Oral Answers to Questions

Jo Churchill Excerpts

Thursday 4th July 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I want to take this opportunity—I hope the House will join me as I do so—to congratulate the hon. Member for Bristol West (Thangam Debbonaire) and the other three members of the string quartet known as Statutory Instruments on their magnificent performance in Speaker’s House on Tuesday lunchtime; it was a virtuoso display of outstanding music—stirring, inspiring and admirable in every way. If you haven’t heard them, you haven’t lived.

[Jo Churchill (Bury St Edmunds) (Con)]

Particularly the cellist.

[Mr Speaker]

Yes, particularly the cellist, as the Government Whip on duty chunters from a sedentary position to very considerable public benefit.

Oral Answers to Questions

Jo Churchill Excerpts

Thursday 21st December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Nigel Huddleston (Mid Worcestershire) (Con)]

3. What steps he has taken to promote public legal education in the last 12 months.

[Jo Churchill (Bury St Edmunds) (Con)]

7. What steps he has taken to promote public legal education in the last 12 months.

[Tom Tugendhat (Tonbridge and Malling) (Con)]

9. What steps he has taken to promote public legal education in the last 12 months.

--- Later in debate ---

[Jo Churchill]

One third of the population experience civil justice cases, and nearly two thirds are unaware of basic legal rights and concepts. Minor legal challenges are commonplace, but, owing to a gap in public knowledge, many cases go unchallenged. What specific steps is the Crown Prosecution Service taking to reach the “harder to reach”—vulnerable people with physical and mental issues, and also the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to scams?

[The Solicitor General]

As the hon. Lady says, there is a wide range of people with vulnerabilities. I am glad to say that the CPS is doing some excellent work, especially in the field of hate crime. The packs that it produces for schools in particular, dealing with disability, race, religion and LGBT issues, are being downloaded and used by schools in regions throughout the country, including the hon. Lady’s region. They are designed to teach students about the nature, effects and consequences of this type of crime, and have a strong anti-bullying focus which encourages young people to become active citizens.