§ 28. Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to complete his review of limitation legislation.
Mr. John M. TaylorI informed the hon. Member in January that we were considering whether a comprehensive review of the law of limitation should be undertaken. The Lord Chancellor has now decided to invite the Law Commission to undertake such a review.
§ Mr. HinchliffeDoes the Minister understand the concerns of a significant number of people whose lives have been ruined by childhood abuse—often sexual—over their inability to take action through the courts because of the existing limitation legislation? Does he realise that, by tomorrow, it will be exactly one year since he gave me an assurance in the House during Question Time that the review would be completed by the end of last year? Does he realise why it is that a number of people who have been directly affected feel that the Government are conspiring to prevent them from getting to court with their cases?
Mr. TaylorI understand those concerns. Piecemeal reform in that part of the law has had its day, arid we need a comprehensive review. The Lord Chancellor has called for such a review to take place as soon as possible.