Lords debates Victims and Prisoners Bill

The Victims and Prisoners Bill aims to improve the support and guidance offered to victims of crime and major incidents, and those suffering bereavement, including through the appointment of specialist advocates. 

The bill will also implement planned government reforms of the parole system, including preventing life-term inmates from marrying and greater ministerial oversight of the Parole Board and the early release of dangerous offenders. It will also change the process for ending the license for people on an Imprisonment for Public Protection sentence, and require the formation of a compensation body for victims of the infected blood scandal.

Debate on the draft law

During second reading, members considered:

• appointing an independent public advocate
• accountability of public services during major incidents such as the Hillsborough disaster
• strengthening the rights of children.

Members speaking 

Lord Bellamy (Conservative), Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice, opened the debate and responded on behalf of the government.

Over 40 members took part, including:

• Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrat), former assistant governor of HM Prison Service
• Lord Farmer (Conservative), chair of the Farmer Review on Importance of Strengthening Offenders' Family Ties to Prevent Re-offending and Intergenerational Crime
• Lord German (Liberal Democrat), Lords Liberal Democrat spokesperson for rehabilitation and probabtion
• Lord Hogan-Howe (Crossbench), former Metropolitan Police Commissioner
• Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws (Labour), barrister and council member of the Howard League for Penal Reform
• Baroness Newlove (Conservative), Victims Commissioner for England and Wales
• Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede (Labour), magistrate and Lords opposition spokesperson for justice
• Baroness Prashar (Crossbench), former chair of the Parole Board of England and Wales.

Lord Carter of Haslemere (Crossbench), trustee of the Prison Reform Trust, made his maiden speech in the Lords during this debate. 

Get involved 

Watch and read the debate

• Cartch up Parliament TV.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript . 

Explore further information

Find out more about the issues to be discussed in the House of Lords Library Victims and Prisoners Bill briefing.

Next steps

Committee stage, a further chance to closely scrutinise elements of the bill and make changes, is scheduled to begin on 24 January.

Image: William Cho / Pixabay