Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard Excerpts

Thursday 14th April 2016 Commons Chamber

[The Solicitor General]

I am naturally reticent to trespass upon the bailiwick of my hon. Friend’s hair, so I will confine my remarks to the serious issue he raised about the mental health impacts on young people. Work is being done on training so that CPS prosecutors can enable victims and users to report abuse and, in particular, to ensure that offending content can be removed by providers.

[Tom Elliott (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) (UUP)]

What action is being taken in schools in conjunction with the Department for Education to try to curtail the amount of online abuse aimed at young people?

[The Solicitor General]

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that a massive amount of work is being done by not only the Department for Education, but the third sector on cyber-bullying and its effects on young people. The combined approach that is being taken in schools the length and breadth of the country is not only alerting young people to the dangers, but empowering them to make complaints, so that they do not have to suffer in silence.

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard Excerpts

Thursday 14th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[The Solicitor General]

I hear what my hon. Friend says, as I am sure do DEFRA Ministers. With about £1.7 million of funding since 2010, the unit has indeed played an important role in the prosecution of these serious offences. As I said, a decision on funding will be made very soon.

[Tom Elliott (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) (UUP)]

Does the Solicitor General feel that there is enough protection in current legislation not only for wildlife, but for individuals who are involved in rural sports?

[The Solicitor General]

Britain has led the world in legislation that criminalises acts of cruelty against wildlife and that relates to the protection of wildlife. While the relevant laws are in place, they will be properly enforced and prosecutions will be applied using the tests that prosecutors have to use, following the evidence wherever it leads them.