Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephanie Peacock and Lucy Frazer

Tuesday 5th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Stephanie Peacock (Barnsley East) (Lab)]

T7. The Government continue to drag their feet on publishing their review of legal aid. Will the Minister tell the House exactly when we can expect it by?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Lucy Frazer)]

We said that we would publish the review early in the new year, and we will be publishing it early in the new year. The hon. Lady should expect it shortly. This is a serious matter that takes time. I would like to quote the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Andy Slaughter), who told the Law Society Gazette early last year

“that I would rather the government take this seriously and take their time with it.”

That is exactly what we are doing.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephanie Peacock and Lucy Frazer

Tuesday 13th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Frazer]

As my right hon. Friend implies, every parent who separates wants to continue to have contact with their child. I was pleased to talk about this issue with him and my hon. Friend the Member for North West Leicestershire (Andrew Bridgen). I have taken up their proposal and spoken about it with the president of the family division, as well as with a number of organisations that deal with children and legal representatives in the family courts. I should say that they all have differing perspectives, but we are looking at this matter very closely.

[Stephanie Peacock (Barnsley East) (Lab)]

It is now two years since the Government made a commitment to ban perpetrators from cross-examining victims of domestic abuse in family courts, which the Minister has just mentioned, but when will she actually follow through on that and finally act on this issue?

[Lucy Frazer]

We will follow through on this issue, which is a Government priority—

[Stephanie Peacock]

But when?

[Lucy Frazer]

It will be in a Bill as soon as legislation and the parliamentary timetable allow.