Oral Answers to Questions

Mary Glindon Excerpts

Tuesday 24th May 2011 Commons Chamber

[Emma Reynolds (Wolverhampton North East) (Lab)]

4. What recent discussions he has had with the Crown Prosecution Service on the prosecution of cases involving allegations of forced marriage.

[Mrs Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab)]

10. What recent discussions he has had with the Crown Prosecution Service on the prosecution of cases involving allegations of forced marriage.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Solicitor-General]

I am sure that the Government will, but it will essentially be a matter for the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice to consider. The matter was considered by the previous Administration. The Labour Government held a consultation via the Home Office in 2005, and announced in 2006 that, on balance, they did not consider that it would be advantageous to turn forced marriage into a criminal offence. The Select Committee’s report is now available for us all to consider, and the Government will come back to the House with their response.

[Mrs Glindon]

Forced marriage and associated crimes are already thought to be chronically under-reported. Will the Minister explain how 25% cuts to the CPS’s budget will enable more, rather than fewer, victims of forced marriage to come forward?

[The Solicitor-General]

The most essential thing in this area of the criminal law, as in any other, is to encourage people who have been affected to come forward with evidence, because it is upon evidence that we can bring prosecutions. I can assure the hon. Lady that neither the Attorney-General nor I is in the least bit reluctant to encourage the prosecution of people who have committed crimes. The CPS works hard to ensure that women, in particular—forced marriage cases principally involve women, but about 17% of those affected are men—are properly protected by the law of England, and we will endeavour to ensure that they are.