Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Dominic Grieve Excerpts
Tuesday 31st October 2017

(6 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Well, what a rich vein. I call Mr Dominic Grieve.

Dominic Grieve Portrait Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield) (Con)
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I welcome the news that the Government are again considering prisoners’ right to vote. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may find that this is a matter on which public opinion and the mood in this House has shifted. It is high time that we remedied something that places us in a very small category of countries. Most countries manage to allow their prisoners to vote—certainly those sentenced to short terms of imprisonment—without the world coming to an end, and it is an important tool for both civic participation and rehabilitation.

David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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My right hon. and learned Friend expresses a view that he has held for a long time and has been clear about, and I am sure that he will be following the debate closely. When the Government have reached a view on our approach to the Committee of Ministers meeting, we will share that with Parliament.