Contributions
647 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (First sitting)Q Tell me about child criminal exploitation. Do you think that should be on statute? Dame Rachel de Souza: Yes, absolutely. I was going to bring that up with the definition of…20 Jun 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (First sitting)Q Do you think the services there are adequate for children? Dame Rachel de Souza: I have seen some very diverse and excellent services. I would first point out The Lighthouse,…20 Jun 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (First sitting)Q Let us look at a specific type of abuse, fatal domestic abuse, and its impact on children. Fatal domestic abuse often follows coercive or violent abuse, and where there are…20 Jun 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (First sitting)Q Great. When men kill the mothers of their children, what in your view is their motivation for exercising parental responsibility after that? Dame Rachel de Souza: That is a…20 Jun 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (First sitting)Q May I start with you, Vera? Does the Bill cover all the definitions of victims? Dame Vera Baird: No, it does not. First and most important for me, it does not deal with people…20 Jun 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (First sitting)Q Moving on to your former role as Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales and looking at how this Bill is drafted, do you believe that it is important that a Victims’…20 Jun 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (First sitting)Q Do you think the Bill gives the Victims’ Commissioner suitable powers to scrutinise the code, to work with Government on it, and to hold them to account? Dame Vera Baird: I feel…20 Jun 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (First sitting)Q In terms of the collaboration set out in the Bill, do you believe the Victims’ Commissioner should be consulted by agencies on the strategy for collaboration in exercise of any…20 Jun 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (First sitting)Q Finally, I have a quick question on the use of counselling notes for victims during trials. Can you talk to the fact that that is in use at the moment and how the Bill should…20 Jun 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (First sitting)Q Just looking at the duty on specific authorities to collaborate with each other and commission victim support services, do you think that the duty will deliver a more effective…20 Jun 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (First sitting)Yes, the duty to collaborate in the Bill. Dame Vera Baird: I think the main deficit in that duty is that it needs to be a joint needs assessment, rather than a duty to collaborate…20 Jun 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (First sitting)Q In terms of oversight, do you think the Bill goes far enough in promoting the victims code? Dame Vera Baird: It will do nothing to bring change—if that is really your question.…20 Jun 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (First sitting)Q Claire, what is your view of the Bill? Does it meet the ambition that it needs to? Claire Waxman: Sadly, no, not in its current form. I spearheaded the campaign nearly 12 years…20 Jun 2023HANSARDEngagementsQ4. While the Prime Minister upgrades his local energy grid to heat his 40-foot swimming pool and hands oil and gas companies—the likes of BP and Shell—£11.4 billion in tax…24 May 2023HANSARDDraft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Edward. I thank the Minister for outlining the provisions of the draft order. As he explained, it will amend schedule 1 to the…17 May 2023HANSARDDraft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023My hon. Friend makes a very important point. Chartered accountants, for example, undertake sensitive accounting work that requires a very high degree of public trust, and the risk…17 May 2023HANSARDFamily Court Experts: PsychologistsFamily courts across the country are being used to perpetuate domestic abuse, and when that abuse proves fatal, which we know it too often does, the family courts allow it to be…16 May 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners BillFirst of all, I pay tribute to all those who have spoken in this important debate. We have heard powerful speeches and personal testimonies from those who have shared their…15 May 2023HANSARDEnergy Bill [Lords]I thank the Secretary of State. The Bill is sending mixed messages across the world, issuing 100 oil and gas licences while not ensuring that renewable energy projects are…09 May 2023HANSARDEnergy Bill [Lords]rose—09 May 2023