Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Tuesday 3 June 2025 · 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 0 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Susan Murray asked about discussions regarding the International Court of Justice's 2024 judgment on Israel and Palestine; the response referred concerns to the Foreign Secretary for review.
  • Shaun Davies requested a meeting with the Lord Chancellor to discuss a long-service medal for justices and recruiting new magistrates; the Lord Chancellor expressed willingness to meet and highlighted existing certification systems.
  • Mr Andrew Snowden questioned the effectiveness of chemical suppression for paedophile prisoners, asserting it may merely reduce libido; the Secretary of State confirmed review of chemical suppression measures for sex offenders.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Susan Murray Lib Dem Mid Dunbartonshire
Foreign Affairs
Context

Discussions about the International Court of Justice’s 2024 judgment on Israel and Palestine.

Question

What discussions have the Government had regarding the International Court of Justice’s 2024 judgment on Israel and Palestine?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

The hon. Lady will know that that is a matter primarily for the Foreign Secretary. We keep under review all judgments of all courts, domestic and international, and adopt our policy position accordingly. I will ensure that her concerns, if there are any, are raised directly with the Foreign Secretary.

Partly answered

How: Under Review, Foreign Secretary

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Q2 Shaun Davies Lab Telford
Policing & Resources Justice & Courts
Context

The discussion on the role and recognition of volunteer magistrates in the justice system.

Question

Will the Lord Chancellor meet me, the Magistrates’ Association, and a group of cross-party MPs to discuss establishing a long-service medal for justices and recruiting new magistrates?

Answer from Sarah Sackman

I was pleased to visit Telford justice centre with my hon. Friend, where we met magistrates and leaders of the Magistrates’ Association. I meet the Magistrates’ Association regularly. We have a system of certification acknowledging the vital work that magistrates do, especially long-serving magistrates who serve more than 10, 20 or 30 years. I am happy to continue discussions with my hon. Friend on how we can acknowledge and recognise that brilliant service even more.

Partly answered

How: System Of Certification

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Q3 Alex Baker Lab Aldershot
Justice & Courts
Context

Backlog issues in the Crown courts, particularly affecting Aldershot and Farnborough.

Question

What steps is the Minister taking to reduce delays in local justice for constituents?

Answer from Sarah Sackman

This Government inherited record and rising backlogs. As my hon. Friend described, the human cost of that is victims waiting longer and longer for their day in court. We have acted swiftly, increasing magistrates’ sentencing powers, but fundamental reform is needed, which is why we asked Sir Brian Leveson to undertake his review. He will be reporting shortly and we will take his package of fundamental reforms forward, to ensure that we have reform of our Crown courts and swifter justice for victims.

Partly answered

How: Fundamental Reform, Sir Brian Leveson Review

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Q4 Andrew Snowden Con Fylde
Justice & Courts
Context

The question addresses concerns over the announcement of 'chemical castration' for paedophiles, which turns out to be merely taking pills that may reduce libido. The issue is about ensuring no prisoner is released until medication has proven effective.

Question

The Secretary of State recently announced that paedophiles will be castrated ahead of early release from prison, which turns out to be nothing more than taking some pills that may—I repeat “may”—reduce their libido. Will the Secretary of State confirm here and now that no paedophile prisoner will be released from prison early until it has been proven that the medication has effectively castrated them?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

Chemical suppression is a mechanism used by other jurisdictions around the world, and it has been shown to work. The previous Government sat on a pilot for years on end and did nothing. I have said that I will pull every lever at our disposal to deal with sex offending once and for all.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not confirm the exact timeline or criteria for proving chemical suppression effectiveness before early release.

How: Working On This, Considering

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Q5 Shabana Mahmood Lab
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The Secretary of State recently announced that paedophiles will be castrated ahead of early release from prison, which turns out to be nothing more than taking some pills that may—I repeat “may”—reduce their libido. This has raised concerns about the effectiveness and certainty of such measures.

Question

Chemical suppression is a mechanism used by other jurisdictions around the world, and it has been shown to work. The previous Government sat on a pilot for years on end and did nothing. I have said that I will pull every lever at our disposal to deal with sex offending once and for all. Will the Secretary of State confirm here and now that no paedophile prisoner will be released from prison early until it has been proven that the medication has effectively castrated them?

Answer from Alex Davies-Jones

We are committed to ensuring public safety and taking every necessary step to prevent sex offenders from reoffending. The use of chemical suppression as a mechanism is under review, and we will ensure that any measures taken are effective and based on evidence. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and make decisions based on the best available information.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not confirm or deny the specific commitment requested by Shabana Mahmood regarding releasing paedophile prisoners early only after proving effectiveness of chemical suppression.

How: Under Review, Based On Evidence

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Q6 Nick Timothy Con West Suffolk
Justice & Courts Religion & Faith
Context

A man was convicted of a public order offence after burning a Koran outside the Turkish embassy. The judge's ruling suggested that being attacked proved his guilt, which the MP finds concerning.

Question

Yesterday, a man was convicted of a public order offence after burning a Koran outside the Turkish embassy. The judge said that the fact that the man was attacked was proof that he was guilty of disorderly behaviour. This is grotesque, and means that in effect, we have a blasphemy law. Does the Justice Secretary believe that this should hold, or will the Government back my Bill to put an end to all of this madness next week?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

We do not have a blasphemy law, and we are not going to have a blasphemy law in this country. As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, I believe that that specific case is going to be subject to an appeal, so it would be inappropriate for me or any other Minister to comment on the details of the matter. However, I am sure that once all other channels are exhausted and we have a final resolution, we will be debating these matters in detail in this House.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specifically avoided commenting on whether they support abolishing what could be considered a de facto blasphemy law or backing the MP's bill.

How: Appeal To Judicial Process, Inappropriate For Minister To Comment

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