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» Thursday, October 12, 2006

SIAC Evidence

Asked for view, the Leader pointed out that the Solicitor General had dealt with the issue in the House earlier. He had also been asked about it during Business Questions. Both he and the Solicitor General had said that it was very regrettable, but pointed out that this should not detract from the value of SIAC. It was very difficult to devise a process which, above all, was fair to the person accused but also protected national security. In general, SIAC had been found to be fair when it had been subject to review by the Court of Appeal. In this particular case, there was criticism by SIAC of what the Home Office had done which, he said, emphasised the robustness of those who sat in SIAC and their concern to defend properly the rights of the accused.

Briefing took place at 12:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Political Memoirs

The Leader said he had made some general remarks about this subject when he gave evidence to the Public Administration Select Committee earlier in the year. Referring to David Blunkett's diaries, he said he was not offering a book review at present.

Briefing took place at 12:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

House of Lords Reform

Asked about progress, the Leader said it was in hand. He expected a report of the Joint Committee on Conventions, governing relationships between the Houses, by the end of the present session in mid-November. The Leader said that he then proposed to publish a White Paper, which would reflect on the substantive issue of the composition of the House of Lords but also take full account of the Joint Committee's recommendations. Pressed about then timing of the White Paper, he said he could not say exactly for the reason that he needed to learn the outcome of the Joint Committee's report. He was well aware of the need to move ahead with immediate speed. The Government's response would contain a series of options and there would be a free vote. It remained to be seen whether there would be a Government preferred option.

Briefing took place at 12:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Prison Violence

He was asked for his view, as a former Home Secretary, of a parliamentary answer which indicated a rise in prison violence and also in self-harm cases among prisoners. He said he had not seen the detailed figures, but it was possible that the increase reflected differences in reporting procedures and definitions rather than actual changes in the level of violence. Overall, on the rise in prison places, he said that it was very significant. The Government had increased the total by 4,000 in the last two years and nearly 20,000 since 1997. A further programme would deliver 900 more places by 2007 and another 8,000 by 2012. At the same time, the physical environment of many prisoners had been improved along with drug treatments, medical services and work and education in prisons. There was no direct connection between the numbers in prison and the behaviour of prisoners.

Briefing took place at 12:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

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» Thursday, October 12, 2006

SIAC Evidence

Political Memoirs

House of Lords Reform

Prison Violence

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