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Judges (Sexual Offences Training)

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) if she will list the Court of Appeal judges who have been on a serious sexual offence course; [7687]

(2) what training in serious sexual offences is given to Court of Appeal judges who were promoted from the High Court prior to the introduction of the serious sexual offences course for High Court judges. [7690]

Ms Harman: This question relates to a matter that is the responsibility of the judiciary. The Lord Chief Justice informs me that; seven Court of Appeal judges have attended the serious sexual offences course.

The serious sexual offences seminar is, however, specifically designed for judges who hear rape trials. It is currently a residential two-day (over three days) event and past programmes have included talks on the following:

(1) Research into public attitudes to sexual offending and the views of complainants and victims on the way in which sexual offences proceedings are handled.

(2) The policies and practices of the police and Crown Prosecution Service in handling serious sexual offences.

(3) Issues of evidential and procedural law and practice which bear on the conduct of trials in such cases.

 
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(4) Sentencing issues and the assessment and treatment of sexual offenders in the community and in prison. Also included in the programme is a series of discussions, in small groups, of trial and sentencing issues.

I would remind the hon. Member for Redcar that the Court of Appeal only considers matters of law in relation to sexual offences. It does not hear trials in relation to sexual offences. Therefore, although some Court of Appeal judges have attended the serious sexual offences seminar the Lord Chief Justice in conjunction with the Judicial Studies Board has decided that it is not a compulsory element of their training.

Judges of every rank who sit in crime, including the Court of Appeal, have received training on the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 as part of a programme of training on the Criminal Justice Reforms that ran between January and March 2005. This was supplemented with written material provided at the time the Act came into force.

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs on how many rape appeals in2004 there was a tribunal which did not contain a judge who had been on the serious sexual offences seminar. [7688]

Ms Harman: This question relates to a matter that is the responsibility of the judiciary. The Lord Chief Justice informs me that the information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which circuit judges who sit in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division have not been on a serious sexual offences training course. [7691]

Ms Harman: This question relates to a matter that is the responsibility of the judiciary. The Lord Chief Justice informs me that all circuit judges who sit in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division have attended the serious sexual offences training course.

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how long ago each judge of the Court of Appeal attended a serious sexual offences seminar. [7689]

Ms Harman: This question relates to a matter that is the responsibility of the judiciary. The Lord Chief Justice informs me that the seven Court of Appeal judges who have attended the serious sexual offences seminar have done so in the last six years.

Jury Service

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will commission research to assess the ability of juries to understand complex trials. [8519]

Ms Harman: My Department has no plans at the moment to conduct research into the deliberations and requirements of juries. In January 2005 my Department published a Consultation Paper—Jury Research and Impropriety"—and the relevant consultation period finished on 15 April. The responses are currently being analysed and an announcement of the Government's intentions will be made in due course.
 
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Legal Aid

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will increase remuneration for civil legal aid lawyers. [8350]

Bridget Prentice: There are no immediate plans to increase remuneration for civil legal aid lawyers. Civil legal aid lawyers are paid under a variety of remuneration regimes. In most non-family cases, civil legal aid litigation work would normally be paid at private client rates on the successful conclusion of a case against a privately paying opponent.

The LSC provides additional remuneration for specific priority areas of legal aid work. For example, members of specialist panels in family work, and those undertaking priority housing work are paid guaranteed higher rates. Most Legal Help work has received a 2.5 per cent. increase from April 2005 as part of the Tailored Fixed Fee scheme.

Legal Training

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the adequacy of solicitors' training arrangements. [8329]

Bridget Prentice: I welcome the Law Society's review of solicitors' training. Regular reviews are necessary to ensure training remains up-to-date, fit for purpose and consistent with the wider needs of society.

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations she has received on the Law Society's Training Framework Review. [8335]

Bridget Prentice: It is for the Law Society to consider responses to its review on its Training Framework. Any recommendations the Law Society makes as a result of that consultation will then be considered by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, whose approval would be needed, in accordance with schedule 4 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications for legal services of trainee solicitors being (a) graduates, (b) law graduates and (c) beneficiaries of regulated vocational training. [8357]

Bridget Prentice: Any recommendations the Law Society makes as a result of its consultation on its training framework will be considered by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, whose approval would be needed, in accordance with Schedule 4 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. It would be premature to make such an assessment before any recommendations have been received.

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make representations to the Law Society to increase the openness of training arrangements for solicitors to all parts of society. [8358]

 
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Bridget Prentice: The Law Society is fully committed to ensuring training arrangements are flexible and inclusive, while maintaining rigorous standards. The issue of diversity in the profession is of great importance to me and to the Law Society.

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the financial implications of the Law Society's proposals for solicitors' training for (a) legal aid, (b) legal services and (c) the legal profession. [8369]

Bridget Prentice: The implications, including financial implications, of any recommendations the Law Society makes following its consultation on its training framework will be considered, in accordance with the provisions of schedule 4 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. It would be premature to make such an assessment before any recommendations have been received.

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make representations to the Law Society on the implications for legal services of its Training Framework Review. [8370]

Bridget Prentice: I have no plans to comment on the Law Society's proposals while they are the subject of a public consultation. Any recommendations the Law Society makes as a result of that consultation will be considered by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, whose approval would be needed, in accordance with schedule 4 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what reforms her Department proposes to introduce in relation to solicitors' training. [8373]

Bridget Prentice: It is the responsibility of the Law Society to set standards of entry to the solicitors' profession. However, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State must approve any proposals for change put forward by the Law Society, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 4 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.

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