Tag: Harriet Harman

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harriet Harman on 2016-02-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the right hon. Member for Camberwell and Peckham of 16 November 2015, whether British consular officials in Nigeria have made a further visit to Nnamdi Kanu.

James Duddridge

Consular officials in Nigeria have visited Mr Kanu a number of times since his arrest, most recently on 3 February.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harriet Harman on 2016-02-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications to the Disclosure and Barring Service from people living in Camberwell and Peckham constituency have taken more than 60 days to process in each of the last 12 months.

Karen Bradley

The number of applications to the Disclosure and Barring Service from people living in Camberwell and Peckham constituency that have taken more than 60 days to process in each of the last 12 months is listed in the table below.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harriet Harman on 2016-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is on UK membership of the European Convention on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.

Dominic Raab

As I told the House on 26^th April, the Government’s position on the European Convention of Human Rights remains clear. We cannot rule out withdrawing forever, but our forthcoming proposals do not include it.

We are confident that we can replace the Human Rights Act with a Bill of Rights and reform our relationship with the Strasbourg Court.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harriet Harman on 2016-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he last discussed the European Convention on Human Rights with the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

Dominic Raab

This Government was elected with a mandate to reform and modernise the UK human rights framework. We engage with all relevant government departments on a regular basis at Ministerial and official level. Reform of the UK’s human rights framework involves careful consideration within government and our proposals will be published in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harriet Harman on 2016-04-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will instruct Ofsted, when drawing up a report on a school, to consult parents who live locally but do not send their children to that school.

Nick Gibb

There are no plans for the Secretary of State to instruct Ofsted on this matter.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harriet Harman on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many housing associations have demolished residential buildings that are less than 10 years old in each of the last five years; and what the reasons were for those demolitions.

Brandon Lewis

The information requested is not held centrally.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harriet Harman on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Homes and Communities Agency and (b) Wandle Housing Association Limited on the demolition of residential buildings in Solomon’s Passage, Peckham.

Brandon Lewis

None. The Regulator is aware of the issues relating to Solomon’s Passage in Peckham. They are currently considering the information provided by Wandle Housing Association in line with our processes for dealing with referrals related to the consumer standards.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harriet Harman on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the effect on the preparedness of complainants to report rape of the use of complainants’ previous sexual history in evidence in rape trials; and if she will make a statement.

Sarah Newton

This Government has made protecting women and girls from violence and supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence a key priority.

The most recent Crime Statistics published on 20 October by the Office for National Statistics show that police recorded rape increased by 16% (to 36,438) in the year ending July 2016 compared with the previous year. The ONS state that the increases are believed to result from an improvement in the recording of sexual offences by the police and an increased willingness of victims to come forward and report these crimes to the police. In addition, the Crown Prosecution Service annual Violence Against Women and Girls Report, published in September 2016, shows the highest volumes ever recorded of charged defendants, prosecutions and convictions for rape.

We welcome the fact that more victims of rape are coming forward and reporting these crimes to the police. Victims must have the confidence to report these crimes, knowing that they will get the support they need to go through the criminal justice process and that everything will be done to bring offenders to justice.

Section 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 places a statutory restriction on introduction of evidence and questioning of complainants about their sexual history. Section 41 was introduced to protect complainants in proceedings for sexual offences, introducing a presumption that such evidence and questioning will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harriet Harman on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what contacts (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with Shaker Aamer since his release from Guantánamo Bay; and what information he holds on whether Ministers or officials in other departments have had such contacts.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

There has been no FCO Ministerial contact with Mr Aamer. Representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Metropolitan police accompanied Mr Aamer on his way back to the UK. The Government has been in contact with Mr Aamer’s legal representatives throughout the process of securing his release and thereafter.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harriet Harman on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to review the law on use of complainants’ previous sexual history as evidence in rape cases; and if she will make a statement.

Sir Oliver Heald

This Government is committed to making sure that victims of sexual abuse and rape get the support they need and have the confidence to come forward. The Justice Secretary will be meeting rape support groups later this month to discuss what more we can do to support victims.

Section 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 is intended to protect complainants of rape and other serious sexual offences by making clear that evidence of previous sexual history is inadmissible in court unless a strict set of criteria is met. It is right that applications to admit such evidence are determined by the independent judiciary on a case-by-case basis to protect complainants whilst maintaining a defendant’s right to a fair trial.

The Justice Secretary and Attorney General will be looking at how the law is working in practice.