Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Dominic Raab Excerpts
Tuesday 6th September 2016

(8 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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The Secretary of State was asked—
Dominic Raab Portrait Mr Dominic Raab (Esher and Walton) (Con)
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1. What steps she is taking to reform the Human Rights Act 1998.

Elizabeth Truss Portrait The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Elizabeth Truss)
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First, I would like to pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s work on human rights reform as a Minister in this Department. He is a great champion of liberty.

The Government are committed to scrapping the Human Rights Act and introducing a British Bill of Rights.

Dominic Raab Portrait Mr Raab
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May I say at the outset that it is an honour to be the first Member to welcome the new Justice Secretary and the new Front-Bench team to their posts? I wish them every success. I also reassure my right hon. Friend, from experience, that being a lawyer is of very limited value in her Department—no offence to the Minister of State.

Britain’s decision to leave the EU will remove the jurisdiction of the Luxembourg Court, which is probably the biggest obstacle to delivering a Bill of Rights. May I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement on the intention to continue this reform and encourage the Government to proceed to consultation as soon as possible?

Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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This is an important reform; we need to get it right. We will be introducing proposals in due course. We will deliver on this manifesto commitment.