Contributions
1,991 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBill of RightsMy right hon. Friend is too generous: he was really the architect of the campaign to defend this House’s prerogative to decide on prisoner voting. Interestingly, he did that with…22 Jun 2022HANSARDBill of RightsI enjoy engaging with the hon. Gentleman, but he is simply wrong. We have had the biggest increase for over a decade in the spending review, so he is simply wrong on the facts,…22 Jun 2022HANSARDBill of RightsMy right hon. Friend is absolutely correct. I know that when he gets a chance to peruse the proposals, he will find those principles and that spirit reflected in the Bill of…22 Jun 2022HANSARDBill of RightsMy right hon. Friend is correct on all those points. This is a principled and pragmatic reform. It retains membership of the European convention. I have heard various arguments…22 Jun 2022HANSARDBill of RightsNo, of course not. The right hon. Lady talks about “callous disregard”. Conservative Members, certainly, want to stand up for victims of crime who do not understand why, based on…22 Jun 2022HANSARDDelivering Justice for VictimsToday the Government are publishing a draft Victims Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny, ensuring we will deliver on our manifesto commitment to pass and implement a victims law. We…25 May 2022HANSARDReducing ReoffendingIn the last year alone, we have seen a step change in respect of offenders being in work within six months of release from prison; the number has increased by two thirds. The…24 May 2022HANSARDReducing ReoffendingI thank the hon. Lady. I think that there will cross-party support for the work that we are doing with the mental health Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech, absolutely ending…24 May 2022HANSARDReducing ReoffendingThe hon. Member is right. The prisons White Paper sets out an overhaul of the regime. We want to assess offenders in week one, whether it is for their addiction, mental health or…24 May 2022HANSARDReducing ReoffendingApproved premises are vital. Of course we take all the requisite security advice on the matter and I am very happy to write to the hon. Member about any of the details. However,…24 May 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Gentleman for highlighting good examples of best practice, particularly in getting offenders off drugs. We know that that is the key, along with skills and…24 May 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. Let me just talk him through what we are doing. The in-cell technology in the new prisons will give them much greater access for the purposes…24 May 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsA man after my own heart. My hon. Friend is right that it is a total abuse, which the Opposition seem to want to give succour to, to allow the freedom of speech and the right to…24 May 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsCan I just say to the hon. Gentleman first of all that to politicise a case that has been subject and potentially remains subject to judicial proceedings is quite wrong? If he…24 May 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsFirst, we have seen a step change increase in convictions by 67%—two thirds—over the last year. I think the hon. Lady is wrong, if I may say so, to use the statistic that she…24 May 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsIt is very telling that the SNP spokesperson, the hon. Member for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East (Stuart C. McDonald), did not want to talk about those issues or…24 May 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Lady is absolutely right. I mentioned earlier the increase in rape convictions that will be promoted by the use of section 28 to allow pre-recorded video evidence for the…24 May 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right. As was mentioned earlier, something like 50% to 55% of cases that go to the family court are safeguarding or domestic abuse cases. I do…24 May 2022HANSARDVictims of CrimeMy hon. Friend is right to highlight the particular vulnerability of children in such cases. The courts already have the power to prioritise cases, for example those with a…24 May 2022HANSARDVictims of CrimeWe are increasing victim support funding to £185 million by 2024—almost double the amount in the 2020-21 core budgets, and more than quadruple the victims funding in the last year…24 May 2022