucker QC
Wales and Chester circuit
His Honour Judge Burr
His Honour Judge Clarke
His Honour Judge Curran
His Honour Judge Daniel DL
His Honour Judge Diehl QC
His Honour Judge Denyer QC
His Honour Judge Dutton
His Honour Judge Elgan Edwards DL
His Honour Judge Gaskell
His Honour Judge David Hale
His Honour Judge Robert Hughes
His Honour Judge Merfyn Hughes QC
His Honour Judge Graham Jones
His Honour Judge Llewellyn Jones QC
His Honour Judge Wynn Morgan
His Honour Judge David Morris
His Honour Judge Christopher Morton
His Honour Judge Gerald Price QC
Her Honour Judge Eleri Rees
His Honour Judge Philip Richards
His Honour Judge Rogers QC
His Honour Judge Griffith Williams QC
Western circuit
His Honour Judge Beashel
His Honour Judge Boothman
His Honour Judge Brodrick
His Honour Judge Burford QC
His Honour Judge Bursell QC
His Honour Judge Cottle
His Honour Judge Crowther QC
His Honour Judge Cutler
His Honour Judge Darlow
His Honour Judge Darwall Smith
His Honour Judge David Smith QC
His Honour Judge Foley
His Honour Judge Gilbert QC
His Honour Judge Griffiths
His Honour Judge Griggs
Her Honour Judge Hagen
His Honour Judge Hooton
His Honour Judge Hughes QC
His Honour Judge Hutton
His Honour Judge Jarvis
His Honour Judge Jones
His Honour Judge Leigh QC
His Honour Judge Longbotham
His Honour Judge MacKean
His Honour Judge MacLaren Webster QC

24 Jul 2002 : Column 1288W


His Honour Judge McKintosh
His Honour Judge McNaught
His Honour Judge Meston QC
His Honour Judge O'Malley DL
His Honour Judge Overend
His Honour Judge Price
His Honour Judge Pryor QC
His Honour Judge Roach
His Honour Judge Rucker
His Honour Judge Selwood
His Honour Judge Shawcross
His Honour Judge Taylor
His Honour Judge Thompson QC
His Honour Judge Ticehurst
His Honour Judge Wiggs.

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