Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Ed Davey Excerpts
Tuesday 6th March 2018

(6 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Phillip Lee Portrait Dr Lee
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We have plenty to learn from what is happening in Scotland with regard to the way we deal with women who are victims of domestic abuse, and indeed offenders who have been victims of domestic abuse. As the Justice Minister with responsibility for the devolved Administrations, my discussions continue regularly. I look forward to learning from Scotland in future.

Ed Davey Portrait Sir Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton) (LD)
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The Government had plans to legislate to ban alleged domestic abusers from cross-examining their victims in the family courts. Is that still Government policy? If so, when will such a provision be put before the House? Every day that there is a delay, more vulnerable people get tormented in court.

Phillip Lee Portrait Dr Lee
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The right hon. Gentleman is spot on in his analysis. The abuse and coercion of females, invariably by males, through the court process is wrong and not acceptable. We will bring forward details on how we intend to address that in the Bill that is coming later this year.