Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ronnie Cowan and Dominic Raab

Tuesday 24th May 2022 Commons Chamber

[Dominic Raab]

I am pleased to see, in the context of the latest data, that rape convictions are up 67% on the previous year. We will be bringing forward our response to the consultation on the victims Bill and the associated package very shortly. There will be a step change—a quantum leap—in the number of ISVAs and independent domestic violence advisers as a result of the settlement that I have secured with the Treasury. I am happy to give the hon. Lady specific details.

[Ronnie Cowan (Inverclyde) (SNP)]

Over the years, many people have been coerced, often through violence, into being filmed in pornography that has been put online for people to see for years to come. Will the Government consider making provision in the Online Safety Bill for people to withdraw their consent and have that content removed from the internet?

[Dominic Raab]

The hon. Gentleman has raised an important point, which I will certainly convey to the Home Office in the context of the online harms Bill.

UK Telecommunications

Debate between Ronnie Cowan and Dominic Raab

Tuesday 28th January 2020 Commons Chamber

[Dominic Raab]

I am not quite sure what clandestine services my hon. Friend is referring to, but I can reassure him that there is nothing further than the investment that would be accepted, as laid out in the statement I have made.

[Ronnie Cowan (Inverclyde) (SNP)]

After 35 years of working in IT and writing and reading many tenders for telecommunications systems, I would never in my life consider a vendor that I judged to be high risk. Why are the Government doing this? Does the Secretary of State really think that the resilience and integrity of UK telecoms is safe? He has said in his statement that

“risk cannot be eliminated in telecoms”,

but we could at least try to mitigate it.

[Dominic Raab]

That is precisely what I set out in my statement.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ronnie Cowan and Dominic Raab

Tuesday 5th September 2017 Commons Chamber

[Ronnie Cowan (Inverclyde) (SNP)]

2. When the Government plan to announce how rebate arrangements will work for people who have paid employment tribunal fees.

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Dominic Raab)]

Following the Supreme Court judgment on employment tribunal fees of the end of July, we immediately stopped charging them. We are putting in place arrangements to refund those who have paid the fees in the past, and we will announce the practical, detailed arrangements shortly.

[Ronnie Cowan]

I have been contacted by a constituent who highlighted the stress and financial burden that was placed on them while going through an employment tribunal case that they ultimately won. Will the Minister ensure that those who are entitled to claim back employment tribunal fees are made aware of the process and reunited with their money in a timely fashion?

[Dominic Raab]

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that it can be quite an ordeal to go to an employment tribunal—or any tribunal—which is why I pay tribute to the conciliation work of ACAS. We will set out practical arrangements for the reimbursement of those fees. We want to ensure that all the points—particularly about people’s awareness—are properly thought through before we do that.