Written Question
Friday 16th July 2021
Asked by:
Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question
to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of prohibiting those people selected for jury service from serving on juries if they have not received both doses of a covid-19 vaccine.
Answered by Chris Philp
- Shadow Home Secretary
We have assessed the option of creating juries with only fully vaccinated people. We believe that selecting a jury in this way cannot currently be made consistent with the random jury selection process and would introduce bias to the makeup of juries. We have assessed, therefore, that the proposal would not be in the interests of justice.
The institution of trial by jury is a key component of our criminal justice system and the interests of justice are paramount in determining how juries are selected. The random selection process exists to ensure not only that there is no bias but also that juries are representative of the communities from which they are drawn. The principle of the random selection of jurors has long been an integral part of maintaining a fair justice system.
On testing, rapid (lateral flow device) COVID tests are being offered to all citizens and we encourage anyone attending court, including jurors, to get a test to support efforts to help stop the spread of the virus. Lateral flow home-test kits are also available to collect at every court and tribunal in England and Wales for all regular court and tribunal users including jurors.
Written Question
Friday 16th July 2021
Asked by:
Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question
to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring jurors to have received (a) both doses of a covid-19 vaccine and (b) a negative covid-19 test before they are sworn in.
Answered by Chris Philp
- Shadow Home Secretary
We have assessed the option of creating juries with only fully vaccinated people. We believe that selecting a jury in this way cannot currently be made consistent with the random jury selection process and would introduce bias to the makeup of juries. We have assessed, therefore, that the proposal would not be in the interests of justice.
The institution of trial by jury is a key component of our criminal justice system and the interests of justice are paramount in determining how juries are selected. The random selection process exists to ensure not only that there is no bias but also that juries are representative of the communities from which they are drawn. The principle of the random selection of jurors has long been an integral part of maintaining a fair justice system.
On testing, rapid (lateral flow device) COVID tests are being offered to all citizens and we encourage anyone attending court, including jurors, to get a test to support efforts to help stop the spread of the virus. Lateral flow home-test kits are also available to collect at every court and tribunal in England and Wales for all regular court and tribunal users including jurors.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 13 Dec 2017
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
"I am not sure how to follow both of those contributions, but hon. Members may be relieved to know that I am going to make a brief one as I rise to speak to amendment 26, which seeks to change clause 8. I will focus on two specific points, the …..."Matthew Pennycook - View Speech
View all Matthew Pennycook (Lab - Greenwich and Woolwich) contributions to the debate on: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 13 Dec 2017
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
"I wish to make a little progress.
That is why we tabled new clause 66, which would guarantee, by means of prescribing when exit day for the purposes of this Bill can be appointed, that both Houses have a meaningful vote on the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the …..."Matthew Pennycook - View Speech
View all Matthew Pennycook (Lab - Greenwich and Woolwich) contributions to the debate on: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 13 Dec 2017
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
"I agree with my hon. Friend’s point about services. I say to all hon. Members who are happy to contemplate a scenario in which the Government walk away from the negotiations and this House is merely a spectator in that outcome, that that is not acceptable and this House should …..."Matthew Pennycook - View Speech
View all Matthew Pennycook (Lab - Greenwich and Woolwich) contributions to the debate on: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 13 Dec 2017
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
"I will make some progress, I am afraid, because a number of hon. Members wish to speak. Perhaps my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey) will do so.
New clause 66 would ensure that there is a vote on a motion, not just in the event of a …..."Matthew Pennycook - View Speech
View all Matthew Pennycook (Lab - Greenwich and Woolwich) contributions to the debate on: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 13 Dec 2017
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
"I am very, very pleased to hear that. We will support the right hon. and learned Gentleman and the amendment in that eventuality.
I will conclude by saying that, subject to the kind of constraint that would be put in place if amendment 7 were incorporated into the Bill, we …..."Matthew Pennycook - View Speech
View all Matthew Pennycook (Lab - Greenwich and Woolwich) contributions to the debate on: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 13 Dec 2017
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
"rose—..."Matthew Pennycook - View Speech
View all Matthew Pennycook (Lab - Greenwich and Woolwich) contributions to the debate on: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 13 Dec 2017
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
"I do not think that that is a fair characterisation of my argument. The right hon. Gentleman has said that there is a possibility, in certain circumstances, of sending the Government back to ask for the deal to be changed. It is possible that that might be turned down, so …..."Matthew Pennycook - View Speech
View all Matthew Pennycook (Lab - Greenwich and Woolwich) contributions to the debate on: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 13 Dec 2017
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
"I will be brief, and then leave it there, but I want to pick up on two of the right hon. Gentleman’s points. First, I think there will be time. Last week’s joint agreement makes it clear that there must be time, in accordance with our own procedures, to look …..."Matthew Pennycook - View Speech
View all Matthew Pennycook (Lab - Greenwich and Woolwich) contributions to the debate on: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill