Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Bob Stewart Excerpts
Wednesday 24th October 2012

(11 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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The Prime Minister was asked—
Bob Stewart Portrait Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con)
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Q1. If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 24 October.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton Portrait The Prime Minister (Mr David Cameron)
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This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall have further such meetings later today.

Bob Stewart Portrait Bob Stewart
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Will my right hon. Friend ensure that the full panoply of Government powers is used to investigate the predatory activities of the late Mr Jimmy Savile?

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton Portrait The Prime Minister
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My hon. Friend makes a very important point. The allegations and what seems to have happened are completely appalling, and they are shocking the entire country. The allegations leave many institutions, perhaps particularly the BBC, with serious questions to answer. Above all the question is, “How did he get away with this for so long?” The most important thing is that the police investigation is properly resourced and allowed to continue. I do not rule out further steps, but we now have independent investigations by the BBC and into the NHS, and today I can confirm that the Director of Public Prosecutions has confirmed that his principal legal adviser will again review the papers from the time when a case was put to the Crown Prosecution Service for prosecution. The Director of Public Prosecutions will specifically consider what more can be done to alert relevant authorities when there are concerns but a prosecution is not taken forward. The Government will do everything we can, and other institutions must do what they can, to ensure that we learn the lessons from this and that it can never happen again.