Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gloria De Piero and Phillip Lee

Tuesday 24th April 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dr Lee]

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for the question. Yes, he has a point with regard to the funding of domestic abuse cases from legal aid. My ministerial colleagues are fully aware of this issue, and I am more than happy to meet him.

[Gloria De Piero (Ashfield) (Lab)]

Mr Speaker,

“Why should victims always have to be fighting their corner? That’s why we need a victims’ law.”

They are not my words, but the words of the Government’s Victims’ Commissioner. Can we be clear: will she and all the other people who are calling for it get a victims law?

[Dr Lee]

My intention in the strategy is to outline the legislative requirements needed to underpin the victims code. By definition, that is a victims law.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gloria De Piero and Phillip Lee

Tuesday 6th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dr Lee]

The right hon. Gentleman is spot on in his analysis. The abuse and coercion of females, invariably by males, through the court process is wrong and not acceptable. We will bring forward details on how we intend to address that in the Bill that is coming later this year.

[Gloria De Piero (Ashfield) (Lab)]

The court experience can be a bewildering one—it can often feel like a different planet. That is not helped by the fact that 72% of court judges are men. It is International Women’s Day on Thursday; will the Government commit to a timetable to ensure that 50% of court judges are women?

[Dr Lee]

The hon. Lady points to something with which I would agree. It would be appropriate if the number of women in that position in our society was greater. I am supporting International Women’s Day by visiting HMP Bronzefield on Thursday evening. I cannot commit to a timetable—the hon. Lady knows that—but I will certainly take away her suggestion.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gloria De Piero and Phillip Lee

Tuesday 23rd January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dr Lee]

As I am sure my hon. Friend is aware, the Government committed in their manifesto to consider the extension of the scope of the unduly lenient sentence scheme. My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney General is reviewing that.

[Gloria De Piero (Ashfield) (Lab)]

We all know that, too often, victims are failed by the criminal justice system. That is presumably why, in 2015, the Conservatives matched Labour’s manifesto commitment to enshrine victims’ rights in a victims law. It is three years on. Can Ministers give me a single good reason why it has not happened?