Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Attorney General

Oral Answers to Questions

Robert Largan Excerpts
Thursday 13th February 2020

(4 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Ellis Portrait The Solicitor General
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No, I do not accept that. In fact, the £85 million that was given to the CPS recently was the largest sum, pro rata, given to any Government Department. It is right that it is a priority for the Government to deal with criminal justice robustly, which is what the Government are going to do.

Robert Largan Portrait Robert Largan (High Peak) (Con)
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11. What steps the CPS is taking to improve the prosecution rate for antisemitic hate crime.

Michael Ellis Portrait The Solicitor General (Michael Ellis)
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The proper disclosure of unused material is vital if there is to be a fair trial, and we will continue to focus on these issues, including on the issue of better meeting the disclosure obligations. We will work with investigators to pursue all reasonable lines of inquiry.

Robert Largan Portrait Robert Largan
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The CPS does not currently publish figures on hate crime prosecution rates disaggregated by racial and religious bias. Will the Solicitor General join me in urging the CPS to make that data available so that we can judge its performance on antisemitism and properly tackle this most hateful form of crime?

Michael Ellis Portrait The Solicitor General
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The issue of antisemitism, which my hon. Friend rightly raises, is one of very considerable concern. Just last week, I visited the Community Security Trust in north London; the work that the trust does with the Jewish community to combat antisemitism is significant and very much appreciated. My hon. Friend is right that it is important that proper records are kept by the CPS in respect of these matters, and we are constantly discussing with the CPS how better it can review its statistics and keep these things properly in the mind of the general public.