Asked by: Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the scope of the inquiry into child sexual exploitation and abuse will permit the inquiry to consider the historic background and factors behind child sexual exploitation and abuse in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is driving forward work to establish the National Inquiry into Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse under the Inquiries Act 2005. It will be overseen by an Independent Commission with statutory powers to compel evidence and testimony so that institutions can be held to account for current and historic failures. The inquiry will be independent of government and designed to command the confidence of victims and survivors and the wider public.
In line with the Inquiries Act, the appointed Chair will play a central role in shaping the Commission’s Terms of Reference. These will be published by the Chair once in post and subject to consultation with stakeholders, including victims and survivors.
Asked by: Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Bates on 25 November (HL Deb, col 691), whether they plan to introduce primary legislation in relation to extraterritorial jurisdiction when dealing with forced marriages; whether they will then fully ratify the Istanbul Convention; and if so, what is the expected timetable for doing so.
Answered by Lord Bates
We have already taken extra-territorial jurisdiction on forced marriage through the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. However we will need to take extra-territorial jurisdiction over a number of other offences in order to be fully compliant with Article 44 of the convention. Primary legislation will be required and the Government is currently considering the approach to implementing the extra-territorial provisions and working with devolved administrations regarding ratification. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for introducing further amendments to domestic law to be able to take extra-territorial jurisdiction over the remaining offences and will seek to legislate as soon as the approach is agreed and Parliamentary time allows. The Government takes its international commitments very seriously and will only commit to such ratification when we are absolutely satisfied that we comply with all articles.