Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill [HL] Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill [HL]

Baroness Chakrabarti Excerpts
Lord Keen of Elie Portrait Lord Keen of Elie
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That the Bill do now pass.

Baroness Chakrabarti Portrait Baroness Chakrabarti (Lab)
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My Lords, I shall not trouble the House for long. Notwithstanding some differences of principle between us, I am very grateful to the Minister and his Bill team for the limited movement towards safeguards in the Bill, but it is a shame that the Bill was not a possible vehicle for the prohibition of cross-examination of domestic violence victims in the family courts. It is government policy and it would surely command cross-party and non-party support, so I hope the Minister will talk to his colleagues in government and make time for this discrete but vital measure before too long.

Lord Keen of Elie Portrait The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Keen of Elie) (Con)
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My Lords, we are conscious of the need to address this measure and have of course addressed it in the past. I note what the noble Baroness, Lady Chakrabarti, has said on that topic but, nevertheless, I beg to move that this Bill do now pass.