Contributions
1,118 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs I indicated, I will have a conversation with my hon. Friend the Member for Hertford and Stortford (Julie Marson) about that. There is very likely to be a substantive underlying…09 Jan 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am grateful to my right hon. Friend, who, with his customary precision, puts his finger on that appalling injustice. The suggestion that he makes is receiving active…09 Jan 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe of course welcome any reduction in crime, and I am happy to congratulate Police Scotland on its work. It is encouraging that across the United Kingdom, and certainly across…09 Jan 2024HANSARDParole Board Consideration MechanismI am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that extremely troubling case. The murder committed by Edwin Hopkins was a truly dreadful crime, and I understand the concern about the…09 Jan 2024HANSARDParole Board Consideration MechanismThe reconsideration mechanism introduced in July 2019 is a vital tool for public protection, allowing Ministers to intervene in broad cases where there is concern that the…09 Jan 2024HANSARDVictim SupportSupporting victims has broadly three elements. First, it means ensuring harmful behaviour is comprehensively criminalised. That is why we have legislated to create new offences of…09 Jan 2024HANSARDParole Board Consideration MechanismThe hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. It is one thing being a victim of a crime in the first place but another not being kept updated on progress of the sentence of that…09 Jan 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThat is precisely the point, and my hon. Friend has put his finger on it. Of course, we would not want to stray into the normal lane of the judiciary; we have huge respect for our…09 Jan 2024HANSARDVictim SupportThe Victims’ Commissioner plays an important role and we are delighted that Baroness Newlove is taking it on again. She has an exemplary track record. The role sits within a wider…09 Jan 2024HANSARDVictim SupportThe hon. Gentleman raises an absolutely essential point. As I indicated, we are quadrupling funding for victims’ services on 2010 levels. Part of that is directed through police…09 Jan 2024HANSARDVictim SupportI thank my hon. Friend for drawing the attention of the House to that appalling incident. Yes, it is absolutely imperative that both victims and witnesses can access support in…09 Jan 2024HANSARDHuman Rights LegislationNo, I reject that characterisation. The European convention on human rights, under article 13, provides a right to an effective remedy. We think there is a perfectly respectable…09 Jan 2024HANSARDHuman Rights LegislationThe United Kingdom has a long-standing tradition of ensuring that rights and liberties are protected domestically and of fulfilling our international human rights obligations. We…09 Jan 2024HANSARDVictim SupportMy hon. Friend raises an absolutely essential point, because giving evidence is a deeply traumatic experience. Powers in section 46 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act…09 Jan 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am grateful to my right hon. and learned Friend, who speaks with such authority. The circumstances are truly exceptional. When I was a Back Bencher, I went on the record as…09 Jan 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsIt is important to note that, since 2010 when we came into power, the number of under-18s in custody has dropped dramatically. The cohort now in young offenders institutes is, to…09 Jan 2024HANSARDVictim SupportMy hon. Friend has been brilliant in raising this issue time and time again. At least in part because of the pressure she has put on, we held a stakeholder engagement exercise on…09 Jan 2024HANSARDHMP WandsworthI wish to inform the House that the independent investigation into the alleged escape of Daniel Khalife from HMP Wandsworth on 6 September 2023 has concluded. Escapes from the…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHillsborough: Bishop James Jones ReportI thank my hon. Friend for that typically thoughtful and helpful suggestion. She makes an excellent point. Already in the civil service code, there ought to be arrangements for…06 Dec 2023HANSARDHillsborough: Bishop James Jones ReportI thank the hon. Lady, and she is absolutely right that there needs to be a duty of candour. Indeed, that is the single most important thing that comes out of the Hillsborough…06 Dec 2023