Contributions
1,222 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDVictims and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q Finally, you will have heard again the evidence that the witnesses gave in relation to changes to the personal impact statements. I know you are passionate about victims’…17 Jun 2025HANSARDVictims and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q The overwhelming weight of the evidence that we heard from witnesses today—it was almost universal—was in support of an extension of the scheme, but that was not enough to…17 Jun 2025HANSARDVictims and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q Fine. Great. Thank you for your agreement that it can be done. Moving on to the ULS scheme, you have mentioned, both in the Chamber and in your questions today, that the Law…17 Jun 2025HANSARDVictims and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q So can we agree that there is not anything in principle that would stop the Government instigating such a measure as is proposed in our amendment? Alex Davies-Jones: I would…17 Jun 2025HANSARDVictims and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q I think they said on the record that they consider themselves to have expertise in that area. Would you accept that they both agreed that it would be possible in principle to…17 Jun 2025HANSARDVictims and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q Would you accept that Mr Jennings and Deputy Chief Constable Telfer, as they described, have expertise in the use of force and the physical management of offenders? Alex…17 Jun 2025HANSARDVictims and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q Great. What is your understanding of the US legal framework when it comes to the use of force, including, for example, restraining or gagging defendants in court? Alex…17 Jun 2025HANSARDVictims and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q Let me help you, Minister. It says that it should not change it. Its current proposals are that there should not be any changes to the ULS scheme from the perspective of victims…17 Jun 2025HANSARDVictims and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q I will start by asking you to talk about the context through which the MOJ looks at what it can learn from international examples. For example, can you confirm that, in other…17 Jun 2025HANSARDVictims and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q Okay, but taking you back to the question, what is your understanding of what the Law Commission currently says are its proposals for changes to the ULS? Alex Davies-Jones: It…17 Jun 2025HANSARDVictims and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q I will move on to talk about the expansion of the victim contact scheme. Are there resource implications for the service in extending it, and what are your initial views on how…17 Jun 2025HANSARDVictims and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q If I were to tell you, and it is true, that the US judicial system has a specific legal power to allow people to be restrained and gagged as part of court proceedings—they have…17 Jun 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillMay I start by offering the condolences of His Majesty’s Opposition to all those affected by the Air India plane crash, including the families of the very many British citizens…13 Jun 2025HANSARDHumanist MarriageIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dame Siobhain, in what has been a heart-warming debate. I thank the hon. Members for Tamworth (Sarah Edwards), for Morecambe and…12 Jun 2025HANSARD Winter Fuel PaymentThe Minister is at pains to say that pensioners do not have to do anything to get this payment, but of course they had to do something—they had to write to, email and call Labour…09 Jun 2025HANSARDChinese Embassy DevelopmentThe Minister has made it clear that he will not comment on the specifics of the case, and I will not ask him to, but can he offer a view in principle on why we would ever offer a…09 Jun 2025HANSARDHigh Street CrimeI am afraid that that explanation will not wash. The Lord Chancellor knows that she is choosing to give the Government more time in her Bill ahead of the Law Commission’s…03 Jun 2025HANSARDHigh Street CrimeWhatever the sentence or offence, victims and families deserve a meaningful and fair route to appeal sentences that are unduly lenient. Twenty-eight days for people who have…03 Jun 2025HANSARDDecriminalising AbortionAlthough my right hon. Friend and I might not agree on where we draw the line on each of those very complex issues in different circumstances, I absolutely sympathise with the…02 Jun 2025HANSARDDecriminalising AbortionWhat I said was that traditionally in this country the nature of how we oversee and protect sanctity of life questions and those who might extinguish life is through the criminal…02 Jun 2025