Tuesday 30th January 2024

(10 months, 3 weeks ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord Offord of Garvel Portrait Lord Offord of Garvel (Con)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I thank the noble Lord for his question. I know that he is well versed in these matters. As we have discussed in the House before, there will be many ramifications from this case when the facts come out, one of which, as the noble Lord highlighted, is this presumption that the computer is always right, which clearly was not the case. I would have to refer to MoJ colleagues to find out exactly what happened in that case. The judgment was given in the Appeal Court in 2019 and the inquiry was set up in 2020. In 2021, when the convictions were overturned, the inquiry became a statutory inquiry. Under a statutory inquiry, we will get to the bottom of those questions.

Lord Watts Portrait Lord Watts (Lab)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

My Lords, the chairman oversaw this scandal. Can the Minister assure us that he will not be given a compensation package that demonstrates that, if you fail, you get paid?

Lord Offord of Garvel Portrait Lord Offord of Garvel (Con)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

The chairman who is just leaving was not the chairman pre-2015 and he is not receiving any compensation.