PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES - United Kingdom Parliament

997W
Written Answers
26 MARCH 2013
Written Answers
998W
Written Answers to
Questions
Tuesday 26 March 2013
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Sexual Violence: Vulnerable Victims
8. Alun Cairns: To ask the Attorney-General what
steps the Crown Prosecution Service is taking to
support vulnerable witnesses in cases of sexual violence
and abuse. [149752]
The Solicitor-General: It is vital to ensure that vulnerable
witnesses are able to give their evidence effectively. The
range of special measures offered to vulnerable witnesses,
includes giving evidence by way of live link, video
recorded evidence in chief and screens in court.
There is also a comprehensive network of joint police/
CPS witness care units.
Vulnerable Witnesses
9. Stuart Andrew: To ask the Attorney-General what
special measures Crown Prosecution Service
prosecutors may offer to vulnerable witnesses to
support them in giving evidence. [149753]
The Solicitor-General: It is vital to ensure that vulnerable
witnesses are able to give their evidence effectively. The
range of special measures offered to vulnerable witnesses,
includes giving evidence by way of live link, video
recorded evidence in chief and screens in court.
There is also a comprehensive network of joint police/
CPS witness care units.
Crown Prosecution Service
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how
many cautions the Crown Prosecution Service has
approved for indictable-only offences in each quarter
since 2008. [149480]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service
(CPS) does not hold central records showing the number
of cautions approved for indictable only offences. This
information could be obtained only by examining all of
the files where a caution has been approved, which
would incur disproportionate cost.
A table containing information on the total number
of pre-charge cautions authorised for all offences, rather
than just indictable only offences, has been deposited in
the Library of the House along with a table showing the
number of indictable only cases that were dropped
post-charge in favour of a caution. Information has
been split between simple and conditional caution for
ease of reference.
Official data showing the number of simple cautions
issued is contained within the official statistics relating
to sentencing, criminal court proceedings and offenders
brought to justice, maintained and issued by the Ministry
of Justice (MOJ).
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General
what estimate he has made the cost of fraud committed
against the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the
last five years. [149483]
The Solicitor-General: In addition to the recently
discovered fraud resulting from false taxi journey invoices
that has a cost of approximately £1 million over the last
five years, the cost of fraud committed against the
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in each of the last
five years was reported as follows:
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Losses (£) 0 0 0 18,000 0
Number of
0 0 0 1 0
incidents
The loss in 2010-11 relates to the loss or theft of a
mobile telephone to which £18,000 of telephone calls
was charged before the loss or theft was discovered.
Following this incident the affected Directorate reviewed
its processes for scrutinising this expenditure, undertook
a full inventory check of all mobile telephones and
electronic devices, and issued advice to the relevant
officer.
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General
what steps the Crown Prosecution Service is taking to
improve its internal anti-fraud controls at (a) its west
midlands division and (b) all other regional divisions.
[149484]
The Solicitor-General: Following the discovery of
fraudulent payments to a supplier in its West Midlands
Area the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) immediately
commissioned investigations to ascertain the extent of
the fraudulent activity, how the prescribed controls
were circumvented and whether the controls were being
applied correctly in other parts of the organisation.
These investigations are ongoing. When they have
concluded the findings will be reported and, if
appropriate, recommendations on changes to the control
framework will be implemented across the CPS. These
recommendations will be considered in light of recent
events and implemented as necessary.
At the same time it commissioned investigations; the
CPS put in place a number of additional mechanisms to
ensure that all transactions originating from west midlands
were subject to additional scrutiny and to gain assurance
over the regularity of expenditure. The CPS has also
sought assurance from all area and HQ business managers
that, controls are being applied effectively and in accordance
with the departmental guidance.
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General
pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2013, Official
Report, column 364W, on the Crown Prosecution
Service, what the average sum agreed as financial
consideration for entering into a confidentiality clause
was in respect of the compromise agreements referred
to in the answer; and what the total cost to the Crown
Prosecution Service has been of entering into these
agreements. [149550]