Contributions
394 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, for talking about what happened to her, because in your Lordships’ House, that kind of personal experience really resonates…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillThat is what needs to be looked at, then. Providing transcripts is not going to solve anything that would not be solved by making sure that the witness care unit does what it is…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillAgain, the noble Baroness puts it very persuasively and, listening to her now, it all seems to make total sense. If, as a Government, we are committed to supporting victims of…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, I start with Amendment 41, in the name of the noble Baronesses, Lady Brinton and Lady Hamwee. As your Lordships are of course aware, the Government recently announced…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillAfter.09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillI apologise once again to the noble Lord, Lord Marks, for standing up before him a few moments ago. Amendment 40 from the noble and learned Lord, Lord Garnier, raises the…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillI do apologise.09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords—09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillI shall speak first to Amendment 38 in the name of the noble Baronesses, Lady Brinton and Lady Hamwee. While entirely understanding the motivation for the amendment, the…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillThis Government have not been in power over the whole of the last of the decade, and we are doing our best to look at it. I will certainly look at it and discuss it with her. We…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillThe noble Lord, Lord Russell, puts it very persuasively and it is extremely tempting, particularly given that I do not speak for the FCDO, to say that it sounds utterly…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillI am grateful to the noble Baroness for raising this point. Our current position is that we do not believe that that is necessary, but I am happy to meet her and get her to try to…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, Amendment 36 in the names of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Keen of Elie, and the noble Lord, Lord Sandhurst, seeks to add agreements entered into by the National…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, the automatic restriction of a person’s parental responsibility is a novel change to the law and must be done in a responsible and proportionate manner. The Government…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillWe might be slightly at cross-purposes here. The question is whether the Crown Courts have the ability to consider what is in the best interests of the child rather than…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillAs far as the Jade’s law situation is concerned, it remains the case that it will be dealt with automatically.09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, I start by repeating what I said in the debate about an earlier group. A prohibited steps order is not intended to be an additional punishment; rather, it is a tool…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillThe short answer to my noble friend’s question is that he is right: there is no discretion. The reason that there is no discretion is because, in fact, the Crown Court is the one…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, the Government understand that the aim of this group of amendments is to ensure that the children, who are at the heart of these cases, are protected. We share that…09 Feb 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, I start by reassuring your Lordships’ House that an attendance order can be made in respect of all offenders, including children. Most children are not tried in the…09 Feb 2026