HC Deb 20 January 2003 vol 398 cc33-4W
23. Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Lord Chancellor's Department regarding prosecutions for child murderers involving joint enterprise. [91446]

Hilary Benn

There is regular contact with the Lord Chancellor's Department about a range of issues. This includes the difficult and important question of what we might do to improve the chances of successful prosecutions for the death or serious injury of children where it is clear that the injuries inflicted were caused by one or other parent, but there is no evidence as to which was responsible. Although some measures already contained in the current Criminal Justice Bill, such as those about admissibility of hearsay and evidence of previous misconduct, will help in this respect. We are considering a number of other possibilities with a view to legislation at the earliest possible opportunity.