Bob Blackman
Main Page: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)Department Debates - View all Bob Blackman's debates with the Attorney General
(8 years, 5 months ago)
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The Attorney General
As the hon. Gentleman quite correctly observes, we have a new Prime Minister and we also have a new Secretary of State for Justice. Both have been in office for only a little over a week, so the hon. Gentleman will have to be a little more patient.
Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)
9. What recent discussions he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions on the prosecution of hate crime.
Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)
10. What recent discussions he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions on the prosecution of hate crime.
The Solicitor General (Robert Buckland)
I discuss this matter regularly with the DPP, and the Government will publish their hate crime strategy very shortly.
Bob Blackman
I thank my hon. and learned Friend for his answer. Given the terrible terrorist atrocities in Nice, Paris and, recently, Germany, many people in this country are fearful that because of their religion or the colour of their skin, they will be the subject of hate crime. What assurances can my hon. and learned Friend give to those people that we will prosecute, to the full extent of the law, anyone involved in hate crime?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Welfare Delivery (Caroline Nokes)
The Department for Work and Pensions takes its responsibilities for these issues extremely seriously, and it has, in fact, been strengthened by having an additional “half a Minister”. I think it trivial to focus on a job title when what we are seeking to do is give qualified, competent and determined people the right roles.
Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)
I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Minister on her appointment. One of the key decisions that she will have to make very quickly relates to the close of the two-year period of discussion of caste discrimination. I have already written to her, but will she undertake to meet me and a delegation from the Hindu community who are determined to see that illogical discrimination removed from the statute book?
Justine Greening
I should be happy to meet the hon. Gentleman. I will locate his letter at the Department, and read it very carefully.