Contributions
1,118 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSentencing 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 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 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 2023HANSARDRape Charge RatesI am grateful to my hon. and learned Friend for raising that important point. As he knows, listing—prioritisation; which case gets called first—is a matter for the independent…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 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 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 2023HANSARDPrisoner Transfers: AlbaniaOur prisoner transfer agreement with Albania came into force in May 2022. Between January 2021 and December 2022, 1,441 Albanian foreign national offenders were returned to their…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 2023HANSARDJudicial Conduct Investigations Office Annual Report 2021-22With the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice, I will today publish the 16th annual report of the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO). The JCIO supports the Lord Chief…13 Jun 2023HANSARDJusticeOn her specific point, what I think is exciting and heartening about the Bill is that it contains a duty on the Secretary of State and police and crime commissioners not just to…07 Jun 2023HANSARDJusticeOn her specific point, what I think is exciting and heartening about the Bill is that it contains a duty on the Secretary of State and criminal justice bodies not just to promote…07 Jun 2023HANSARDBill of Rights BillI am looking carefully at the full range of the Department’s work before setting out plans in detail.16 May 2023HANSARDIllegal Migration Bill: Access to JusticeRespectfully, the hon. Gentleman may not have quite read the entirety of the Bill, which makes it clear that in appropriate cases where there is an imminent risk of serious and…16 May 2023HANSARDIllegal Migration Bill: Access to JusticeThe rule of law is absolutely essential to who we are as a nation. It does mean, on the one hand, that no one should be mightier than the law and we should all be accountable…16 May 2023HANSARDIllegal Migration Bill: Access to JusticeNo, absolutely not. Access to justice is at the heart of the Bill, and indeed we make sure that where it is necessary, people can have the legal advice to make those points. But…16 May 2023HANSARDIllegal Migration Bill: Access to JusticeThe Illegal Migration Bill will break the business model of ruthless people-smuggling gangs, deter migrants from making dangerous channel crossings, and restore fairness to our…16 May 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI express my sincere condolences and deep sorrow to the family of my hon. Friend’s young constituent. As he knows, the provisions in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act…16 May 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsWell, criminals do deserve to be behind bars, which is why I am proud of the fact that when it comes to rape, which is an appalling crime that robs innocence and destroys lives,…16 May 2023HANSARDPolice Officer Numbers: ImpactI thank the hon. Lady for the important work she does. These are relevant questions. It is important to understand that 90% of all criminal cases take place in the magistrates…16 May 2023