Domestic Violence Refuges: Charities and Local Government
Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Scott of Bybrook(8 months, 3 weeks ago)
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Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
The charitable sector is a really important partner in this. That has been noted in the amount of money given to police and crime commissioners to tackle this issue, part of which is spent with charities, other stakeholders and community groups. This Government have supported charities through this very difficult crisis, in particular with energy costs. We are totally committed to supporting the charitable sector on not only this issue but others, and we will do everything we can to do so because it is an important part of delivery.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
My Lords, I declare an interest as chairman of the Commission on Forced Marriage. Will the Minister please remember that forced marriage is also domestic violence in many cases?
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
I absolutely accept that. We need to keep that in mind when we look at domestic violence.
Inter Faith Network
Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Scott of Bybrook(9 months ago)
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Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
I do not particularly think it is strange. It is a long-standing decision not to engage with the MCB. The Government are doing what successive Governments have done. The person was on the council as a member, but it was when they became a trustee that things became more difficult for the Government.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
Since it has been a long-standing arrangement that the Muslim Council of Britain should not be regarded as an organisation that the Government talk to, would the Government now be prepared to review that?
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
I cannot say. Reviews like that are carried out by the Home Office. I will certainly take that back and ask the question but, as far as I know, there are no plans to look at it again.
Leasehold Reform
Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Scott of Bybrook(10 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
I assure the noble Lord that I shall go back and take that message to my Secretary of State, but I can also say that we are looking at the Scottish model.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
My Lords, the Law Commission reported in 2020, and I understand the Minister to say that the Government are taking their time—but four years is far too long. It cannot be so complicated that there cannot be a decision.
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
It is extremely complex; it affects many other legal issues to do with housing—with leaseholds and freeholds. We are looking at it as we move through the Bill. What we are putting forward is a very good first step, but it is not the end of the line. We will be working further.
Housebuilding: Government Targets
Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Scott of Bybrook(1 year, 10 months ago)
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Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
I cannot confirm that those estimates are supported by the department. What I can continue to say, as confirmed by the Secretary of State in a Written Statement in December, is that standard methods of assessing local housing need will be retained and so will the 300,000 homes target.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
My Lords, why will the Government not support prefabricated housing? Surely it would help social housing and would last for at least 25 years, when things might be better—they could not be worse.
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
I think this question was asked last week as well. We are tackling the barriers to increasing use of modern methods of construction in the industry, which are cheaper and quicker to deliver, but it means we have to be joined up so that we have a sustained pipeline for these companies to be able to deliver these important new houses. Through our £11.5 billion affordable homes programme we are challenging the sector to increase the number of homes delivered through this modern method. Around 40% of current allocations made through the programme use modern methods of construction.
Housing: Private Rented Sector
Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Scott of Bybrook(1 year, 10 months ago)
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Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
My Lords, the Government are doing many things. When the renters reform Bill comes through—it was a Conservative Party manifesto commitment—it will look at these issues, particularly in the private rented sector. However, this is a much bigger issue across all sectors, as the noble Baroness said. We are doing an enormous amount, as I have said and am not repeating, and will continue to do so. Just to say, I think that an important thing that will come out in the renters reform Bill is that we will remove Section 21 evictions.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
My Lords, have the Government thought of supporting prefabricated buildings for the social sector?
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
The Government have not considered that, although we may have to consider such measures for temporary accommodation as a result of pressures due particularly to immigration from Ukraine and Afghanistan. However, it is up to local authorities to find innovative responses to the pressures that they are under.
Domestic Abuse Victims: Housing Benefit
Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Scott of Bybrook(1 year, 11 months ago)
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Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
It will be ring-fenced and local authorities are well provided with money for this issue. There are also 26 pilots across the country that are getting £20 million. They are in the areas that are most affected by these rogue landlords. They will have money to spend to increase the learning of what they can do and to support them in getting rid of these landlords in their areas.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
My Lords, is the Minister aware that some of the victims of domestic abuse are also victims of forced marriage? Many of them are very young, and some of them are under 18. Will she make sure that they are helped in a way that is appropriate for very young girls?
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
Of course I understand that, and I will certainly take that back and make sure we are looking at that particular group of young women.
Female Offender Strategy
Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service ensures that all transgender individuals are managed safely, with their rights properly respected and in accordance with the law. Decisions on where individuals are located within the prison estate are made following assessments of all the known risks posed to and by the individual. This includes consideration of their current behaviour and previous offending history, to achieve an outcome that balances risks and promotes safety.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB) [V]
Would it not be better for women addicted to drink or drugs who commit non-violent offences to go to a residential rehabilitation centre under a probation order, rather than to prison?
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
I agree with the noble and learned Baroness. The new probation service, which is a unified service nationally and starts at the end of this week, is the way that we can look much more seriously at in-community sentences for the offenders to whom she refers.
Youth Justice System
Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
The youth justice working group, chaired by the judicial lead on youth justice, has been set up exactly to reduce the impact of Covid-19 delays on the youth court and trials involving youths in the Crown Court. This group continues to meet regularly to carefully monitor the youth recovery programme, and its highlight for this year is to continue to make sure that the lists are as low as possible for a child, particularly if they are just about to turn 18.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB) [V]
My Lords, are the Government considering raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12? These 10 and 11 year-olds usually come from seriously dysfunctional backgrounds and need help in the care system rather than convictions or findings of guilt.
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
I have no information that the age will rise from 10 to 12 but that may be debated in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which is in the other place and will be coming to this House shortly.
Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020
Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
My Lords, will the Minister add to the support that will be given online the importance to the children of both parents in most cases?
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
I assure the noble and learned Baroness that, when the Government look at making these reforms, children will be foremost in their mind.
Equal Pay Legislation
Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Baroness Scott of Bybrook
The Government are fully aware of the Fawcett Bill that the noble Baroness is bringing forward. I would also say that it is a business’s responsibility to ensure, through the Equal Pay Act, that people doing the same work are paid the same. It is its responsibility, not the employee’s, to make sure that that is correct.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
My Lords, surely the employer should give the information, not a co-worker.
Baroness Scott of Bybrook
The noble and learned Baroness is absolutely right that the employer is responsible for ensuring that its employees who are doing the same job are getting equal pay.