Contributions
2,124 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)I am grateful to the shadow Minister for the amendment, which would remove the Secretary of State’s ability to omit material in the advocate’s report if they believe it is…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)It would be premature for me to say anything like that at this point. I draw the hon. Lady’s attention, as I said, to this being replicative of the provisions put in place by the…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)In order to amplify the voices of victims and to signpost them to the right support service, advocates must have the ability to share information with public authorities and…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)Although I have a huge amount of respect for the noble Lord Wills, I disagree with him on that point, hence the approach that the Government are taking in this legislation. If the…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)I welcome the hon. Member for Lewisham West and Penge not only to her seat but to her feet, to take on part 3 of the Bill. In answer to her opening comments, the reason that part…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)I am grateful to the hon. Member for Cardiff North for amendment 25 and new clause 3. I reassure her that Parliament will be kept up to date and made aware of any findings of the…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)I can go no further than “shortly”.06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)Clause 31 gives the Secretary of State the power to produce guidance to which an advocate must have regard when exercising their functions. The Secretary of State cannot, however,…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)Again, I am grateful to the right hon. Member for Garston and Halewood for tabling amendments 74 and 75, which I will address together. As she set out, the amendments would enable…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)The IPAs are not envisaged as akin to the Hillsborough Independent Panel; they are to be set up as independent public advocates, but the office can have multiple holders…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)I will speak to clauses 27 and 28, and will return to the new clauses in this grouping once they have been spoken to by the Members who tabled them. Clause 27 sets out that the…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for Cardiff North and the right hon. Member for Garston and Halewood for tabling their new clauses. New clause 1 seeks to provide families bereaved by a…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)I am grateful to the hon. Lady; I was about to come to this point. A number of issues would need to be considered here, including whether a dual approach would be created for…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)The clause gives the Secretary of State the power to appoint a lead advocate where multiple advocates have been appointed for the same major incident. The Government believe that…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)I am grateful to the right hon. Member for Garston and Halewood for her amendments 76 to 79. As they would all amend clause 29, which focuses on the reporting function of the…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)The right hon. Lady will know the legal connotations of the phrase “have regard to”. What we are seeking to do is recognise that while there may be a lead advocate, there will…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)It is a pleasure to be back before you this afternoon, Mr Hosie. I thank the right hon. Member for Garston and Halewood for her amendment, which would require the Secretary of…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her comments. Question put and agreed to. Clause 25 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 26 Appointment of multiple independent…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)I am grateful to the shadow Minister for the amendment and her remarks. As she set out, her amendment seeks to clarify the functional and operational independence of the IPA. I…06 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Twelfth sitting)I gently say to the shadow Minister that while those processes exist, they are—as we have seen from admonitions from Mr Speaker—not always adhered to by right hon. and hon.…06 Jul 2023