Oral Answers to Questions

Esther McVey Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Joy Morrissey (Beaconsfield) (Con)]

7. What discussions she has had with victims’ groups on the early release of violent offenders.

[Esther McVey (Tatton) (Con)]

14. What discussions she has had with victims groups on the early release of violent offenders.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Davies-Jones)]

A victims’ representative was on the panel that conducted the independent sentencing review, which gathered views from victims and survivors. I personally met a number of victims and victim groups and fed their views directly back to David Gauke. Those serving sentences for more serious sexual and violent offences will spend at least 50% of their sentence in custody.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alex Davies-Jones]

That is not the case. What would be failing victims is if our criminal justice system got to the point of collapse and we did not have prison places for violent offenders. This Government are getting on with reforming our criminal justice system. We are putting victims at the heart of it to protect them, and are making sure that we never run out of prison places again.

[Esther McVey]

The Prisoners (Disclosure of Information about Victims) Act 2020, otherwise known as Helen’s law, should prevent the early release of murderers who do not disclose the location of their victims’ remains. However, there are loopholes in the law in cases where the murderer makes a disclosure but no remains are found, as happened in the case of Jean Taylor’s daughter, Chantel. Will the Minister meet me and Jean Taylor, who founded the charity Families Fighting for Justice, to close those loopholes?

[Alex Davies-Jones]

I thank the right hon. Member for her question. All my sympathies go to her constituent. If she wants to write to me with the details, I will definitely look into the case and come back to her.