Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Helen Goodman Excerpts
Tuesday 7th February 2012

(12 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Garnier Portrait The Solicitor-General
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There is also another rule that the Law Officers do not tell the police what to do. It is entirely a matter for the police to deal with arrests. If matters come to their attention that need the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service, which the Attorney-General and I superintend, we will no doubt examine them.

Helen Goodman Portrait Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab)
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One issue that will arise in this context is contempt of court and the extent to which the media need to be controlled. I was rather disappointed to hear the Attorney-General’s responses on Radio 4 this morning. Would the Solicitor-General like to make it absolutely clear to the entire nation that, notwithstanding the rights and wrongs of particular cases, it is possible to commit contempt on Twitter?

Lord Garnier Portrait The Solicitor-General
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That is a deeply uncontroversial statement to make.