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19 Feb 2007 : Column 278Wcontinued
Philip Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the legal basis is for the creation of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency; and what assessment she has made of the likely effect of the activities of the agency on the UK. [121530]
Vera Baird: The legal base of the regulation establishing the Fundamental Rights Agency is Article 308 of the Treaty establishing the European Community. Once established, the Fundamental Rights Agency is expected to assist EU Institutions and, when implementing Community law, member states on fundamental rights issues with particular regard to the areas of racism and xenophobia.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will take steps to bring the UK into conformity with Article 17 of the European Social Charter. [109530]
Mr. Plaskitt: I have been asked to reply
In 2005 the United Kingdom, for the first time since 1969, was found to be not fully in compliance with Article 17 of the European Social Charter. The Government will review their policy in the areas concerned before they are next required to report on compliance with the Article, in 2010.
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she expects to announce her response to the consultation paper on improving transparency and privacy in family courts. [119988]
Ms Harman: The consultation on improving transparency and privacy in family courts closed on 30 October 2006. We are now considering the responses carefully and will respond as soon as practicable.
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the predicted volume of criminal legal aid cases in each of the next three years; and if she will make a statement. [119913]
Vera Baird: The number of criminal legal aid acts of assistance is currently projected to be approximately 1.7 million in each of the next three financial years.
An act of assistance may help more than one individual and an individual may receive more than one act of assistance.
Mr. Rogerson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many legal aid applications were granted to property owners by the Legal Services Commission in each year since 2000. [121600]
Vera Baird: This information is not available. Where an applicant can demonstrate that he or she is in receipt of income support, income based jobseekers allowance or guarantee state pension credit, no inquiries are made by the Legal Services Commission as to the capital of the applicant, including whether he or she is a property owner.
Mr. Rogerson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many applications for legal aid were refused by the Legal Services Commission on grounds of (a) the resources of other persons where another person has been maintaining the applicant or their partner and (b) resources of other persons made available to the applicant or their partner in the past, in each year since 2000. [121602]
Vera Baird: The information is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Rogerson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the administration costs of the Legal Services Commission were in each year since 2000. [121601]
Vera Baird: The administration expenditure of the Legal Services Commission (LSC) during each of the financial years since its formation in April 2000 was as follows:
£ million | |
(1) Includes monies paid to HM Court Service to meet the cost of administering legal aid payments in the Crown Court. |
Philip Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many magistrates courts have been affected by strike action by court staff in each of the last three years; and how many days of court business she estimates have been lost as a result of these strikes. [121465]
Ms Harman: Magistrates courts have been affected by strike action on two occasions, 20 December 2005 and 31 January 2007.
There are approximately 358 buildings designated for magistrates court sittings in England and Wales.
On 20 December 2005, 33 (9.2 per cent.) were closed as a result of strike action.
On 31 January 2007, 39 (10.9 per cent.) were closed as a result of strike action
Across the same two days, a total of 1,450 planned court days were deferred to avoid unnecessary disruption to individual court users.
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