Contributions
995 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDJury TrialsI am coming on to that. The number of sitting days has already increased substantially in comparison with what the last Government did, and I think that it should increase…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsI will give way once, but I am aware of time.07 Jan 2026HANSARD VenezuelaI welcome the Foreign Secretary’s statement that she will abide by international law. I would not expect her to publish the legal advice that she has received from the Law…05 Jan 2026HANSARDHMP Leyhill: Offender AbscondmentsIn the light of these escapes from a class D prison, will the Government look again at the policy and process for moving prisoners to open prisons earlier in their sentence as a…05 Jan 2026HANSARDMiddle East and North AfricaThis morning I had the honour to attend the official opening of the Palestinian embassy in my constituency by His Excellency Ambassador Husam Zomlot and also by 14-year-old…05 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsRestricting jury trials may help to reduce the Crown court backlog, but there is no evidence that the use of juries caused the current delay. However, there is evidence, starting…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Violence against Women and Girls StrategyWe are all aware of the delays in the criminal justice system. Those can occur at any stage, but they are particularly severe when cases move from the police to the Crown…18 Dec 2025HANSARDLocal Government FinanceThe Minister mentioned Hammersmith and Fulham council in her statement, so I hope she will not mind my reminding her that it is one of the most efficiently run councils in the…17 Dec 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsIs the Secretary of State aware that there is a crisis in family mediation, with no confirmation of mediation vouchers going beyond next April and over half of legal aid providers…16 Dec 2025HANSARDLegal AidThe Select Committee has just begun an inquiry into access to justice. The evidence we are getting suggests that civil and family legal aid in particular are in a dire position,…16 Dec 2025HANSARDRestriction of Jury TrialsThere is no reason why the Government should not consider mode of trial as part of their reform of the criminal courts, but they would find more support if they could better…08 Dec 2025HANSARDOfficial Secrets Act and EspionageThe Joint Committee, of which I am a member, approached this issue in a non-partisan way, and I agree with the Minister that it is a pity that the Conservatives have not taken the…03 Dec 2025HANSARDCriminal Court ReformMay I recognise the commitment of the Lord Chancellor and the Minister of State in grasping the issue of the Crown court backlog, which, as Sir Brian Leveson says, is a threat to…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPackaging: Extended Producer ResponsibilityMy hon. Friend is making a very good point. The famous Griffin brewery is in my constituency, as is Fuller’s, with its substantial on- and off-trade. We all want to see recycling…27 Nov 2025HANSARD Right to Trial by JuryThe Minister is right that we cannot go on as we are with 80,000-plus cases in the backlog and growing, and four-year delays in serious cases. She is also right that there is…27 Nov 2025HANSARDPackaging: Extended Producer ResponsibilityThe Minister has a deep understanding of this issue, and we all support the objectives that she is aiming for, but obviously we have come along to bring our problems to her. I…27 Nov 2025HANSARDPackaging: Extended Producer ResponsibilityWill the Minister give way?27 Nov 2025HANSARD Reoffending: Rehabilitation in PrisonsThe hon. Lady is the newest member of the Committee, and I am pleased to see her here today. She has obviously got behind the brief very quickly: we are waiting for an update on…20 Nov 2025HANSARD Reoffending: Rehabilitation in PrisonsThe numbers of women and, indeed, young people in prison are a small percentage of the prison population, but they give particular cause for concern. As I mentioned in my…20 Nov 2025HANSARD Reoffending: Rehabilitation in PrisonsI thank the Backbench Business Committee for allocating time for me to make a statement on behalf of the Justice Committee. This is the seventh report of the Committee and its…20 Nov 2025