Contributions
1,118 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsYes, that is correct. Having carefully considered the Government’s legislative programme in the round, I can inform the House that we have decided not to proceed with the Bill of…27 Jun 2023HANSARDPrisoner Transfers: AlbaniaI thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue consistently—he was raising it when I first came to the House in 2015, and he is absolutely right to do so. Yes, we will continue to…27 Jun 2023HANSARDRape Charge RatesI regret that language. As a matter of fact, convictions are at or around the 2010 level. If the hon. Gentleman wants to suggest that rape was decriminalised in 2010, he is…27 Jun 2023HANSARDSentencing Hearings: Offenders’ AttendanceThe hon. Lady raises an important point by referring to those three cases. What concerns me is that one defendant’s actions could be copied by others, who take the view that that…27 Jun 2023HANSARDPrisoner Transfers: AlbaniaOur prisoner transfer agreement with Albania came into force in May 2022. To build on that, as I have mentioned before, we announced a new arrangement with the Albanian Government…27 Jun 2023HANSARDViolence against Women and GirlsThe hon. Lady is absolutely right to talk about this issue, as indeed are all right hon. and hon. Members. All I respectfully plea for is some balance in the way we discuss this…27 Jun 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsNo, no, no—that is to completely misrepresent the situation. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have one of the most robust systems of sanctions; whether in an individual case money…27 Jun 2023HANSARDRape Charge RatesMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right to make those balanced and fair observations. To try to assist victims, there are a few really important things. Rolling out section 28s…27 Jun 2023HANSARDAsylum Seekers’ Access to Justice: Illegal Migration BillThis is a fair country and we will always take what proper steps we should to ensure that individuals’ rights are upheld. I respectfully say this: as well as considering those…27 Jun 2023HANSARDRape Charge RatesThe statistic that the hon. Lady just cited is completely wrong. Let me make a couple of points. The number of rape convictions is at or around the level it was in 2010. The…27 Jun 2023HANSARDAsylum Seekers’ Access to Justice: Illegal Migration BillThe Illegal Migration Bill will break the business model of people-smuggling gangs, deter migrants from making dangerous channel crossings and restore fairness to our asylum…27 Jun 2023HANSARDPrison OvercrowdingI am grateful to the hon. Lady. It is worth reflecting that the second biggest programme in Government after High Speed 2 is in prison building. I invite her to go and look at…27 Jun 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe keep all these matters under review and my hon. Friend will know well that the role of a knife in the commission of criminal offences is already reflected in the criminal…27 Jun 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI do not have plans to do so, I confess, but if the hon. Lady is to have those conversations, I invite her to consider writing to me afterwards; if there are matters we can take…27 Jun 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI hope the hon. Gentleman will join me in welcoming the measures on SLAPPs, because it is very important to ensure that those people do not use their financial advantage to try to…27 Jun 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsNo one is a more doughty defender of the people in his constituency who are concerned about matters relating to Scampton than my right hon. Friend. This is principally a Home…27 Jun 2023HANSARDSentencing Hearings: Offenders’ AttendanceI thank the hon. Gentleman for raising this case and for rightly identifying the anguish, pain and insult that families feel when a cowardly defendant refuses to attend court. On…27 Jun 2023HANSARDPrison OvercrowdingThose are excellent points. Let me begin by joining my hon. Friend in welcoming Dame Sue Carr, whose appointment has been hugely welcomed across the political spectrum, across the…27 Jun 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am afraid that I did not get the first part of the right hon. Lady’s question, but if she writes to me, I will come back to her.27 Jun 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe have already taken important steps to recalibrate disclosures so that they have to take place only when absolutely necessary, but the hon. Gentleman is right about employment.…27 Jun 2023