My hon Friend the Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation (Blair McDougall MP) has today made the following statement.

On 8 July last year, my predecessor announced the Government’s intention to launch a redress scheme for postmasters’ family members who were most severely affected by the Horizon scandal. This statement...

My hon Friend the Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation (Blair McDougall MP) has today made the following statement.

On 8 July last year, my predecessor announced the Government’s intention to launch a redress scheme for postmasters’ family members who were most severely affected by the Horizon scandal. This statement...

I. Letter dated 18/03/2026 from Blair McDougall MP to Lost Chances regarding the Horizon Family Members Redress Scheme. 5p. II. Restorative Justice Council: Horizon Project: Rebuilding trust: Designing a restorative justice programme with those harmed. Second report - March 2026. 32p.

I. Letter dated 18/03/2026 from Blair McDougall MP to Lost Chances regarding the Horizon Family Members Redress Scheme. 5p. II. Restorative Justice Council: Horizon Project: Rebuilding trust: Designing a restorative justice programme with those harmed. Second report - March 2026. 32p.

On 8 July last year, my predecessor announced the Government’s intention to launch a redress scheme for postmasters’ family members who were most severely affected by the Horizon scandal. This statement provides further information to the House about the form, scope and eligibility criteria of the scheme. Whilst the scheme...

On 8 July last year, my predecessor announced the Government’s intention to launch a redress scheme for postmasters’ family members who were most severely affected by the Horizon scandal. This statement provides further information to the House about the form, scope and eligibility criteria of the scheme. Whilst the scheme...

Lords report stage. Amendment 5 agreed to on division (273 to 180). Amendment 10 agreed to on division (257 to 174). Amendment 16 agreed to on division (252 to 171). Amendment 20 agreed to on division (216 to 170). Amendment 26 agreed to on division (189 to 157). Amendment 27 agreed to. Bill, as amended, ordered to be printed (HL Bill 176).

Lords report stage. Amendment 5 agreed to on division (273 to 180). Amendment 10 agreed to on division (257 to 174). Amendment 16 agreed to on division (252 to 171). Amendment 20 agreed to on division (216 to 170). Amendment 26 agreed to on division (189 to 157). Amendment 27...

Moved by

Baroness Brinton

1: Clause 3, page 5, line 40, leave out from “offender”)” to end of line 1 on page 6 and insert “for any sexual offence in relation to children, including online offences,”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment lowers the threshold at which the restrictions in Clause 3 can apply.

Moved by

Baroness Brinton

1: Clause 3, page 5, line 40, leave out from “offender”)” to end of line 1 on page 6 and insert “for any sexual offence in relation to children, including online offences,”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment lowers the threshold at which the restrictions in Clause 3 can apply.

My Lords, I thank the Minister and her officials for the helpful meetings between Committee and Report and for the correspondence. I have retabled my amendment from Committee, which would place restrictions on parental responsibility, as Amendment 1, and signed Amendments 2 and 3 from the noble Lord, Lord Meston,...

My Lords, I thank the Minister and her officials for the helpful meetings between Committee and Report and for the correspondence. I have retabled my amendment from Committee, which would place restrictions on parental responsibility, as Amendment 1, and signed Amendments 2 and 3 from the noble Lord, Lord Meston,...

My Lords, I will speak to Amendments 2 and 3, which were laid by the noble Lord, Lord Meston, who apologises for being unable to be in the House today. Rather courageously and dangerously, he has asked me to present the two amendments in his name. I shall do my...

My Lords, I will speak to Amendments 2 and 3, which were laid by the noble Lord, Lord Meston, who apologises for being unable to be in the House today. Rather courageously and dangerously, he has asked me to present the two amendments in his name. I shall do my...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, for her Amendment 1, which addresses the thresholds proposed in the Bill. As she knows, we on these Benches have similarly expressed concern about the proposed threshold. This restricts the effect of Clause 3 to offenders sentenced to four years or...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, for her Amendment 1, which addresses the thresholds proposed in the Bill. As she knows, we on these Benches have similarly expressed concern about the proposed threshold. This restricts the effect of Clause 3 to offenders sentenced to four years or...

My Lords, the Government appreciate that this group of amendments is driven by a desire to safeguard the children who are, quite rightly, at the centre of these difficult and sensitive cases. As I said in Committee, this aim is one I share.

Amendment 2, in the names of the noble...

My Lords, the Government appreciate that this group of amendments is driven by a desire to safeguard the children who are, quite rightly, at the centre of these difficult and sensitive cases. As I said in Committee, this aim is one I share.

Amendment 2, in the names of the noble...

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in this fairly short debate. I think we have managed to get to the essence of the issues remaining from Committee. I am particularly grateful to the Minister for her explanation about children born by rape and conceived pre sentencing....

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in this fairly short debate. I think we have managed to get to the essence of the issues remaining from Committee. I am particularly grateful to the Minister for her explanation about children born by rape and conceived pre sentencing....

Moved by

Baroness Brinton

5: After Clause 7, insert the following new Clause—

“Access to free court transcripts for victims

(1) Victims of criminal offences shall be entitled to receive, without charge, court transcripts of—

(a) the Route to Verdict, and

(b) bail decisions and conditions,

which are relevant to their case.

(2) The Secretary of State must...

Moved by

Baroness Brinton

5: After Clause 7, insert the following new Clause—

“Access to free court transcripts for victims

(1) Victims of criminal offences shall be entitled to receive, without charge, court transcripts of—

(a) the Route to Verdict, and

(b) bail decisions and conditions,

which are relevant to their case.

(2) The Secretary of State must...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the Minister for her helpful meeting between Committee and Report. As a result of her concerns about the practicalities of summing up for victims, I have amended my Amendment 5 following discussion with others outside your Lordships’ House.

From these Benches, I say again...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the Minister for her helpful meeting between Committee and Report. As a result of her concerns about the practicalities of summing up for victims, I have amended my Amendment 5 following discussion with others outside your Lordships’ House.

From these Benches, I say again...

My Lords, Amendment 5 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, reflects a commitment to ensuring victims are entitled to free transcripts on the route to verdict and bail decisions and conditions that are relevant to their case. In Committee, we supported the broader amendment, which included sentencing...

My Lords, Amendment 5 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, reflects a commitment to ensuring victims are entitled to free transcripts on the route to verdict and bail decisions and conditions that are relevant to their case. In Committee, we supported the broader amendment, which included sentencing...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Keen, and the noble Lord, Lord Sandhurst, for their constructive engagement on the subject of court transcripts over recent weeks.

As the noble and learned Lord said, there is nothing between us on the principle of...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Keen, and the noble Lord, Lord Sandhurst, for their constructive engagement on the subject of court transcripts over recent weeks.

As the noble and learned Lord said, there is nothing between us on the principle of...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Keen, and the Minister for their contributions. I thank the noble and learned Lord for his support of our Amendment 5. We on our Benches absolutely agree that his amendment helps the interests of victims’ right to...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Keen, and the Minister for their contributions. I thank the noble and learned Lord for his support of our Amendment 5. We on our Benches absolutely agree that his amendment helps the interests of victims’ right to...

Moved by

Lord Hacking

6: After Clause 7, insert the following new Clause—

“Victim navigators

(1) The Secretary of State must, within six months of the passing of this Act, make provision for each police force in England and Wales to have access to one or more independent victim navigators.

(2) The purpose of an...

Moved by

Lord Hacking

6: After Clause 7, insert the following new Clause—

“Victim navigators

(1) The Secretary of State must, within six months of the passing of this Act, make provision for each police force in England and Wales to have access to one or more independent victim navigators.

(2) The purpose of an...

My Lords, I am happy to disclose that I am being supported by the noble Baroness, Lady Jones of Moulsecoomb, who has been kind enough to sign my amendment.

I think it would be helpful if I began by telling your Lordships the major features of modern slavery. It affects principally...

My Lords, I am happy to disclose that I am being supported by the noble Baroness, Lady Jones of Moulsecoomb, who has been kind enough to sign my amendment.

I think it would be helpful if I began by telling your Lordships the major features of modern slavery. It affects principally...

I think I am allowed 15 minutes.

The commissioner summarised her strategy in this excellent report. It is the protection of victims, and 724 have been supported. As a result of the activities of the victim navigators, 1,420 police investigations have taken place, and 74 convictions have resulted in a total...

I think I am allowed 15 minutes.

The commissioner summarised her strategy in this excellent report. It is the protection of victims, and 724 have been supported. As a result of the activities of the victim navigators, 1,420 police investigations have taken place, and 74 convictions have resulted in a total...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to support the noble Lord, Lord Hacking, especially when he is so right on an issue. This is an interesting group. Clearly, the Government are going to have a choice of routes to increase human rights for victims, because we need a justice system...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to support the noble Lord, Lord Hacking, especially when he is so right on an issue. This is an interesting group. Clearly, the Government are going to have a choice of routes to increase human rights for victims, because we need a justice system...