Part of Domestic Abuse Bill - Report (3rd Day) (Continued) – in the House of Lords at 9:00 pm on 15 March 2021.
Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede
Shadow Spokesperson (Justice)
9:00,
15 March 2021
My Lords, I too pay tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham; he has a long-standing interest in this subject and I have heard him bring it up in other forums many times. As he said, he has worked constructively with Chris Bryant in Another place; they have worked in tandem in bringing this issue to the fore and to the attention of Ministers. I am glad that the noble Lord, Lord Parkinson, has met the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, and maybe the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, as well.
The noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, indicated that he is undecided about whether to divide the House on this matter, and it will depend on the Minister’s response. From my party’s perspective, I am not sure that this needs to be in the Bill, and we would abstain if the noble Lord were to press the matter to a vote.
I was also very persuaded, for a second time, by the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay. She made a very stark speech about the seriousness of these brain injuries and how they are potentially irreversible; she drew the problem even wider, saying that they are prevalent among male prisoners and those in young offenders’ residences.
I once again congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, but I urge him not to press his Amendment.
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As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
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