| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
7 Jun 2005 : Column 541W—continued
Electoral Fraud
Mr. Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people in each year since 1995 have been (a) charged and (b) convicted of certifying in the electoral registration form that individuals were living at an address when they were not. [655]
Ms Harman: Local Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for compiling the electoral register for their registration area, and electoral law provides that an ERO may require persons to give information required for the purposes of that officer's duties in maintaining electoral registers. It is an offence for any person to give false information in response to such a request. Figures are not collected centrally in respect of prosecutions arising from this provision.
EU Constitution (EU Funding)
Mr. Davidson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Government have requested limits on the (a) spending and (b) activities of institutions of the European Union (i) before and (ii) during the referendum on the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe. [1217]
Ms Harman: The institutions of the European Union are responsible for their own expenditure and activities in terms of providing information to the public, though they have made clear that they will consult HMG about any public information activities in the UK. Ministers and officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are in contact with EU institutions in order to ensure clarity of and continuing respect for the role of the institutions in providing information about the EU.
Freedom of Information Act
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 since January. [1770]
Ms Harman: The introduction of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 has begun a process of cultural change towards greater openness, transparency and accountability across central Government and the wider public sector.
Since full implementation on 1 January 2005, a huge amount of new, valuable and interesting material has been given out and thousands of information requests have been responded to.
The Freedom of Information Act has brought significant disclosures of information across the whole of the public sector and the Government are confident that an important process of cultural change has begun.
The Government will publish shortly monitoring statistics for the operation of Freedom of Information within central Government Departments during the first quarter of 2005.
Judicial Appointments
Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to introduce fixed-term judicial appointments in (a) the Crown court and (b) the High Court. [1584]
7 Jun 2005 : Column 542W
Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to improve the judicial career opportunities for district judges. [1586]
Ms Harman: On 5 March the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor announced that he would be exploring the possibility of developing mentoring arrangements for salaried judges. Such a scheme would be aimed at helping those at the more junior levels of the judiciary—including District Judges—to progress to higher judicial office. My Department is now working with the judiciary to see what scheme might be appropriate. The Lord Chancellor will announce his decision in due course.
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans her Department has to change the statutory eligibility requirements for judicial office. [1755]
Ms Harman: On 5 March this year the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor announced that he would review the statutory eligibility requirements for judicial appointment to see how a broader range of people with appropriate and measured experience might be made eligible. My Department is now working to identify options for change. The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor will announce his conclusions in due course.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to her answer of 24 May 2005, Official Report, column 86W, on judicial appointments, how many of the appointments were(a) women, (b) black and (c) Asian in each category. [1801]
Ms Harman: Of the 449 judicial appointments since 1 March 2005, 211 were women, 21 were black and 20 were Asian. The following table details this breakdown in each category.
Legal Aid
Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment has been made of the likely impact of proposals to introduce price competitive tendering to the criminal legal aid system on (a) small solicitors firms, (b) black and ethnic minority communities and (c) socially excluded and vulnerable members of the community. [1798]
Bridget Prentice:
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has already undertaken preliminary assessments in respect of the impact of price competitive tendering
7 Jun 2005 : Column 543W
on all current suppliers in the London area, including small solicitors' firms. It has worked with suppliers and their representative bodies throughout the consultation period to enhance its understanding and has held a number of workshops which allowed suppliers to express their views and concerns directly to the LSC. This has helped to identify small firm issues that will be considered as part of the further work undertaken in the context of the final proposals following consultation.
Quality of service and access to advice are a key priority for the LSC. The Commission's view is that all clients (including BME communities and the socially excluded) receiving services following any tendering process will be assured a quality service through the application of robust quality assurance mechanisms and the use of peer review of suppliers' services.
Name Changes (Deed Poll)
John Battle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people have changed their name by deed poll in each year since 1997; what estimate she has made of the number of people who changed their name without registering the change by deed poll in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [2094]
Ms Harman: The enrolment of change of name by Deed Poll in the Supreme Court is undertaken by the Central Office in the Royal Courts of Justice under the provisions of the Enrolment of Deeds (Change of Name) Regulation 1994. The Royal Courts of Justice is part of Her Majesty's Courts Service which is an executive agency of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
The number of people who have enrolled their change of name by Deed Poll in the Royal Courts of Justice, since 1997 are:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 246 |
| 1998 | 227 |
| 1999 | 210 |
| 2000 | 254 |
| 2001 | 193 |
| 2002 | 184 |
| 2003 | 209 |
| 2004 | 195 |
The enrolment of a Deed Poll provides a public record of a persons' change of name and the details of the name change are published in the London Gazette. There is no requirement to enroll a Deed Poll. There is no central register for all changes of name by Deed Poll. Only those names enrolled are recorded.
No estimates have been made as to the number of people who choose to change their name by Deed Poll, but not enroll that change.
North-East Regional Assembly Referendum
Mr. Davidson:
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what action the Government intend to take on recommendations made
7 Jun 2005 : Column 544W
by the Electoral Commission on the conduct of the North East Regional Assembly referendum; and if she will make a statement. [2053]
Ms Harman: I understand that The Electoral Commission's report will be published in the autumn of this year. The Government will give careful consideration to any recommendations which the Commission make.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |