Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mary Glindon and Dominic Grieve

Tuesday 7th February 2012 Commons Chamber

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

8. What discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on reform of extradition law.

[The Attorney-General (Mr Dominic Grieve)]

The matter is being actively considered by the Government, led by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

[Mrs Glindon]

Will the Government wait for the outcome of the Liberal Democrats’ review of the extradition law before making a decision on the coalition Government’s change to that law?

[The Attorney-General]

My understanding is that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is currently giving careful consideration to the recommendations of the independent extradition review panel. She wants to discuss the Government’s proposed response to those recommendations with Cabinet colleagues before announcing to Parliament what action the Government will take. In reaching a decision on what the Government propose to do, she will also take into account the report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights on extradition and the representations made by Members of the House during recent debates.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mary Glindon and Dominic Grieve

Tuesday 11th October 2011 Commons Chamber

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

1. What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on magistrates’ sentencing powers.

[The Attorney-General (Mr Dominic Grieve)]

I meet the Justice Secretary regularly, when we discuss a range of criminal justice issues, including magistrates’ sentencing powers.

[Mrs Glindon]

It is clear that the Attorney-General and the Justice Secretary do not see eye to eye on magistrates’ sentencing powers. Will the Attorney-General clarify whether he disagrees with any other aspects of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, which is currently going through Committee, such as the likely increase in the number of people forced to represent themselves in family law cases?

[The Attorney-General]

To stick to the point that arises from the question that was initially asked, I can assure the hon. Lady that there is no difference of view between my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and myself on this matter. As she will be aware, in 2003, the previous Government introduced the power for magistrates to increase sentences as part of custody plus, but were never able to implement it because, I think, they were concerned about the rise in the prison population. There remains an issue of debate about the value of increasing those powers. It would undoubtedly put more cases into the magistrates courts, but at the same time it would run the risk of increasing the prison population. The problems remain much as they were under the previous Government. My right hon. and learned Friend has therefore taken the decision that it is best to keep this power in reserve, even though the way it is expressed at the moment is by no means perfect—it is linked to custody plus in the Criminal Justice Act 2003—and to consult thereafter on whether it could be brought into operation profitably to improve the working of the criminal justice system or might have to be replaced by a similar provision that was not linked or worded in the way that it is at present.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mary Glindon and Dominic Grieve

Tuesday 30th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[The Attorney-General]

I certainly share my hon. Friend’s concerns that that area should remain a priority for local authorities. In each case, they will have to adjust their expenditure to the financial constraints upon them, and I am sure that one of the most important things will be for people, such as my hon. Friend and other Members who are aware of the good work in that area, to make those representations quite clear to their local authorities as well as the importance that they attach to them.

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

2. What assessment he has made of the effects of the recent funding settlement for the Crown Prosecution Service on the provision of funding to witness care units.