Contributions
1,118 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Sentencing BillThis is a formulation that is well understood by the courts. It applies, for example, in respect of possession of a firearm contrary to the Firearms Act 1968, as was. I once…06 Dec 2023HANSARD Sentencing BillHang on, I haven’t given way yet. [Laughter.] I give way to my right hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and The Deepings.06 Dec 2023HANSARD Sentencing BillI am certainly happy to look at the data, but whichever way we slice it, the central message is unassailable. Essentially, those who have a sentence of imprisonment that is…06 Dec 2023HANSARD Sentencing BillFirst, I pay tribute to my hon. Friend, who brings such expertise to the House and uses it in the public interest as a member of the Justice Committee and, indeed, by lobbying…06 Dec 2023HANSARD Sentencing BillI will make a bit of progress and then I will take an intervention. Requirement to receive treatment for addictions or mental health problems can also support and address what are…06 Dec 2023HANSARD Sentencing BillThat is a brilliant point, and I agree with it wholeheartedly. I think there is further that we can go. The position at present is that there is a maximum number of hours that a…06 Dec 2023HANSARD Sentencing BillMy right hon. Friend speaks with great authority about this point, and I agree with every syllable of what he has said. One of the problems is that the—how can I put…06 Dec 2023HANSARDHillsborough: Bishop James Jones ReportWith permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a statement on the Government’s response to Bishop James Jones’s report, “‘The patronising disposition of unaccountable…06 Dec 2023HANSARD Sentencing BillMy right hon. Friend gets right to the point. I would not be making this argument unless I had physically been to look at some of the tags and asked questions of the suppliers…06 Dec 2023HANSARDHillsborough: Bishop James Jones ReportI thank the hon. Lady for her response, and I shall seek to address each point in turn. On the issue of legal aid, we absolutely accept that in this particular case there was a…06 Dec 2023HANSARD Sentencing BillI want to turn to the issue of exclusions, because they matter, but I sense that my right hon. Friend wants to intervene.06 Dec 2023HANSARDHillsborough: Bishop James Jones ReportThis has, of course, been considered very carefully across Government Departments, and there are countervailing interests, which I am very happy to discuss with the hon. Member.…06 Dec 2023HANSARDHillsborough: Bishop James Jones ReportI thank the right hon. Lady and say, entirely fairly, I hope, that the merits in this response—and it can reasonably be observed that there are a great number—are due in…06 Dec 2023HANSARDHillsborough: Bishop James Jones ReportI think that most recognise that significant changes have taken place. I hope we can feel confident that something like that could not happen, but, in the dreadful event that it…06 Dec 2023HANSARDHillsborough: Bishop James Jones ReportI am so grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that critical point. The issue is not just about major disasters, important though they are. When something dreadful has happened,…06 Dec 2023HANSARDHillsborough: Bishop James Jones ReportThose are very helpful points. First, I pay tribute to the Justice Committee for its work, particularly the work on coroners’ inquests. Indeed, in preparation for this statement,…06 Dec 2023HANSARDHillsborough: Bishop James Jones ReportI thank the hon. Gentleman for those helpful and pertinent questions. Let me turn first to the issue of the police. Yes, it is one thing to set the culture, which, I think it is…06 Dec 2023HANSARDHillsborough: Bishop James Jones ReportThe hon. and learned Lady makes an excellent point. Of course, we think there should be equality of arms. The only point of potential hesitation comes from the evidence of the…06 Dec 2023HANSARDHillsborough: 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 ReportMy door is always open. Of course, I will speak to the hon. Lady and others. It is also important to recognise that part of the statutory framework has moved on. I have talked…06 Dec 2023