Live Attorney General Questions House of Commons

to ensure football clubs meet the enforcement rules? I'm always

delighted to meet with honourable colleagues and I will be delighted

to meet him. Questions to the Attorney General.

I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues, and we will

publish the great repeal Bill injured course. That will determine

the process to take it forward. Last month, the Secretary of State

for Scotland confirmed that a legislative consent motion would be

required from the Scottish Parliament for the great repeal

bill. In his answer just now, the Attorney General has stopped well

short of that. Can I ask the Attorney General, if the UK

Government's edition is the same as that of the Scottish Government,

will legislative motions be required? She Dennis Meighan reveal

what will be in the great repeal bill. I will not say that yet. --

sheet tent. If the bill affects the legislative

competence of the Scottish Government, they will need to be a

legislative consent motion. Does my right honourable friend share my

concern that people might be slightly misled by referring to the

proposed bill as the great repeal bill. Although it will repeal the

European Community 's act, actually, it is a great continuity bill

because its other purpose, apart from other things, is to transfer

the body of EU law into UK law. He makes a fair point. It is right to

say that what this bill will do is repeal the 1972 European Community

's act and that is a significant step in this country's yesterday. It

will also, as he says, make sure that we do not have huge amounts of

disruptive change your business, industry and individuals. We will

try to make sure there is as much continuity on the day after the

departure as there was on the day before departure well that is

feasible. Could the Attorney General tell us

whether he envisages that there will be consent motions under evil

provisions in respect for potential causes in the great repeal bill? We

will have to wait and see the content of the bill but I think it

is unlikely, given the content that is likely to be in the bill, and

given the purpose of it, that we will be looking at very many areas,

if any at all, they do not affect the entire United Kingdom. Can the

Attorney General clarify whether any of the devolved administration is

effectively have a legal beetle of our decision to leave the European

Union? I can, and they don't. Can we confirm it will not be called the

great repeal bill? I suspect we will find a rather more technical title

for the bill when it comes forward. I must admit to being confused by

the Attorney General's cancels. Clearly, the great repeal bill, as

indicated by the Supreme Court, will affect devolved competencies. Why is

the Government hesitant? What will be required for the bill, because it

affects the vault competence? This was deciding on a bill that the

Government has passed and they hope will receive Royal Ascent shortly.

In relation to the contents of this bill, whatever it ends up being

called, you will have to be patient and wait to see it. As I set out to

his colleagues, I think there is a clear set of expectations as to what

will be required and the Government will honour that.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Crown Prosecution Service did indeed

anticipate increases in complex cases such as fraud ahead of the

last Spending Review and there was a 14% increase in fraud and forgery

cases last year. But, importantly, the conviction rate stayed stable at

86%. Frank you for that response. With a third of the workforce cut

since 2010, and a stand that is for prosecutors, 1000 administrators and

course workers, does the Minister Bull leave the CPS is able to deal

with those complex fraud cases? If there is further cuts, will that

leave the CPS in a bad state to prosecute? Can I assure the

honourable lady of delegation of sources that has increased, not just

either in London but across the country in important regional

centres. The number will increase to 215 months ahead. We are placing an

important priority upon it. Does he agree that the work of the Crown

Prosecution Service in this area is very much complimented in cases of

very serious economic fraud by the work of the Serious Fraud Office,

and that that office has been transformed under the leadership of

Baily Green and resulted in the recovery of over half ?1 billion of

ill gotten gains. -- of David can-mac green.

He is right to highlight the successes of the SF all in quite a

millions of taxpayer. -- of DC is fraud office. The model that brings

together prosecutors and investigators in one unit works very

well. Picking up on the point made by the chairman of the select

committee, it is the case, isn't it, that the existence of the Serious

Fraud Office reduces pressure on the CPS in terms of prosecuting crime.

Can we guarantee that the Serious Fraud Office will continue to exist

as it is, and will not be merged into the Crown Prosecution Service

all the National Crime Agency? We're under a duty to review at all times

the measures we tackle economic crime. It is not just a question of

illegality, it is national-security. The Government is right to examine

the situation. But I will repeat again, I think the current model

works very well. I did not detect a guarantee in that answer. The

Solicitor General, one month ago, praised the work of the director of

the Serious Fraud Office and tow yard enhanced role of the Serious

Fraud Office in national life. I notice he has fine persuasive

skills. So if you will not give a guarantee, William least undertake

to go and see the Prime Minister to go and speak about the advantages of

the Serious Fraud Office having investigated the services -- having

investigated services under one roof? I would take this opportunity

to praise David Green in leading the Serious Fraud Office. As I said, I

will continue to make the case for the Roscoe model.

What can the Solicitor General do to ensure that the right people with

the right skills are retained by the CPS and the Serious Fraud Office? My

honourable friend knows that the Serious Fraud Office has a

particular model of funding which means it can be quite flexible when

it comes to certain investigations. The important point is we get the

right people with the right specific expertise when it comes to

particular types of serious fraud. So, flexibility a think is the most

important principle. Everyone knows there is a lot of hot money in

London residential market, especially coming from Russia. There

are extensive reports of regulations with financial advisers. Why has

there been so few solutions for money-laundering I share his concern

about this. But the provisions of the new criminal advances bill will

on hand spells of prosecutors and investigators in going after ill

gotten gains with new measures such as unexplained wealth orders. I

think that will help deal with the perpetrators of this type of fraud.

Number three, Mr Speaker. With your permission, I'll answer

this question along with question might. The Prime Minister has

restated her personal and the Government's collective commitment

to tackling domestic violence and abuse. Something my colleagues and I

will work together to take forward. That work blowing good considering

how we can support the CPS in bringing prosecutions against

perpetrators of domestic violence. -- that work will involve

considering. A Sheffield charity has raised concerns with me about the

pollen level prosecution rates on FGM violence. There has been no

prosecutions on FGM. What will he do about that? I do share his concern

about that. The might be aware that there are considerable difficulties

in proving his offences in court. That does not mean we should not

bring appropriate cases before criminal courts and seek to gain

convictions. The Crown Prosecution Service will continue to do that. In

relation to domestic violence more broadly, he might know that the

prosecutions in terms of volume and conviction rate arc rising on the

basis of -- arc rising. He is like to point out specific areas where we

need to do better. Survivors of domestic abuse in my constituency

tell me that right out of the gate, they can access the commode justice

system because they have to be a discretionary feed to... Four legal

aid. That can be up to ?175. Will the tummy general consider talking

to Department of Health colleagues about whether we can scrap this fee

for them? -- will the Secretary General. I will explore the issues

he raises. There are a number of different things we need to do to

support those who are victims of domestic violence. It is certainly a

criminal justice issue. If people are going to access the commode

justice system, we need to do as much as we can to make that is

easier process as we possibly can for them. We are victims of domestic

violence are unable to give evidence, evidence... With the use

of body worn cameras, police can give evidence that can secure a

conviction even if the victim themselves is not prepared to give

evidence. Will the Attorney General work with the Justice Secretary to

ensure changes in law with domestic abusers cross-examining witnesses...

I agree. You will know that courts in the criminal context already have

the authority to stop alleged domestic violence perpetrators from

cross-examining directly the alleged victims. The family courts need to

have such a power as well. He will know that the Government intends to

make sure they do have that power and I understand it will form part

of a bill that will come before the House very shortly. With your

permission, I will answer this question together with question

five. The CPS is prosecuting and convicting more offenders than ever

before in a variety of crimes. The CPS is committed to a number of

actions between now and 2020 to ensure the effective prosecution of

offences. What is CPS doing in the area

Derbyshire to ensure that more perpetrators of violence against

women and roles are brought to justice? I thanked her for her

question. I know that she has great concern about these issues. I happy

to say that in the last year, 1805 cases were charged by the CPS, which

was a rise from the previous year. The conviction rate is running at

4.4% higher than the national average.

In Cambridgeshire in 2016 and 2015, there was an increase in a number of

convictions for violence against women and girls, up to 1031. What is

being done to use technology to improve the gathering of evidence

for these crimes? I am grateful to my honourable friend. As the

Attorney General has just referred to, the issue of technology is one

where the police and CPS and embracing it. I think there will be

a transmission of conviction rates and guilty pleas when the evidence

will be clear and overwhelming in these cases.

Much of the violence against women and children as queues -- is caused

by human us. Will the tummy general welcome to daily investment of ?6

million by the Home Secretary and fighting modern-day secretary? --

will be Attorney General Wellcome the the investment.

He knows from his leadership on this issue that if there is a coordinated

approach on these problems, victims can be identified and perpetrators

brought to justice. This is yet another welcome milestone along the

road in our world leadership in these issues. Mr Speaker, the

Article 50 litigation concerned an important constitutional issue that

it was right for the Supreme Court to consider. That involves five

devilish and questions referred by courts in Northern Ireland after the

judgment favourable to the Government. The Secretary of State

Fraser Dainton European Union is committed to publishing the total

cost figures in due course. The Secretary of State for executing

the EU has praised article 50 as being some of the best in the

chamber so could you attest... To prevent this has having a meaningful

debate, was well spent? It's not a waste of public money to explore an

issue of this constitutional significance in the highest court of

the land and that is what happened. If this were a complete waste of

money, three Supreme Court justices would not have found in favour of

the Government's arguments. She would also be aware that some of the

money spent by the Government was spent in responding to arguments

made by the Scottish Government which were rejected unanimously by

the Supreme Court. I think that proves you are dammed if you do and

you are dammed if you don't with the SNP. Would my right honourable

friend agree that a cost on Democratic runcible such as this? I

think there is merit in it making sure the highest court in the land

has the chance to consider what is a very significant set of

constitutional questions. They have done that and produced their

judgment. The Government has complied with that judgment on the

House of Commons and the House of Lords have passed a bill

accordingly. The bribery act failing to prevent offences holding

corporate offenders to account for criminal activity and we are

introducing a new offence of failing to prevent tax evasion. The

Government has published a call for evidence to explore the options for

further reform including extending the failure to prevent effects.

Would you look at the way Buba operates -- Uber operates.

I listened to my honourable friend's question with concern as I've said,

there will be a new corporate offence failure to prevent tax

evasion. If there is evidence of criminality, I urge others to report

these matters to the police. I have regular meetings with the director

of prosecutions where a variety of issues are discussed. The CPS takes

these issues very seriously and I believe the chief prosecutor for the

East Midlands have recently met with others to discuss this matter.

What is the CPS is doing to make sure prosecutions of Hare chasing is

successful? Representing a rural constituency, I know the honourable

lady is dealing with this issue to try to combat it. Each CPS area has

a wildlife coordinator so the knowledge needed to prosecute these

offences is readily available and the CPS works closely with the

police and other wildlife communities in order to tackle this

serious scourge. It is the long-standing position of successive

UK Government that a state may use force in self defence for armed

attacks but also to prevent and which is imminent. In each exercise

of the use of force in self defence, UK asks itself questions such as,

how certain is it an attack will come, how soon do we believe an

attack could be, what scale of attack could this be our last

opportunity to take action, and is there anything else we could

credibly do to prevent that attack? The Attorney General for that

answer. There is an important difference between the threats we

face now and the threats which have face now and the threats which have

not materialised but we may deliver David -- which may develop later.

There is a difference between those two things and what I have sought to

make clear is what the UK Government is saying it has authority under the

law to do is to respond to threats which have emerged, not to threats

which may yet emerge in the future but have not yet done so. Business

question. Could I ask the Leader of the House to give the House the

forthcoming business. The business for next week will be as follows.

Monday the 20th of March, second reading of the prisons and courts

bill. 21st of March, remaining status of the intellectual property

unjustified threats bill. Followed by a general debate on fuel poverty.

22nd of March, remaining stages of the pension schemes bill, Lords,

followed by a debate on exiting the European Union and global trade.

Thursday 23rd March, debate on a motion of compensation for Equitable

Life policy holders. Followed by a debate on the motion of the social

mobility and state of