:00:00. > :00:00.Join me for a round-up of the day in both houses of parliament at 11pm
:00:00. > :00:11.tonight but first we have questions to the Attorney General.
:00:12. > :00:16.The CPS continues to improve its response to cases involving rape
:00:17. > :00:19.allegations and other forms of serious sexual offending and has
:00:20. > :00:23.taken a number of steps to improve the conviction rate, including
:00:24. > :00:26.increasing the number of specialist staff within its reach and serious
:00:27. > :00:32.sexual offence unit and improved specialist training for prosecutors.
:00:33. > :00:36.Despite claims of the highest number of convictions ever, in the last two
:00:37. > :00:40.years conviction rates for rape, domestic abuse and other sexual
:00:41. > :00:47.offences have fallen. What does the Minister intend to do to rectify
:00:48. > :00:51.this? Midge honourable gentleman rightly points to the fact the
:00:52. > :00:55.actual number of convictions continue to increase, which means
:00:56. > :01:00.justice for more rape victims and it is right the CPS bring cases to
:01:01. > :01:05.duties and it is a matter for Judy is to determine whether or not a
:01:06. > :01:12.suspect is guilty or not. -- what I would see as increased funding for
:01:13. > :01:17.the units means an improved early engagement sought the experience of
:01:18. > :01:21.victims becomes a better one and it is the tried and tested evidence and
:01:22. > :01:29.the experience of victims is a vital. Part of improving the
:01:30. > :01:36.evidence for victims is the use of live like, where they do not have to
:01:37. > :01:40.to the court building to give evidence. There was a report
:01:41. > :01:44.published this week but recognise that what they do say although in
:01:45. > :01:49.some areas it is doing very well, and others, to quote, the court and
:01:50. > :01:55.CPS were not comfortable with live links even though the technology was
:01:56. > :01:59.available. What more can be done to spread the consistency in its
:02:00. > :02:04.update? My honourable friend is quite right to highlight that. In
:02:05. > :02:08.places like Kent Best practice is being demonstrated and with regard
:02:09. > :02:13.to national training which is happening we are to seek more use of
:02:14. > :02:17.live links from victim's homes and other safe places to avoid the
:02:18. > :02:25.terrible ordeal in many cases of coming to court to give cases --
:02:26. > :02:29.evidence. Providing effective and compassionate support for victims
:02:30. > :02:32.and survivors of sexual violence as pivotal to ensuring more of these
:02:33. > :02:38.crimes are reported in the first place. And ultimately more offenders
:02:39. > :02:41.brought to justice. Therefore, can the Minister tell me how the
:02:42. > :02:47.Government intend to improve victim and witness care within the criminal
:02:48. > :02:52.justice system? The honourable lady may only know there has been revised
:02:53. > :02:56.guidance to prosecutors and CPS staff about victim and witness care
:02:57. > :03:02.in the courts that it's already been rolled out with increased staff in
:03:03. > :03:05.the court system. This helps and supports witnesses and victims
:03:06. > :03:09.through the process. More work is being done and will be done to
:03:10. > :03:22.ensure that the objective she and I share are met. Well the general
:03:23. > :03:30.welcome the starter sticks that show more cases for young victims being
:03:31. > :03:34.prosecuted than ever? I certainly do and it importantly makes the point
:03:35. > :03:37.that when it comes to people's' lives more individuals are finding
:03:38. > :03:40.their cases are being hurt and justice being done upon the
:03:41. > :03:46.perpetrators of these appalling offences. What discussions at the
:03:47. > :03:50.Minister had but as a part in the Northern Ireland Assembly about the
:03:51. > :04:05.possibility of extending clear's loan to the province. -- clear's
:04:06. > :04:08.all. -- clear's all. I would include a supporter of that legislation and
:04:09. > :04:13.would be happy to discussion with colleagues and Northern Ireland but
:04:14. > :04:19.of course it is a devolved matter but if it would help then of course
:04:20. > :04:22.I would. Question number two, Mr Speaker. With permission I will
:04:23. > :04:26.answer this question along with question number five. You'd European
:04:27. > :04:30.Arrest Warrant makes it easier to extradite foreign suspects to where
:04:31. > :04:34.they are wanted for crimes and bring suspects back to the UK to face
:04:35. > :04:38.justice for crimes committed here. It is the quickest and most
:04:39. > :04:41.economical way to do these things and other member states would not be
:04:42. > :04:50.bound to cooperate with others in the same way every left the EU. --
:04:51. > :04:54.cooperate with us. I remember the first European piece of legislation
:04:55. > :04:57.I delegated on, a regulation enabling us to track paedophiles
:04:58. > :05:01.more easily across different European countries and why anybody
:05:02. > :05:05.would wish to end that kind of cooperation between European
:05:06. > :05:10.countries is beyond me. With the Attorney General agree with me that
:05:11. > :05:14.the exit campaign is soft on crime and soft on the causes of crime? I
:05:15. > :05:19.have great respect for those who argue for a British exit from the EU
:05:20. > :05:24.but unless I believe they are wrong and for the reasons he gives, there
:05:25. > :05:29.is considerable advantage to Britain and British citizens and being part
:05:30. > :05:33.of the European Arrest Warrant. Just to be clear, as the Attorney General
:05:34. > :05:35.like if we were noble not part of the European Arrest Warrant
:05:36. > :05:41.criminals from the continent would see Britain as a safe haven because
:05:42. > :05:46.of the extradition and concerns they would not be taken back quickly? I
:05:47. > :05:51.think that is no doubt that the quickest and easiest way of
:05:52. > :05:56.deporting those who are criminals and face prosecution and other
:05:57. > :06:00.European nations is to use the European Arrest Warrant. Those who
:06:01. > :06:04.argue for exit from the EU would have to explain what alternative
:06:05. > :06:08.measures they would put in place to achieve the same objective. I am in
:06:09. > :06:12.no doubt that the quickest and easiest way to do that is through
:06:13. > :06:19.the European Arrest Warrant and any delay in that process has serious
:06:20. > :06:21.consequences. Does my right honourable friend position take
:06:22. > :06:26.account of the European Court of Justice ruling on the 5th of April
:06:27. > :06:29.which effectively puts a court of horses to the Hall of the arrest
:06:30. > :06:34.warrant procedure because it makes it clear the European court of
:06:35. > :06:38.justice is in charge of whether or not the European Arrest Warrant can
:06:39. > :06:42.be applied for? I don't think it is quite bad as my honourable friend
:06:43. > :06:46.suggests and in fact I think what the European Court of Justice said
:06:47. > :06:50.is a broadly consistent with what our own extradition act says and of
:06:51. > :06:56.course you will note in relation to the countries that were mentioned in
:06:57. > :06:59.that particular judgment we already succeed and extraditing people to
:07:00. > :07:04.those countries, one of them is Romania, and he may like to note 268
:07:05. > :07:12.people have been extradited to Romania since 2007. In the Witney
:07:13. > :07:16.Gazette the Prime Minister was quoted as saying this about the
:07:17. > :07:19.European Arrest Warrant, some other countries in Europe do not have our
:07:20. > :07:23.rights and safeguards and people can languish in jail for weeks without
:07:24. > :07:27.being charged and I'm not that shortly but those people realise
:07:28. > :07:31.what is being done and that name. I'll be happy we would want
:07:32. > :07:34.telephone call from the Greek, Spanish or German authorities
:07:35. > :07:39.alleging we did something rotten holiday can then be swept off to a
:07:40. > :07:44.continental prison? Rights we have enjoyed for centuries been stripped
:07:45. > :07:47.away? As the Attorney General agree with the Prime Minister? I don't
:07:48. > :07:50.know why my right honourable friend the Prime Minister wrote that
:07:51. > :07:54.because as my honourable friend may recall the Prime Minister and other
:07:55. > :07:57.members of the Government successfully negotiated changes to
:07:58. > :08:02.the European Arrest Warrant to do precisely what these problems. Now
:08:03. > :08:08.you citizens cannot be extradited unless the case to trial ready, but
:08:09. > :08:21.unless the conduct in question would be a crime here. CPS prosecutors
:08:22. > :08:26.what with law enforcement ages to prosecute serious crime and draw
:08:27. > :08:33.porn cooperation to secure evidence and agree how and where -- draw upon
:08:34. > :08:40.cooperation to secure how and when evidence can be secured. What is the
:08:41. > :08:46.Government doing to ensure IRA terrorists are being brought back to
:08:47. > :08:49.the UK to face justice to your? Can I assure my honourable friend cases
:08:50. > :08:55.involving IRA suspects would be considered in just the same way as
:08:56. > :08:59.any other case. The special crime and counterterrorism division deals
:09:00. > :09:03.with cases of alleged terrorism. If the suspect is out with the
:09:04. > :09:08.jurisdiction that extradition would be considered at the prosecution
:09:09. > :09:13.evidential called test is met. I hope the Minister has seen that yet
:09:14. > :09:19.another accused criminal has fled to Pakistan this week and isn't it a
:09:20. > :09:23.fact we need greater European cooperation because we have no
:09:24. > :09:29.extradition treaty with Pakistan and when a serious crime is committed to
:09:30. > :09:33.often the perpetrator flees to Pakistan and we can't bring them
:09:34. > :09:38.back, however heinous the crime? I entirely agree with the honourable
:09:39. > :09:41.gentleman. I mentioned multi-jurisdictional cases, often
:09:42. > :09:45.these perpetrators cover more than one EU country and it is vital we
:09:46. > :09:50.have the mechanism is not just of cooperation, but of enforcement that
:09:51. > :09:56.our membership of the EU guarantees which is why I am a strong supporter
:09:57. > :10:03.of remaining within the EU. Number four, Mr Speaker. Under article 50
:10:04. > :10:09.of the Treaty on the EU, if the UK were to leave the EU it would lead
:10:10. > :10:14.to negotiating conclude a agreement with the remaining states setting
:10:15. > :10:19.out the agreement for withdrawal. They would continue to apply to the
:10:20. > :10:23.UK until article 50 came into force within two years if no agreement is
:10:24. > :10:28.reached and no extension granted. Any further changes to the UK's
:10:29. > :10:33.legal obligations will depend on any further international agreements
:10:34. > :10:37.entered into. Newcastle has a thriving legal services sector and
:10:38. > :10:42.many internationally renowned forms as well as two excellent degree
:10:43. > :10:45.courses at our universities. With the Attorney General agree with me
:10:46. > :10:51.that leaving the EU would mean we would face years of uncertainty and
:10:52. > :10:55.confusion as to our legal framework which would necessarily undermine
:10:56. > :11:02.the success of both our legal and financial services sector. I should
:11:03. > :11:06.first of all say I have boundless faith in the ingenuity and
:11:07. > :11:10.entrepreneurial spirit of our legal profession and ensure they would
:11:11. > :11:14.find a reason. But she is right that there would be considerable
:11:15. > :11:18.uncertainty after any departure from the European union and that is at
:11:19. > :11:23.least an part because there is a regulatory structure in this country
:11:24. > :11:26.was substantially depends on European regulation currently and we
:11:27. > :11:31.would have to decide how much we wish to keep and how much to change
:11:32. > :11:35.and she may know that progression Derek Wyatt, one of the leading
:11:36. > :11:39.experts on European law, recently gave evidence to the house of Lords
:11:40. > :11:44.EU committee of MPs said the following, it will take years upon
:11:45. > :11:48.Government and to examine EU law and decide what to jettison and what to
:11:49. > :11:49.keep. It is one of the reasons the Government believes we're better off
:11:50. > :12:00.within the EU. Given his immense legal brain and
:12:01. > :12:04.huge legal capabilities, will he confirm that the House today that he
:12:05. > :12:08.would want to remain as Attorney General should this country voted to
:12:09. > :12:13.leave the European Union so that he personally would be best placed to
:12:14. > :12:21.negotiate a super-duper British exit agreement in double quick time? Mr
:12:22. > :12:29.Speaker, I have no where near my honourable friend's Fiat in my
:12:30. > :12:33.abilities, but I do think that it remains in Britain's best interests
:12:34. > :12:37.to stay with the European Union, but if the British people decide that we
:12:38. > :12:42.should leave, the British Government will continue to do its best for the
:12:43. > :12:47.British public. I think the Attorney General of all people want
:12:48. > :12:49.underestimate the scope of his scholarly cranium because clearly
:12:50. > :12:55.the member of the Kettering does not. A condition of our membership
:12:56. > :12:59.of the European Union is that we are also a signatory to the European
:13:00. > :13:02.Convention on Human Rights. Can the Attorney General confirmed that this
:13:03. > :13:06.parliament is the commitment of this government to remain acyclic Jerry
:13:07. > :13:10.to the European Convention on Human Rights, not joined Belarus as the
:13:11. > :13:15.only country who isn't. I am not sure that his first statement is
:13:16. > :13:18.entirely correct, but in relation to the intention of the Government it
:13:19. > :13:22.is very clear. We don't seek to leave the convention but we do seek
:13:23. > :13:28.to contract a better and more sensible arrangement on human rights
:13:29. > :13:31.law in this country. We don't think that the interpretation of the
:13:32. > :13:35.convention by the European Court of Human Rights is always sensible and
:13:36. > :13:39.we wish to see a good deal more common-sense brought into human
:13:40. > :13:46.rights law in the future. I regret that that is not an opinion shared
:13:47. > :13:50.by Her Majesty 's opposition. I appreciate his hands are tied
:13:51. > :13:54.somewhat in that no one in the campaign has not been clear about
:13:55. > :13:59.what we would be leaving too, but surely his officials will have made
:14:00. > :14:03.some assessment as to the map of the legislative time that would be taken
:14:04. > :14:08.up by this Parliament trying to pick 43 years of our involvement in
:14:09. > :14:15.European laws, rules and regulations. I quoted to the House
:14:16. > :14:19.the remarks of Professor Wyatt when he was giving evidence in the other
:14:20. > :14:22.place and there is no doubt there would be considerable time and
:14:23. > :14:27.effort required. Of course it is difficult to be specific because it
:14:28. > :14:30.depends on what alternative arrangements are sought
:14:31. > :14:33.post-departure from the European Union, but I think again the
:14:34. > :14:36.honourable gentleman is right to say that the onus is on those who wish
:14:37. > :14:43.to lead to explain what the word would be like if we did. Is not the
:14:44. > :14:49.case that is very simple to explain what it would mean, it would mean
:14:50. > :14:54.that this Parliament and our court would take back control of our human
:14:55. > :15:04.rights legislation. That is the simple matter. Does the Attorney
:15:05. > :15:08.General agree? The human rights laws within European law are extremely
:15:09. > :15:12.limited. The Charter of fundamental rights within the European Union Law
:15:13. > :15:16.can and does not create new rights and of course as my honourable
:15:17. > :15:19.friend knows the European Convention on Human Rights is a separate
:15:20. > :15:23.institution. But I think he is wrong to suggest this would be simple in
:15:24. > :15:33.any way. It would be extraordinarily congregated and it would take a very
:15:34. > :15:37.long time. I'll answer questions exam seven together. The CPS
:15:38. > :15:39.recently revived its social media guidelines which of course are
:15:40. > :15:45.publicly available and they are subject to a current consultation
:15:46. > :15:52.which will result in the publication of finalised guidelines on the use
:15:53. > :15:55.serious offences later in the year. Does he agree that the effect of
:15:56. > :15:58.online abuse on mental health particularly among young people can
:15:59. > :16:04.be very damaging and will he heard social media to actively engage with
:16:05. > :16:06.the CPS and other agencies to root out bad and poor behaviour and
:16:07. > :16:14.signpost clearly the support available in law to victims. I am
:16:15. > :16:19.grateful. Sometimes online abuse can actually worse than face-to-face
:16:20. > :16:22.abuse because it is all pervading and doesn't particularly in the case
:16:23. > :16:29.of young people leave them at the school gate or give them privately
:16:30. > :16:32.at home. The DPP has indeed met a number of social media providers and
:16:33. > :16:35.the Crown Prosecution Service will continue to work with them on
:16:36. > :16:44.measures to improve the reporting and prosecution of this type of
:16:45. > :16:49.abuse. Even I have been trolled on Twitter. I don't know whether it was
:16:50. > :16:54.moment or someone else. People doubting the problems of my hair,
:16:55. > :16:59.can you believe that? But a friend of mine has a young son is 16, he
:17:00. > :17:05.has also been trolled on Twitter and he didn't take it as likely as I do.
:17:06. > :17:11.The poor boy has harmed himself. It is a very serious matter. I am
:17:12. > :17:16.interested to hear the reply. What steps can we take to deter young
:17:17. > :17:24.people from bullying other young people on Twitter and Facebook and
:17:25. > :17:26.other social media? I am naturally reticent to trespass upon the
:17:27. > :17:34.Bailiwick of my honourable friend's air, so I will confine my remarks to
:17:35. > :17:41.the serious issues that he raises about the mental health impact upon
:17:42. > :17:43.young people. There is work being done in terms of training so that
:17:44. > :17:49.Crown Prosecution Service prosecutors can actually help enable
:17:50. > :17:53.victims and users to report abuse and in particular to make sure that
:17:54. > :18:01.the offending content can be removed by internet service providers. As a
:18:02. > :18:05.follow-on to the last question, what actions are being taken in
:18:06. > :18:08.conjunction with the Department for Education and schools in particular
:18:09. > :18:13.to try and curtail the amount of online abuse for young people? The
:18:14. > :18:18.honourable gentleman will be aware that there is a massive amount of
:18:19. > :18:21.work not only going on by the Department for Education but also
:18:22. > :18:24.from the third sector about cyber bullying and the effects on young
:18:25. > :18:28.people and I think the combined approach that is being taken in
:18:29. > :18:32.schools, the length and breadth this country, is that only alerting the
:18:33. > :18:35.dangers to young people but also empowering them to make complaints
:18:36. > :18:45.so that they do not have to suffer in silence. The UK works through the
:18:46. > :18:49.European Union to amplify its work to promote and protect human rights
:18:50. > :18:53.and democracy around the world increasing the UK's influence on a
:18:54. > :18:56.range of issues. When 28 member states speak out against the most
:18:57. > :18:59.areas violations of human rights that can help set the agenda at the
:19:00. > :19:06.UN and other international organisations. Those are viable ways
:19:07. > :19:12.in which the UK contributed to use. The EU Charter reflects wider
:19:13. > :19:15.international standards and obligations which the UK has a
:19:16. > :19:20.history of championing. By moving away from the EU Charter we risk
:19:21. > :19:27.undermining human rights and respect for international law. What advice
:19:28. > :19:31.has the Attorney General giving on weakening of legal human rights
:19:32. > :19:34.safeguards that could follow? If the honourable lady is referring to the
:19:35. > :19:37.European Union Charter of fundamental rights as I said a
:19:38. > :19:42.moment or so ago, that structure does not create new rights for
:19:43. > :19:47.British citizens and protocol 30 of the treaty makes that very clear. So
:19:48. > :19:51.I don't think there would be very significant consequence to departure
:19:52. > :19:55.in that way. But what I do think is that there is considerable advantage
:19:56. > :19:58.to the UK in communicating its views and aspirations on human rights
:19:59. > :20:03.protection and just in this country but abroad if we were no longer able
:20:04. > :20:08.to act through the medium of the European Union as we do through
:20:09. > :20:11.other international organisations. The Justice Secretary recently told
:20:12. > :20:14.the Justice Select Committee that as far as he was concerned the
:20:15. > :20:17.framework of human rights across the UK was a reserved matter. Given the
:20:18. > :20:20.Attorney General advises the Government on legal issues can he
:20:21. > :20:25.explain why the Government's view is that it is reserved when it is not
:20:26. > :20:30.included in the exhaustive list of reservations in schedule five of the
:20:31. > :20:34.Scotland Act? As he knows, it is the Government view and my beauty that
:20:35. > :20:40.in relation to any change to the Human Rights Act -- my view. It is
:20:41. > :20:44.not a devolved matter, it is a reserved matter. That is the issue
:20:45. > :20:52.on which my Right Honourable friend will shortly be bringing forward
:20:53. > :20:54.proposals. The Shadow Attorney General, the honourable member for
:20:55. > :20:58.Kingston upon Harrow East cannot be with us today because he is busy
:20:59. > :21:05.changing nappies. May we congratulate him. On the birth of
:21:06. > :21:11.his first baby, a beautiful daughter. Stella made. We wish him
:21:12. > :21:19.and his partner all the best. -- made. With the Attorney General but
:21:20. > :21:22.if the UK left the EU it would only be human rights in Scotland that
:21:23. > :21:27.would be affected? Surely they would be a question over the whole
:21:28. > :21:29.devolution process in Wales and Northern Ireland? And we shouldn't
:21:30. > :21:34.forget that the agreement that gave us the institutions in Northern
:21:35. > :21:38.Ireland took membership of the EU as a given and if the UK left the EU,
:21:39. > :21:45.this would lead to unwelcome uncertainties? Can I start by adding
:21:46. > :21:49.to her congratulations to the Shadow Attorney General for the new arrival
:21:50. > :21:54.in his household? We wish them all well and can I also congratulate her
:21:55. > :21:56.for taking on her new and I'm sure temporary but nonetheless very
:21:57. > :22:02.important response abilities in the dispatch box. She knows because she
:22:03. > :22:07.is heard said a pleasure for that I take the view of protection of human
:22:08. > :22:11.rights in this country can perfectly be undertaken by the British
:22:12. > :22:14.Government and British courts here in Britain. However there is no
:22:15. > :22:16.doubt that where we to leave the European Union there would be a
:22:17. > :22:21.range of complexities that would follow. Not all of which are the
:22:22. > :22:25.ones that we have discussed. There is no doubt in my mind that because
:22:26. > :22:30.of those additional complexities and because I think that on balance
:22:31. > :22:39.there is huge advantage to the European Union and Britain remaining
:22:40. > :22:43.in it, that is the right decision. All tax evasion prosecutions are
:22:44. > :22:46.conducted under domestic tax law legislation and no distinction is
:22:47. > :22:51.made in central records between offshore tax evasion cases and other
:22:52. > :22:54.tax prosecution cases and prosecutions but I can tell him the
:22:55. > :23:01.total number of convictions since 2010 deferred tax offences is 2647.
:23:02. > :23:07.The minister will now know that there is industrial scale money
:23:08. > :23:11.going of scoreboard through the revelations in the Panama Papers. --
:23:12. > :23:15.offshore. I'm wondering what role his apartment would be taking in
:23:16. > :23:19.advising the Prime Minister's task force on that task evasion and
:23:20. > :23:22.whether he expects any illegality to come out of that review and if so
:23:23. > :23:28.what resources he has got to ensure prosecutions are taking place goes
:23:29. > :23:33.like as he may know the Serious Fraud Office is contributing to that
:23:34. > :23:36.task force. That is an agency that I superintend. There is ?10 million
:23:37. > :23:40.worth of new money available to support the work of that task force
:23:41. > :23:44.and they were expecting to say, the question of who gets prosecuted if
:23:45. > :23:48.anyone as a result of that work is not for politicians to determine, it
:23:49. > :23:52.is for independent prosecutors but I'm confident that the GPS, the
:23:53. > :23:55.Serious Fraud Office have the resources they need in order to
:23:56. > :23:58.pursue this and that he will also know, the Government is providing
:23:59. > :24:06.additional tools by which that can be done including the creation of
:24:07. > :24:08.new offences both for individuals and for corporate entities which
:24:09. > :24:14.failed to take the necessary action to prevent the facilitation of tax
:24:15. > :24:18.evasion. Tax evasion is not a victimless crime and tax avoidance
:24:19. > :24:21.has consequences too. Both take money out of hard-pressed public
:24:22. > :24:24.services and people who work in them. Money that could be used to
:24:25. > :24:27.fund more police, hospitals, schools and other local services all of
:24:28. > :24:31.which have had severe cuts under this government. The fact remains
:24:32. > :24:37.that with a growing tax gap and a very limited number of prosecutions,
:24:38. > :24:41.-- prosecutions. How can the public be confident that the Government is
:24:42. > :24:46.doing everything it can to crack down on overseas tax evaders given
:24:47. > :24:50.to performance to date? I don't accept that the performance to date
:24:51. > :24:54.has been ineffective. There have been successful prosecutions of
:24:55. > :24:58.those who evade tax and as she will know it isn't simply criminal
:24:59. > :25:01.prosecution that exists in order to take action against those who avoid
:25:02. > :25:06.or evade tax, there are also civil penalties are available to HMRC and
:25:07. > :25:10.the bringing a substantial amount of money as a result of the actions
:25:11. > :25:13.that agency kicks. There is always more to do. That is why I have
:25:14. > :25:17.highlighted to particular measures in the field of enforcement and
:25:18. > :25:19.criminal prosecution which this government is taking. I look forward
:25:20. > :25:26.to the Labour Party support for them. Questions to the Minister for
:25:27. > :25:27.Women and Equalities. Question number