Asked by: Ann Clwyd (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, who will lead the UK delegation at the UN Human Rights Council for the UK's Universal Periodic Review on 4 May 2017.
Answered by Oliver Heald
I shall lead the UK delegation myself.
Asked by: Ann Clwyd (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2017 to Question 59732, what the timetable will be for publishing an updated copy of the Macur Review with redactions relating to Gordon Angelsea reinstated.
Answered by Phillip Lee
I refer the Honourable Member to my answer of 20 January 2017.
Asked by: Ann Clwyd (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will publish an updated copy of the Macur Review with redactions relating to Gordon Angelsea reinstated.
Answered by Phillip Lee
In light of Gordon Anglesea’s death we will consider whether to publish an updated report of the Macur Review.
Asked by: Ann Clwyd (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions she had with the (a) Law Society and (b) Bar Council before those organisations introduced training for their members on improving the courtroom experience for (i) vulnerable witnesses and (ii) children who have experienced sexual abuse.
Answered by Phillip Lee
The Government is committed to making the process of going to court simpler, easier and more sympathetic to victims. That is why we will roll out recorded pre-trial cross-examination in the Crown Court, to ensure vulnerable victims and witnesses are spared the trauma of reliving events at trial.
All publicly-funded advocates in sexual offences cases will be required to undertake specialist training on working with vulnerable victims and witnesses. Only advocates who have had the specialist training will be able to be instructed in and undertake sexual offences cases.
The Law Society and Bar Council are working together to deliver a national training programme, Advocacy and the Vulnerable, which has been developed by the Inns of Court College of Advocacy. Officials engaged with the Inns of Court College of Advocacy during development of the training, and also regularly engage with them to support the development of toolkits for lawyers on the general good practice when dealing with vulnerable witnesses made available on the Advocate’s Gateway which they host.
Asked by: Ann Clwyd (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of paying compensation to people who have paid damages in libel cases arising out of the giving of false evidence where they were acting in the public interest.
Answered by Phillip Lee
Under the existing system, people who have paid damages in libel cases where it is subsequently found that the evidence on which the judgment of the court was based was false have rights of appeal against the original decision and may also have other rights of action through which they can seek to recover their losses.
Asked by: Ann Clwyd (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will publish an updated copy of the Macur Review with redactions relating to sentencing of Gordon Angleseas reinstated.
Answered by Phillip Lee
We will consider this matter when court proceedings, including any appeal, have concluded.
Asked by: Ann Clwyd (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to recommendation 5 on page 251 of the Report of the Macur Review, published in March 2016, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a police investigation to consider whether there is sufficient evidence and public interest relating to matters of malfeasance in public office in the Welsh Office in relation to the abuse of children in care in North Wales.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
As the then Secretary of State for Wales said in his statement to the House on 17 March, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service are aware of the specifics of this matter and it is for them to consider further.
Asked by: Ann Clwyd (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to recommendation 5 on page 251 of the Report of the Macur Review, published in March 2016, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a police investigation to consider whether there is sufficient evidence and public interest relating to matters of malfeasance in public office or perverting the course of justice in North West Wales Police in relation to the abuse of children in care in North Wales.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
As the then Secretary of State for Wales said in his statement to the House on 17 March, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service are aware of the specifics of this matter and it is for them to consider further.
Asked by: Ann Clwyd (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2015 to Question 19906, by whom Lady Justice Macur's report is being considered.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The report needs to be considered by law enforcement agencies and the government before it can be published. This includes considering whether redactions need to be made. Lady Justice Macur has recommended that certain material should be considered for redaction.
The work is proceeding at pace with a view to publication as soon as possible.
Asked by: Ann Clwyd (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2015 to Question 19906, when he expects to publish Lady Justice Macur's report.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The report needs to be considered by law enforcement agencies and the government before it can be published. This includes considering whether redactions need to be made. Lady Justice Macur has recommended that certain material should be considered for redaction.
The work is proceeding at pace with a view to publication as soon as possible.