Oral Answers to Questions

Jess Phillips Excerpts

Wednesday 12th January 2022 Commons Chamber

[Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood) (Lab)]

2. What assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the Law Commission’s recommendations on hate crimes.

[Jess Phillips (Birmingham, Yardley) (Lab)]

13. What assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the Law Commission’s recommendations on hate crimes.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Rachel Maclean)]

The Law Commission published its comprehensive review of hate crime laws on 7 December. Recognising the complex issues that the Law Commission has identified, the Government will carefully consider those recommendations and provide a further response as quickly as possible.

[Rachel Maclean]

I can reassure the hon. Lady and the whole House that the Prime Minister takes all forms of sexual harassment against women and girls extremely seriously. That is why we are focusing on the Law Commission’s recommendations, which involve a number of complex issues, as she will understand. If there are gaps in the specific laws that tackle this appalling crime, the Government will act.

[Jess Phillips]

To follow up on the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Helen Hayes), a kite was flown in The Telegraph saying that the Government were absolutely going to put in place a public sexual harassment law, as has been called for, as has been suggested by the Law Commission and as was talked about in the violence against women and girls strategy that was published six months ago. Now the Minister is standing in front of us and saying, “We are still looking at it.” Was what the Home Office official told The Telegraph right, or is what the Minister is saying right? The Government committed to this law six months ago, so when can we expect it?

[Rachel Maclean]

I am happy to put on record the official position, regardless of what has or has not been reported in The Telegraph, which unfortunately I have not read. We are responding to the Law Commission’s review as quickly as possible, as I already said to the hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood.