Contributions
2,978 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBacklog of Court CasesMy hon. Friend has been a tireless advocate for a Nightingale court in Kent. My colleague Lord Wolfson is working very actively on that question and I strongly hope we will be in…18 May 2021HANSARDBacklog of Court CasesPrior to coronavirus, outstanding case loads in the Crown court were low by historical standards. However, coronavirus has put huge strain on the court system, in common with so…18 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q Is your understanding of the change that it makes it an either-way offence? Is it your understanding that it would be compelled to be held in the Crown court, as an…18 May 2021HANSARDProbateWe have increased resources to handle calls and inquiries relating to probate applications and, as a result, the average time taken to process such an application is running at…18 May 2021HANSARDProbateThankfully, distressing examples such as that are extremely rare. I encourage Members who encounter them to write to us at the Ministry of Justice so that we can make sure they…18 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q May I start by asking Matt Parr if you have any views on the proposals for out-of-court disposals, in particular to simplify the current number of out-of-court disposals,…18 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q Not to worry; no problem at all. Let me turn to Jonathan, if I may, going back to clause 108, which Alex Cunningham was asking about. This is in relation to prisoners sentenced…18 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q I have one or two brief points. Mr Sweeting, you discussed remote hearings already; have you or your members seen during the pandemic evidence that using video and remote…18 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you. You touched in one of your answers on the question of sentencing powers where a memorial—for example, a war memorial—might be desecrated, and you made some…18 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q Okay. Although of course, as I say, the magistrate has limited sentencing powers, and there might be some cases, might there not, where the desecration may be of a sufficiently…18 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Thank you, Mr Sweeting. I have no further questions.18 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q My final question relates, again, to judicial discretion. I am not talking about any particular offence; I am just asking in general terms. What are your general views about…18 May 2021HANSARD ImmigrationI thank all the Members who have contributed to this discussion. I particularly thank the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for his well-considered and thoughtful comments…28 Apr 2021HANSARD ImmigrationI thank the hon. Member for Halifax (Holly Lynch) for her speech. As she said, this matter was debated just yesterday in a Westminster Hall debate that was attended by one…28 Apr 2021HANSARD Immigration Detention: Victims of TraffickingYes, I am happy to give that commitment. Question put and agreed to.27 Apr 2021HANSARD Immigration Detention: Victims of TraffickingIt is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Murray; I think for the first time, but I am confident not for the last. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North…27 Apr 2021HANSARD Prevention and Suppression of TerrorismI thank Members from across the House for the constructive tone they have taken in contributing to this debate. I will pick up on one or two of the points raised before concluding…21 Apr 2021HANSARD Prevention and Suppression of TerrorismI confirm to the hon. Gentleman that Northern Ireland gets its fair share of counter-terrorism police funding. As we know, that issue has been so serious and so acute over many…21 Apr 2021HANSARD Prevention and Suppression of TerrorismI beg to move, That the draft Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2021, which was laid before this House on 19 April, be approved. This Government are…21 Apr 2021HANSARD Prevention and Suppression of TerrorismI can confirm to my right hon. Friend that our security services and our counter-terrorism police work tirelessly to foil terror plots. In fact, in the past four years since 2017,…21 Apr 2021