Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Caroline Nokes Excerpts
Wednesday 12th January 2022

(2 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rachel Maclean Portrait Rachel Maclean
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I am happy to put on record the official position, regardless of what has or has not been reported in The Telegraph, which unfortunately I have not read. We are responding to the Law Commission’s review as quickly as possible, as I already said to the hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood.

Caroline Nokes Portrait Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North) (Con)
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Our Streets Now, Plan UK and a variety of organisations from Girlguiding to the Soroptimists all agree with the Law Commission that hate crimes would best be prosecuted as a specific law. Will my hon. Friend reassure the House that she will look for a legislative vehicle to make that possible quickly?

Rachel Maclean Portrait Rachel Maclean
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I thank my right hon. Friend for raising this issue again and for representing the views of many across the country. She should be in no doubt that we take these horrific crimes seriously, and that is why we published the violence against women and girls strategy, which sets out a number of measures to keep women and girls safe. We are working at pace to work through the complex issues identified by our legal friends so that we are in a position to bring forward a response swiftly.