Private Members’ Bills Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Private Members’ Bills

Chris Bryant Excerpts
Tuesday 25th October 2016

(7 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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I do not always agree with my hon. Friend, but on this occasion he makes a very reasonable point.

Chris Bryant Portrait Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab)
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The thing is that tens of thousands of people were watching the debate last Friday as though it really were a matter of life and death for them, because it was about their own sense of shame, how society had treated them, and whether they would have a possibility of real exoneration. For all the fine words that we hear about 100 Members and all the rest of it, the truth is that last Friday brought the House into disrepute. I have no beef with the Minister; the problem is that the system encourages Ministers to do that week after week. The system is bust and it needs mending.

David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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I repeat that as a result of the course that the Government have chosen, Turing’s law will now be enacted within weeks as part of a Government Bill, together with safeguards to ensure that anyone who is not supposed to receive a disregard or pardon will not be able to secure it by subterfuge.