Oral Answers to Questions

Meg Hillier Excerpts

Tuesday 15th May 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Blunt]

I will write to my hon. Friend, to make sure that I get the precise details correct in respect of her centre.

[Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/Co-op)]

In 2004 Robert Levy, aged 16, was killed in Hackney. His parents, Ian and Pat Levy, will be receiving support from the probation trust to help them give a victim statement at the parole hearing, which is due next year, but their rights are limited. There is no guarantee that they will appear in person and there will be no cross-examination of them about the impact on their lives. Will the Minister look again at this element of victim impact and tell us what he is doing?

[Mr Blunt]

We have done so in the course of our consideration of our policy for victims and witnesses, and I hope the hon. Lady will be able to look forward to the conclusions that we take from that, in particular on the future rule of the victim personal statement. I agree with her about its importance. It is another vehicle for getting victims properly engaged in the exercise of justice.