Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
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Monday Volume 512 28 June 2010 No. 22 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 28 June 2010 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2010 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 545 28 JUNE 2010 546 Mrs May: The hon. Gentleman has been a long-standing House of Commons campaigner on the issue of drugs. As it happens, he and I take a different view on how we should approach the issue. What we need to be doing in this country is Monday 28 June 2010 looking at making abstinence much more of a goal for individuals and looking seriously at ensuring that the The House met at half-past Two o’clock treatment and rehabilitation provided to drug addicts mean that they do not simply go back on drugs in future. PRAYERS Defendant Anonymity (Rape Trials) [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] 2. Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the effects on police investigations of plans to give anonymity to defendants in rape trials; and if Oral Answers to Questions she will make a statement. [4220] The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Lynne Featherstone): My right hon. HOME DEPARTMENT Friend the Home Secretary has had a number of discussions on this issue with her cabinet colleague the Secretary of The Secretary of State was asked— State for Justice. We have made it clear that we will progress our commitment on this subject with the care Drugs that it merits. Our consideration of the options will of course include a full examination of any impact on 1. Sarah Newton (Truro and Falmouth) (Con): What police investigations. recent assessment she has made of the level of problem drug use in this country compared to other EU Kerry McCarthy: The Minister will know that this member states. [4219] issue has been brought up time and again in the Chamber. The Secretary of State for the Home Department We have had a confusing and mixed set of responses (Mrs Theresa May): The most recent estimate of problem from the various Ministers who have answered. Could drug users for England is 328,767 for 2006-07. Estimates she now confirm whether it is the Government’s intention for 2008-09 will be available in October. The European to bring forward legislation to give anonymity to rape Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction estimates defendants, and if so, what is the timetable for that, and show the UK with the highest rate, although there is no on what basis have they made that decision? consistent methodology for calculating estimates across different countries, which prevents direct comparisons. Lynne Featherstone: There have been a number of Nevertheless, that level of problem drug use is unacceptable. discussions, as I just said, and the Prime Minister The Government are committed to tackling it and himself has said that the issue will be brought forward rebalancing the treatment system so that abstinence is for debate in this Chamber at an appropriate point. the clear goal. Alan Johnson (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle) Sarah Newton: I thank my right hon. Friend for her (Lab): I would be interested at some stage to learn the answer, but does she agree that one of the biggest Home Secretary’s views on the issue, because it is a problems at the moment is the availability of so-called crucial one both for the Home Department and for legal highs? Does she agree that the previous Government equalities. The Lord Chancellor told the House the were slow to address the issue, and can she assure the other day that he had voted for anonymity in 2003. I House—and especially the families in my constituency voted against it, and that is still my view, but at some who have young people going off to university for the stage I would like to know the Home Secretary’s view. first time this autumn—that she will take action to As for the Minister, she will know that the Prime Minister protect people from such substances? recently told the House when he replied to a question on the issue that Baroness Stern had Mrs May: I thank my hon. Friend for that question. She has made an extremely valid point on an issue that “found that 8 to 10% of reported rape cases could result in false will concern a large number of parents and others. She allegations.”—[Official Report, 9 June 2010; Vol. 511, c. 329.] is right to say that the previous Government were slow The Minister should know that the Stern report made to deal with the issue of legal highs, particularly no such finding and that what Baroness Stern recommended mephedrone. It was only pushing from our party while was independent research to study the frequency of in opposition that led them to do something about it, false allegations of rape compared with other offences. and we are committed to introducing a temporary ban Does the Minister agree that the Government ought to on legal highs. be implementing that recommendation, instead of proposing to introduce anonymity? Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab): The United Kingdom has the harshest drug laws in Europe and the highest Lynne Featherstone: In the first instance, I am sure number of addicts. Portugal has the least harsh policies that the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for in all of Europe and the smallest number of addicts. Justice will indeed look at what sort of research is Why is this? necessary, prior to bringing any debate to the House. 547 Oral Answers28 JUNE 2010 Oral Answers 548 Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab): I was slightly taken Lynne Featherstone: The British crime survey is a aback by the hon. Lady’s “Oh, we’re going to look at good source of information, but I will refer this matter the research before we do this”, given that, up until now, back and the Minister will write. it seems there has been a failure to talk to those tasked with implementing the policy. Has she or any of her Detention (Terrorist Suspects) colleagues spoken to the Association of Chief Police Officers lead on rape about the policy, and what has his 4. Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con): Whether she response been? plans to renew the legislation which permits terrorist suspects to be detained for 28 days without charge. Lynne Featherstone: I have not spoken to the ACPO [4222] lead on the issue, but I will refer that question to the Secretary of State for Justice, who may well have 6. Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden) (Con): done so. Whether she plans to renew the legislation which permits terrorist suspects to be detained for 28 days Domestic Violence without charge. [4224] 3. Mr Chuka Umunna (Streatham) (Lab): How she The Secretary of State for the Home Department plans to take forward the conclusions of the work of (Mrs Theresa May): The Government laid an order last the “Together we can end violence against women and Thursday to renew the existing 28-day maximum period for pre-charge detention for terrorist suspects for six girls” strategy consultation on domestic violence. [4221] months, while we conduct a review of counter-terrorism measures and programmes, including pre-charge detention. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Both coalition parties are clear that the 28-day period Home Department (Lynne Featherstone): Violence against should be a temporary measure, and one that we shall women and girls ruins lives and destroys families, and be looking to reduce over time. its impact is felt down the generations. A cross-government strategy is the best way to address domestic violence Bob Blackman: I thank the Home Secretary for her and other forms of violence against women. In July, the answer. We are, of course, all committed to safeguarding Home Secretary will chair a meeting of Ministers across Britain against terrorist activities. How many people government that will be dedicated to this issue, and we have been detained for 28 days under these powers in look forward to discussing how we will take forward the past three years? our approach in this area. Mrs May: I am sure that my hon. Friend has followed Mr Umunna: I am a supporter of the Cassandra the old adage about not asking a question to which one learning centre, which is an organisation in my community does not know the answer. The answer is that, since that works on these issues. It was set up by the family of 2007, no one has been detained for 28 days. Before that a victim whose killer was one of the first to be retried date, a number of people were detained for periods of and sentenced following the revision of the rules on between 14 and 28 days. As I made clear in my opening double jeopardy. What funding do the Government answer, we see the 28-day period as a temporary measure, intend to make available to such third sector organisations and we are committed to reducing it over time. working in this field and, importantly, will that funding be ring-fenced, given last week’s Budget? Mr Davis: I, too, thank my right hon. Friend for her answer.