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The government has defended plans to go ahead with giving rape defendants anonymity, despite criticism from all sides of the House.
In a Commons debate yesterday afternoon, Crispin Blunt said the government was "minded" to introduce anonymity "up to the point of charge" for defendants in rape cases.
The justice minister denied that the number of false allegations made against men was behind the government's reasoning for change, dismissing suggestions that it would deter victims from coming forward.
He told MPs: "There is an argument that reducing publicity around rape investigations and trial should make it easier for complainants.
"This would be an effect of protecting a defendant's identity."
When asked why pre-charge anonymity should not be extended to the alleged perpetrators of other crimes, Blunt said that since "the complainant in a rape trial has anonymity... it is therefore appropriate to give the defendant a degree of anonymity".
However, shadow justice minister Maria Eagle warned that ministers were in "danger of sending a clear signal to victims: you will not be believed".
Eagle told MPs everyone recognised how hard it was to convict offenders of rape.
She said: "I think anything that makes it harder for people to come forward, that makes it more likely that they weren't believed when they do come forward, and that deters them coming forward can only be bad in terms of the impact it would have on conviction rates."
Eagle asked why rape had been "singled out" for defendant anonymity.
"I believe that there are many crimes of which one can be accused which can have an extremely deleterious effect on one's reputation, on one's life, on one's family - very many crimes apart from just rape," she said.
"This is one of them, indeed. So is murder. So is downloading child pornography. So is stealing when one has a position of trust."
And Eagle described the proposal as "prejudice-based policymaking".
Blunt promised a further announcement in the autumn to investigate areas that "still require further thought", including whether anonymity might "frustrate" police investigations into rape.
He added there would be talks with both the police and media before a final decision is made.
Tory MP and author Louise Bagshawe (Corby) said there were concerns from all sides of the House that in "singling out rape in this way ministers are sending a negative signal about women and those who accuse men of rape".
Home affairs select committee chair Keith Vaz suggested anonymity could be extended to all offences so that cases are not decided or influenced by the media.
Anna Soubry (Con, Broxtowe), a former criminal barrister, said publishing the names of people accused had "absolutely" let to more victims having come forward.
However, many MPs did back the government's measures and called for it to be extended so that suspects' names are kept secret until they are convicted.
Conservative MP Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase) said that false claims can ruin men's lives and the law should be strengthened to protect them from having their reputations destroyed.
Former Labour minister Caroline Flint criticised the government's plans and said they would send a "devastating message that rape victims, uniquely among all complainants, are not to be believed".
Justice secretary Ken Clarke has already told MPs they will be given a 'free vote' on the issue, which means they will not be told by their party whips, which side of the argument to support.
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