I am sorry, I am not a legal person, so I am just trying to join the dots, if you will bear with me. I think what is really insulting to victims is that it is like a two-tier level—one is a code and one is a law. What we want is to make sure that that persuasive guidance is in law, because it is about accountability and while it is in the code—with the words “should” or “must” or “do”—there is no accountability. So I am confused by the Minister saying it makes no difference if it is put in law and that it is easy language. It is nothing to do with that. It is important for victims to know that they have legal rights—not to take away from the offenders’ rights, but to start a level playing field—so I am a bit confused about my noble and learned friend’s response, as it does not make sense to me, and I am not a lawyer.
Victims and Prisoners Bill
Proceeding contribution from
Baroness Newlove
(Conservative)
in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 31 January 2024.
It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL)
and
Debate on bills on Victims and Prisoners Bill.
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
835 c1250 
Session
2023-24
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Librarians' tools
Timestamp
2024-02-01 11:12:56 +0000
URI
http://hansard.intranet.data.parliament.uk/Lords/2024-01-31/240131134000029
In Indexing
http://indexing.parliament.uk/Content/Edit/1?uri=http://hansard.intranet.data.parliament.uk/Lords/2024-01-31/240131134000029
In Solr
https://search.parliament.uk/claw/solr/?id=http://hansard.intranet.data.parliament.uk/Lords/2024-01-31/240131134000029