Written Question
Wednesday 17th May 2023
Asked by:
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question
to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that funeral services remain affordable for all.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
The Competition and Markets Authority continues to monitor the funerals market following its recent investigation, publishing annual reviews on developments in the market. The first review, published in January 2023, set out evidence that since the introduction of transparency rules (part of the Competition and Markets Authority’s Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021) funeral prices are flat after many years of real-terms rises. This means that costs paid by UK consumers for funeral services are likely to be lower as a result of the Competition and Markets Authority’s intervention.
The Competition and Markets Authority will continue its work to ensure that all consumers are able to benefit from the measures introduced in the Order and it has the information required to monitor consumer outcomes.
Additionally, the Government helps with the cost of funeral services for many bereaved families through the Funeral Expenses Payment scheme and the Children’s Funeral Fund.
Written Question
Thursday 27th April 2023
Asked by:
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question
to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the findings of a study by Royal Holloway, University of London of religious bias in jury outcomes with regard to different choices of oath; and whether they have any plans to update existing rules or guidance.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
Trial by jury is a fundamental part of our justice system, and the Government is committed to ensuring juries are as representative as possible of the public at large. Juries are selected completely at random in order to ensure that a cross-section of society is reflected in their make-up. Successive academic studies have shown that juries deliver fair and impartial results.
We continually monitor proceedings in the criminal courts to ensure fair trials for defendants. There are currently no plans to change the rules or guidance around swearing an oath or making an affirmation in court.
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 08 Feb 2022
Nationality and Borders Bill
"I offer the support of the Green group for all the amendments in this group and express horror at the whole nature of this part of the Bill. It is a great pleasure to follow the right reverend Prelate and to agree with everything that she said about the gender …..."Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 08 Feb 2022
Nationality and Borders Bill
"My Lords, I rise with great pleasure in following the three noble Baronesses who have proposed this amendment.
Outside Yarl’s Wood detention centre, at the “Set Her Free” protest, I listened to some incredibly powerful and moving speeches from women who had been detained in that centre and had then …..."Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle - View Speech
View all Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Nationality and Borders Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 08 Feb 2022
Nationality and Borders Bill
"My Lords, like others, I entirely agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Ludford. I have to put it on the record that it is now 11.04 pm and we are debating major legal innovations with massive consequences.
I want to ask the Minister just one question. Let us imagine a …..."Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 16 Dec 2021
Delivering Justice for Victims
"My Lords, like the two Front-Bench questioners, I want to look at the issue of delays in courts and its impact on victims. There are two angles to that. First, some figures I have seen indicate that about a quarter of victims are withdrawing from investigations and prosecutions, a figure …..."Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 16 Dec 2021
Prisons Strategy
"My Lords, I wrote down carefully what the Minister said in response to the question of the noble Lord, Lord Ponsonby, about charges for videocalls for family engagement: that the current position is there are no charges. Does the Minister believe that that will continue for the foreseeable future? On …..."Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle - View Speech
View all Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Prisons Strategy
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 15 Dec 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
"My Lords, I signed and spoke to related amendments in Committee. I also take a perhaps rare opportunity to congratulate the Minister on a comprehensive and fair Amendment 84 that really addresses the concerns of workers who are particularly low paid and insufficiently respected.
Like the noble Lord, Lord Kennedy, …..."Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 15 Dec 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
"Before the Minister sits down, I will just bounce off what the noble Baroness, Lady Neville-Rolfe, said. The Government are offering more protection to retail workers here. Does the Minister agree that this does not take responsibility off employers to make sure that they are also doing all they can …..."Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 15 Dec 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
"My Lords, I rise briefly to offer Green support to the right reverend Prelate, who so powerfully introduced these amendments. Indeed, the stress on the need for information is absolutely crucial.
I want to make a very specific point on how the damage of a prison sentence can be magnified …..."Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle - View Speech
View all Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill