Oral Answers to Questions

Bill Esterson Excerpts

Tuesday 13th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Priti Patel (Witham) (Con)]

2. What plans he has to improve support services for victims of crime.

[Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab)]

13. What steps he is taking to promote and protect the rights of victims in the justice system.

[Helen Jones (Warrington North) (Lab)]

15. What recent progress he has made on his proposed changes to support for victims of crime; and if he will make a statement.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Blunt]

Yes.

[Bill Esterson]

Government cuts have hit women and children harder than any other group. Fiona Weir, the chief executive of Gingerbread, has warned the Government that, as a result of their changes to legal aid:

“The majority of domestic violence victims will not be able to provide the evidence required to access legal aid.”

Will the Minister ensure that cuts to legal aid are not another cut that hurts vulnerable children and women more than other groups?

[Mr Blunt]

Far be it for me to suggest that the hon. Gentleman might be leading the House in the wrong direction, but all victims of domestic violence will remain entitled to legal aid in respect of the domestic violence.

Oral Answers to Questions

Bill Esterson Excerpts

Tuesday 13th September 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Clarke]

I agree that there is a problem. Let us be clear. Travellers, like anybody else, are entitled to the protection of the law and are also subject to the law. We have to deal with Travellers on the basis of how they behave, not start going against them as a class. But we have to look at how the operation of the law at present is enabling people to lead a somewhat odd way of life which is totally at variance with that which is led by the rest of the population, and to seek to disregard laws to which everybody else is subject. I am not sure that the Human Rights Act and human rights legislation generally is terribly relevant, but if it gets drawn in, we will look and see what it can do to help with the case.

[Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab)]

T8. The Government cancelled the building of the Maghull prison after work had already started. Will the Lord Chancellor take this opportunity to tell my constituents what plans he has for the site, to allay their concerns about the Maghull prison site and nearby greenfield projects, which developers are eyeing up?

[Mr Blunt]

I am grateful for that detailed question from the hon. Gentleman. I will write to him with a full answer.