Live Attorney General Questions House of Commons

Good morning and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage of the

future parliamentary business. Will Grayling will answer

future parliamentary business. Will then be a short statement rdgarding

the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly. The main

business today are backbench debates. The first is UK policy on

space exploration. The second regards House of Lords reform. The

day ends with plans to direct electricity pylons for Hinkley C.

Join me for a round-up of the day at 11pm tonight. First, questions to

Jeremy Wright, the Attorney,General. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Legal

updated ahead of the introdtction of updated ahead of the

the new effects of coercive or controlling behaviour. And to

support the introduction of that guidance, training has been

developed and made availabld to prosecutors. Women's groups have

warmly welcomed the new ruld as a step forward for protecting victims.

Does he expect a rise in thd number of these cases coming to cotrt as a

result? I am grateful and I pay tribute to all those groups who do

so much to support male and female victims of domestic abuse. We can

expect a rise in prosecutions. We have seen similar resident hn the

cases of stalking and harassment a few years ago. Given that conviction

rates for rape, domestic abtse and other sexual offences has f`llen in

the last year, what reassur`nces can the Minister give to the Hotse that

further budget cuts will not damage the attempt to secure justice for

the victims of those cryings -- those crimes. The rate remahns

broadly flat for domestic vholence. The volume of convictions continues

to increase and that is good news for every single victim involved.

For example, rape no concerns 2 00. No prosecution will be prevdnted as

a result of any budget problems The strength of the victims' evhdence in

a domestic abuse trial can often depend on recollections as close to

the time as possible. Perhaps victims should be allowed to record

testimony on their mobile phones, rather than being taken to ` police

station. We have police pilots in London using body cameras to capture

the immediate effects. I thhnk that technology needs to be very much

part of the tools available to police officers when investhgating

these cases. Domestic accounts for a fifth of all crime in

Northern Ireland. Police officers attend 60 incidents per day. We

still have problems with people feeling to come forward,

particularly men. By the CPS considering taking steps with police

forces to encourage people to record all of these cases? 15% of these

cases are about men. It is not a badge of shame to admit you are a

male victim of domestic abuse. That message needs to be heard loud and

clear throughout the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. With

permission, I'll answer this question with question seven. I meet

regularly with ministerial colleagues to discuss issues of

common interest, among them EU law matters. By convention, where advice

has been issued, it is not disclosed. Given the timesc`le, can

the Attorney-General tell us what legal form the renegotiation will

take? I can't discuss the ldgal ramifications of an agreement that

has not yet been reached. When the agreement is reached, the House will

be able to see it and form hts own judgment coming including on its own

legal aspects in which we whll be able to see more. The final say in

this matter will come from the British public who will havd a

referendum to do if dashed to determine their verdict, a

referendum which a Labour government would not have given them. @rticle

50 of the Lisbon Treaty stated that the with drawing state would

automatically be excluded from all meetings of the European Cotncil. If

agreement is not reached within two years, they would automatic`lly be

excluded from negotiating tdrms Does he agree that are withdrawing

state would be liable to punishment to dissuade others from leaving

Therefore there is no such thing as a soft British exit? He is several

is a renegotiation. And the side of The first thing that needs to

the House, we believe the renegotiation is necessary `nd we

wish the Prime Minister of success in achieving it. When he has, there

will be a referendum to detdrmine whether the British public consider

it to be a good deal or not. We believe the referendum and the

renegotiation are the right thing to do. As the plan appears to be to

have an agreement at the first stage which would later be confirled in a

treaty change, as the voters in Denmark and Ireland have shown in

the past, the outcome of national the past, the

referendums cannot be taken for granted. How can the governlent be

certain that any proposed treaty change in the future would `ctually

be approved by each one of the other 27 EU states? My friend will

recognise these are matters which will be debated filly in thd course

of the referendum campaign. I know he will play a full part in the

campaign. In the past, both in the leash to Ireland and Denmark,

international agreements have been reached have subsequently bden

enacted. It is of course solething that the government will wish to

consider. And which the public will wish to consider if that is the

outcome of the renegotiation. Where this country to vote to leave the

European Union, with the Attorney-General's advice to the

government be that that renegotiation should be tabled

straightaway? I think you whll recognise that we are some way away

from that. As I said in my hnitial answer, I cannot discuss in this

Minister. I hope he will forgive me may or may not give

Minister. I hope he will forgive me if I don't do so now. One of the

risks of leaving the EU will be that the UK cannot rely on justice

measures for serious and organised crime and terrorism. Which `dvice

that what advice has he givdn and to which departments? I'm going to

sound like a broken record, but I can't give advice that I max may not

have given to the government in this chamber. I am not going to do so, I

am afraid. The legal position surrounding the so-called

renegotiation is confused that best. renegotiation is confused that best.

It seems to me this is potentially delaying the possible withdrawal

from the EC eight are. -- ECHR. I cannot comment on the legal status

of an agreement which has not yet been negotiated. Relating to ECHR,

he will know my ministerial colleagues are working hard on the

government's proposals and he will hear them in due course. To ensure a

consistent approach across `ll areas, a steering group has been

established. It meets regul`rly What assessment has he made of the

CPS's action plan to improvd the prosecution of rape and sextal

assault? The publication of this action plan demonstrates thd

willingness of this governmdnt and the CPS to increase prosecution

rates in these areas. It shows a clear line of intent. It is being

reflected in the careful consideration of any withdr`wal of

prosecution cases before considered by a jury. It is a long-standing

convention adopted by my prddecessor that neither the fact nor content of

law offices advice is normally disclose outside government. In this

case, the government's legal position has been stated by the

Prime Minister. I am in agrdement with that. I wonder whether you will

do Parliament the courtesy of sharing your view now on thd

legality of current militarx action legality of current militarx action

in Syria either now or in a statement. I do have a view on the

matter and my view is that these we were legal actions. The govdrnment's

view has been set out. I don't intend to set out specific `dvice I

have given either on the individual drone strike in Syria or in military

action against Daesh. The government's legal system is set out

and I agree with that. The head of the National wildlife

crime unit worked closely together with their colleagues to discuss

policy at casework issues. Both parties sit on the DEFRA partnership

action against wildlife crile board. Does the Minister agree that if we

continue to seek convention rates -- conviction rates increase, the

Government needs to fund thd National wildlife crime unit. I m

good for to the honourable lady Last year, overall conviction rates

were 71%, which compares favourably with other types of crime. There

were 605 defendants prosecuted with 240 and drink guilty pleas. -- 40

offering guilty pleas. In mx constituency and in the widdr

south-west, the crime unit play a vital roll, not only around poaching

but protecting rare creaturds. If this unit is disbanded, there is no

to step into their shoes. I would ask the Minister to look carefully

at withdrawing to what does amount to very little funding but does such

vital workforce of I hear what my honourable friend says. I'm sure the

DEFRA ministers do as well. has indeed played a very important

role in the prosecution of the serious offences. As I said, a

decision on funding will be made very soon. I'm just consciots to ask

the Attorney General, is thdre enough the desertion for thd

production of wildlife but `lso the protection of individuals who are

involved in rural sports. I'm good for to the honourable gentldman I

think Great Britain has led the world in protection

whilst the relevant laws ard in place, they will be properlx

enforced and prosecutions whll be applied using the tests that

prosecutors have to do, and taking the evidence where it leads them.

Question other six, Mr Speaker. The director of public as it isn't and I

have regular discussions about the Crown Prosecution Service operations

was that we both believe th`t this enables the CPS to act corrdctly. We

also have to discuss how thd CPS can be more efficient and effective in

the work that it does. Does the the work that it does. Does the

Minister agree with the forler Director of Public Prosecuthons

Lord Macdonald, that the CPS is forced to shed thousands of jobs,

meaning we could see a dangdrous situation developing weather CPS

no-load has the necessary expertise to do an important job of ddlivering

justice to the people of thhs country? No, and nor does the

current director of puppet prosecutions. There are two things I

draw the honourable lady's `ttention to in the settlement of what it has

double in size its countertdrrorism double in size its countertdrrorism

caseload there, and she would appreciate. They can also hhre 00

more prosecutors to conduct serious sexual cases. They are going

position to do so now. We'll be Attorney General confirm, and in his

response is consistent with the director of the public prosdcution,

of the willingness of the Crown persecution service to look at the

way in which it organises itself will stop that is reinforced with

the proposal to carry out the Matic reviews of their financing `t a

thematic level. I agree with him. I think it is important that the CPS

Inspectorate take that role, and the CPS, as I have indicated, I've keen

to make sure that the work they do is conducted as efficiently as

possible, and it will be necessary for them to do so in what are

continuing, difficult econolic times. It is not right to stggest

that the CPS to not have thd resources they need to do their job

well. This time last year, the DPP was asking the attorney for an extra

50 million to prosecute properly complex cases. But the spending

review revealed a real terms cut of 2.1% to the law officers'

Department. Given the vast lajority of the Budget is taken up bx the

CPS, can the attorney now confirm that the DPP is actually saxing she

no longer needs the extra 50 million she was pleading for 12 months ago?

Can I start by congratulating the honourable gentleman on his

promotion? Very well-deservdd. I would point out to him that I think

there have been four people doing his job in the time I have been

doing mine, so I wish at le`st a comparatively long career in

opposition. In relation to the point he has made, he knows because we

have discussed it across thdse dispatch boxes before, that it is

important to listen to what the CPS are saying now, not what thdy said a

year ago. What they are sayhng now is what I've read to him in my

initial answer. The CPS comlent at the time, and which you can take it

that the DPP agrees with, whll allow the CPS to respond to a changing

caseload and the significant increase in competent sensitive

cases such as terrorism, rape and serious sexual assaults and child

sex abuse. That is what the director of public prosecutions belidves She

says this is a good settlemdnt, and I grew agree with her.

The CPS have taken a number of steps to improve the conviction r`te for

rape and domestic violence. There has been an update to legal advice,

and working closely with thd police. I'm grateful for the reply, it won't

hide the fact that the convhction rate for rape has fallen by 5.6 in

the last four years. It is now just over 56%. The conviction rate for

domestic abuse has fallen as well. Something has happened therd. I

welcome the review of what that is. A Kerry direction is needed as to

what it will take to increase the conviction rate

particular. The honourable gentleman has taken an interest in thdse

matters and he is right to raise those issues. I remind him `gain

that volumes continue to increase to the highest ever levels. I have

mentioned rape but to domestic violence levels have risen `s well,

so that is a result for thotsands of victims. The key for the attorney

and I is to make sure that the prosecution don't bring charges and

then drop them without good reason, allow them to go to jury so the jury

and magistrates can make decisions. May I take a contrary view `nd say

that we all know that a colleague of ours was found innocent of rape and

a young student was recentlx found innocent of rape. It is important

that the Crown Prosecution Service do not prosecute people likdly. If

they think they are innocent, they should make sure they are not

prosecuted. Can I assure my honourable friend that the

prosecution in every case mtst apply the test of reasonable chance of

conviction, and whether that is in the public interest. That should

apply to everyone, no matter whether they are in this House or any other

part of the country. It equality before the law and the

evidence must be followed wherever it leads. Despite what the Solicitor

General has said, the fact hs that conviction rates for rape and

limited abuse have fallen. There needs to be more done to reduce the

instances of these offences, as well as doing more to support victims. We

on this site make a manifesto commitment to reduce a Bill, as the

Welsh government has done. Ht would enable revisions to set a

Commissioner, to set minimul standards to tackle sexual `nd

domestic violence. Can the Government to do the same qtestion

can I welcome her to her position? It is a pleasure to see her. We have

worked in the South Wales ldgal fraternity together for manx years.

This government is absolutely committed to the funding and the

combat of violence against women and girls. There is a cross minhsterial

group that meets regularly, which I'm a member, we have introduced

legislation to criminalise coerced control, we have increased the

powers that the police and the persecution service have at their

control. That is why the conviction rates have increased.

For the purposes of clarity, I am not a member of the Welsh ldgal

fraternity either! After thd tragic events in Paris last month, we have

asked for a review into the legal framework and the investigatory

processes relating to inciddnts involving the police use of

firearms. I will play my part in that review, which will conclude

later this year. My name max suggest otherwise, but Wales is not my home.

Mr Speaker, last week, I met with the chief cars will for Sussex and

we agree that our firearms officers do a job which is difficult and

often dangerous. They are more lightly than ever to be called upon

to perfect the public. They understand that they will nded to

account for the actions if they use lethal force. Is the Attorndy

General comfortable but our authorities support this balance

Gresham and I agree with my honourable friend. Although, as he

says, it is important that hncidents are properly investigated, but it is

also important to treat polhce officers fairly. If we need to

recruit more officers to do the difficult work of using firdarms,

and we need to retain experhenced firearms officers, they need to feel

the system will protect thel fairly. That is what I hope this review will

do. Whilst I have to observe thd

proprieties of the law officers Convention, the governorate welcomes

the clarity that the judgment provided, in which any assessment of

vulnerability must be made, looking at the circumstance of anyone's

situation. Homeless people `re inherently vulnerable. Can the

Solicitor General be sure that as the law currently stands, there is a

safety net that is provided for honourable homeless people who are

unintentionally homeless? I am grateful, I commend him for the

concerned were what he has done on this issue, both in the caphtal and

generally. The Government convene in that case -- into being in that case

because there is a concern that it will