Domestic Violence Victims: Cross-Examination Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Ministry of Justice

Domestic Violence Victims: Cross-Examination

Fiona Mactaggart Excerpts
Monday 9th January 2017

(7 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts

Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.

This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record

Oliver Heald Portrait Sir Oliver Heald
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I think that the importance of that issue is accepted throughout the House. Whether or not my hon. Friend’s suggestion is an appropriate way to deal with it, one thing is clear: it should be dealt with as a matter of urgency, and that is what I am committed to doing.

Perhaps I should have said earlier that there were instances in which this problem arose before LASPO. It is not a new problem, and many people were refused legal aid representation under the Labour Government.

Fiona Mactaggart Portrait Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab)
- Hansard - -

The Minister has said seven times that he is “dealing with it urgently”. When will we see the result?

Oliver Heald Portrait Sir Oliver Heald
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The answer that Members receive from the Dispatch Box is, of course, “shortly”, and that is what I have said, but it does mean shortly.