Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation

Tuesday 16 May 2023 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial commitment to introduce legislation against strategic lawsuits against public participation at the earliest opportunity.
  • Government plans to include a new statutory definition, an early dismissal process, and protections against excessive legal costs in the proposed legislation.
  • Government is considering the legislation's scope carefully to balance speed with comprehensive policy implementation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rob Butler
Standards & Ethics
Context

SLAPPs involve using the legal process to shut down legitimate investigations and criticisms. The questioner is concerned about steps being taken to address this issue.

Question

What steps he is taking to bring forward legislative proposals to tackle strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).

Answer from Alex Chalk

We will introduce a new statutory definition, an early dismissal process to strike out SLAPP litigation and protections against excessive legal costs. We are looking closely at a number of legislative avenues to pursue that.

Answered
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Q2 Nicola Richards
Justice & Courts Foreign Affairs
Context

Russian oligarchs have used Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation to frustrate journalists from exposing their actions. Catherine Belton and her publisher faced a £1.5 million bill after libel actions were brought against them.

Question

Will the Minister agree to do as much as possible to prevent this exploitation of UK courts?

Answer from Alex Chalk

The Government are committed to preventing exploitation of UK courts by legislating against SLAPPs at the earliest opportunity, and we are considering that in legislation already before Parliament.

Answered
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Q3 Rob Butler
Context

The questioner is the chair of an all-party parliamentary group on media freedom globally and a former journalist. He is concerned about the scope of proposed anti-SLAPP legislation.

Question

Could he give the House more detail on the potential scope of the legislation, and reiterate what a difference it will make for press freedom?

Answer from Alex Chalk

We have to take care with this legislation. There is a balance between speed and ensuring it is sufficiently comprehensive to achieve the policy aim. We are proceeding carefully but quickly, with all due diligence and expedition, to ensure it achieves its aims.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for more detail on the scope of the legislation but received a vague commitment about ensuring careful progress without specifics.

How: We Are Proceeding Carefully But Quickly

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Q4 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Justice & Courts
Context

A visit to Wandsworth prison showed that 75% of prisoners were still waiting for a basic sentence. The questioner is concerned about this situation.

Question

How can he introduce fresh challenges when there are such severe backlogs? Will he reconsider the day job and bread-and-butter work of getting through the backlog?

Answer from Alex Chalk

Capacity is critically important. In 90% of cases in magistrates courts there are not difficulties, but we are expanding capacity with more judges and Nightingale courts. List officers ensure sensitive cases proceed as quickly as possible, and the Crown court backlog is coming down.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked about the backlog issues but received a general acknowledgment of importance without specific action plans or timelines.

How: Capacity Is Critically Important

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Q5 Clive Efford Lab Eltham and Chislehurst
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The Government have been making noises about legislating against SLAPPs for a long time, but the questioner wants to know when this will actually happen.

Question

Can he tell us when he is likely to legislate on SLAPPs?

Answer from Alex Chalk

We will do so at the earliest opportunity. As I said before, we are even considering this in legislation before the House at the moment. We have to move quickly and with care to avoid unintended consequences.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for a timeline but received a vague commitment about moving at an early opportunity without specific dates.

How: At The Earliest Opportunity

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Q6 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Context

The House has debated SLAPPs multiple times over the last year. The questioner wants to ensure that the review covers additional practices such as illegal hacking and poorly regulated private investigations.

Question

Can he make sure his review covers these other bad practices?

Answer from Alex Chalk

As always, my right hon. Friend has his finger on the pulse of this important issue. He makes a powerful point, and I can assure him that it is being borne in mind.

Not addressed: The questioner asked for specific commitments but received praise and vague assurance without concrete details or timeline.

How: As Always, My Right Hon. Friend Has His Finger On The Pulse Of This Important Issue

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