Prisoners: Voting

Lord Dubs Excerpts

Wednesday 9th June 2010 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Lord Dubs]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their plans to give prisoners the right to vote.

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally)]

My Lords, the Government are considering afresh the best way forward on the issue of prisoner voting rights.

[Lord Dubs]

My Lords, I am trying to think what “afresh” means. Will the Minister confirm that the Council of Europe yesterday gave the British Government three months in which to comply with a ruling of the European Court of Human Rights and that the previous Labour Government were committed to doing so? Will the Minister give some indication whether “afresh” means “some time” or “not likely”?

[Lord McNally]

My Lords, “afresh” probably means “with a greater sense of urgency than Ministers in the last Government approached the issue”.